Continuing from the specific fields of research within community interpreting in Slovenia, the study begins with an overview of the current situation and draws data from the illustrations from interpreter-mediated events, interviews, questionnaires and statistical data. Critical discourse analysis is applied to observe the manifestation of power relations, role boundaries and the distribution of responsibility between speech actors in interpreter-mediated interaction, and also to look at the role of language and interpreting in institutionalised communication. It focuses on interpreting in the better-structured settings of the asylum procedure. In line with previous studies in Slovenia and reflecting field studies from abroad, the study shows discrepancies between different fields in community interpreting in Slovenia. Interpreter-mediated interaction differs significantly from everyday dyadic communication; language use and structure are subject to adaptation to a triadic interaction and the procedure itself, consequently triggering imbalances of power. The institutionalised settings of community interpreting only heighten these effects.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 49215330To ensure linguistic rights as fundamental rights and the equal treatment of all before the law as well as in other social spheres, translation and interpreting are establishing themselves as a necessity. The regulation of this professional field, defined by society's weakest members, is indicative of a society's democratic level. Taking into account informationgained by direct observation and interviews, the article presents the Slovenian situation from the perspective of the need to ensure community interpreting. The Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia generally guarantees linguistic rights in public settings, yet the implementation depends on specific laws, thus ensuring and formally regulating interpreting only in court and asylum procedures, while no services are offered in general social and healthcare settings (exempt from sign language interpreting), resulting in power imbalance in interpreter-mediated interactions where language barriers are overcome by improvisation and goodwill of all parties involved.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 51202146