Interpreting and Translating in the Spanish Asylum and Refugee Office: A Case Study

ABSTRACT

In recent years, with Europe witnessing its worst refugee crisis since the Second World War, the process of applying for asylum in a foreign country has become the focus of numerous studies and research programs. The aim of the present article is to explore the subject through a case study of the issues and complexities surrounding the interpreting and translation services offered by the Spanish Asylum and Refugee Office (OAR). The data is based on two surveys: the first focused on the professionals’ views of the role of translators and interpreters, and the second on translators and interpreters working in the field of international protection. The findings obtained from these studies may prove useful for improving the various interpreting and translation training programs and services that are crucial for managing the refugee crisis and the multiple problems associated with it.

KEYWORDS:

• interpreting and translating
• international protection
• asylum seekers and refugees

Notes

All translations from the Spanish are by the author unless indicated otherwise.

1. De las Heras Navarro, “Traduciendo para los refugiados”; Berry, “Psychology of Acculturation.”

2. See Pöllabauer, “Interpreting in Asylum Hearings,” and “During the Interview”; Crezee, Jülich, and Hayward, “Issues for Interpreters”; Tryuk, “Conflict. Tension. Aggression.”

3. Benhaddou Handi, “La traducción e interpretación.”

4. Valero-Garcés and Cata, “Acción y voluntariado.”

5. See De las Heras Navarro, “Traduciendo para los refugiados,” “Solicitantes de asilo,” “Refugiados en España,” and “Derecho a servicios de traducción.”

6. See Prado Gascó, “La interpretación”; León Pinilla, “La interpretación en el contexto de refugiados”; and Pérez Estevan, “Interpretación en contextos de asilo.”

7. Adam, “El papel de la interpretación.”

8. Valero-Garcés, “Training Interpreters and Translators.”

9. Barbadillo Ferrer, “Traducción e interpretación.”

10. De Las Heras Navarro, “Derecho a servicios.”

11. Benhaddou Handi, “La traducción e interpretación,” 33.

12. Benhaddou Handi and Ortigosa, “Investigación en TISP.”

13. See Valero-Garcés and Cata, “Acción y voluntariado: Las ONG y los servicios de traducción e interpretación.”

14. See Grupo CRIT, práctica de la mediación, 13.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carmen Valero-Garcés

Carmen Valero-Garcés, Professor of Translation and Interpreting at the University of Alcalá, Madrid, is Director of the Postgraduate Program on Public Service Interpreting and Translation, Coordinator of the Research Group FITISPos, and editor of the multilingual peer-reviewed FITISPos International Journal, dedicated to training and research in public service interpreting and translation.