“I am just a voice. I can neither help nor explain; I am simply transferring your words into another language”: An Interview-Based Study of the Challenges of Public Service Interpreting in Greece’s Migration Context
PDF

Keywords

public service interpreting
Greece
stakeholders’ perspectives
challenges
interviews

How to Cite

Ioannidis, A. (2025). “I am just a voice. I can neither help nor explain; I am simply transferring your words into another language”: An Interview-Based Study of the Challenges of Public Service Interpreting in Greece’s Migration Context. Tertium Linguistic Journal, 9(2), 72-98. https://doi.org/10.7592/Tertium.2024.9.2.304

Abstract

The present paper explores the multifaceted challenges in the field of Public Service Interpreting in Greece, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of diverse participants involved in the migration context. Conducted by interpreting students at the Ionian University in Greece, this paper is based on a series of 12 in-depth interviews with various stakeholders: public servants, interpreters, refugees, and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) actively engaged in migration and refugee support services. By analyzing the insights gathered from these participants, the study aims to identify common patterns and key issues that hinder effective communication and service delivery. Such interview- and evidence-based approach explores the intricacies of public service interpreting (PSI) in Greece from a range of perspectives, highlighting challenges such as the shortage of available interpreters, reliance on ad hoc solutions, technological barriers, and poor working conditions, all of which arise during interactions in relevant contexts. The findings are expected to contribute to the discourse on improving interpreting practices and policies, ultimately enhancing the quality of public services for refugees and migrants in Greece.

PDF

References

Amato, Amalia (2017) “Telephone Interpreting for Health Care Service: Potential Problems and Solutions.” [In:] Vv.Aa., Shift Report 2: Remote Technologized Interpreting (Telephone‐Based And Video‐Based Remote Interpreting): Main Features And Shifts With On‐Site Bilateral Interpreting; 52–85.

Antonini, Rachele (2015) “Non-professional interpreting.” [In:] Franz Pöchhacker (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies. New York, London: Routledge; 277–279.

Baigorri-Jalón, Jesus (2014) From Paris to Nuremberg: The Birth of Conference Interpreting. Translated by Holly Mikkelson and Barry Slaughter Olsen. Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Bancroft, Marjory, Lola Bendana, Jean Bruggeman, Lois Feuerle (2013) “Interpreting in the Gray Zone: Where Community and Legal Interpreting Intersect.” Translation and Interpreting, 5 (1); 94–113. https://doi.org/10.12807/ti.105201.2013.a05

Creswell, John W., J. David Creswell (2018) Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. (Fifth edition). USA: SAGE Publications.

Dam, Helle V. (2015) “Status.” [In:] Franz Pöchhacker (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies. New York, London: Routledge; 400–402.

EUAA (2022) Asylum Report 2022: Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

EUAA (2023). Asylum Report 2023: Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Fantinuoli, Claudio (2018) “Interpreting and technology: The upcoming technological turn.” [In:] Claudio Fantinuoli (ed.), Interpreting and Technology. Berlin: Language Science Press; 1–12.

Felberg, Tatjana Radanović, Gry Sagli (2019) “Training Public Service Employees in How to Communicate Via Interpreter in Norway: Achievements and Challenges.” FITISPos-International Journal, 6 (1); 141–155. https://doi.org/10.37536/FITISPos-IJ.2019.6.1.194

Gaiba, Francesca (1998) The Origins of Simultaneous Interpretation: The Nuremberg Trial. Ottawa: Ottawa University Press.

González Campanella, Alejandra (2024) “Emotional labour and affective skills in public service interpreting: expanding the competence models.” FITISPos-International Journal, 11 (1); 44–64. https://doi.org/10.37536/FITISPos-IJ.2024.11.1.379

Grbić, Nadja, Franz Pöchhacker (2015) “Working Conditions.” [In:] Franz Pöchhacker (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies. New York, London: Routledge; 441–443.

Hale, Sandra (2007) Community Interpreting. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Havelka, Ivana (2021) “Zur technikgestützten Translationskultur im DACH-Raum: Video- und audiobasiertes Dialogdolmetschen im Gesundheits- und Gerichtswesen.” [In:] Sonja Pöllabauer and Mira Kadrić (eds.), Entwicklungslinien des Dolmetschens im soziokulturellen Kontext. Translationskultur(en) im DACH-Raum. Translationswissenschaft Band 17. Tübingen: Narr Francke Attempto; 63–75.

Kalina, Sylvia (2015) “Preparation.” [In:] Franz Pöchhacker (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies. New York, London: Routledge; 318–320.

Kalina, Sylvia, Klaus Ziegler (2015) “Technology.” [In:] Franz Pöchhacker (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies. New York, London: Routledge; 410–412.

Norström, Eva, Ingrid Fioretos, Kristina Gustafsson (2012) “Working conditions of community interpreters in Sweden: opportunities and shortcomings.” Interpreting: International Journal of Research and Practice in Interpreting, 14 (2); 242–60. https://doi.org/10.1075/intp.14.2.06nor

Pöllabauer, Sonja (2005) ‘I Don’t Understand Your English, Miss’. Dolmetschen bei Asylanhörungen. Tübingen: Gunter Narr.

Pöllabauer, Sonja (2015) “Interpreting in Asylum Proceedings.” [In:] Holly Mikkelson and Renée Jourdenais (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Interpreting. London, New York: Routledge; 201–216.

Rabadán-Gómez, Marina (2016) “Professionalisation and Standardisation of Public Service Interpreting.” [In:] Théophile Munyangeyo, Marina Rabadán-Gómez and Graham Webb (eds.), Challenges and Opportunities in Public Service Interpreting. London: Palgrave Macmillan; 47–86.

Šveda, Pavol (2021) “Interpreter Training in Central Europe: Looking Back and Ahead.” [In:] Pavol Šveda (ed.), Changing Paradigms and Approaches in Interpreter Training. Perspectives from Central Europe. London/New York: Routledge; 248–261.

Tipton, Rebecca, Olgierda Furmanek (2016) Dialogue Interpreting: A Guide to Interpreting in Public Services and the Community. London, New York: Routledge.

Tryuk, Małgorzata (2017) “Conflict. Tension. Aggression. Ethical Issues in Interpreted Asylum Hearings at the Office for Foreigners in Warsaw.” [In:] Carmen Valero-Garcés and Rebecca Tipton (eds.), Ideology, Ethics and Policy Development in Public Service Interpreting and Translation. Bristol: Multilingual Matters; 179–94.

Valero-Garcés, Carmen (2023) “General issues about public service interpreting: institutions, codes, norms, and professionalisation.” [In:] Laura Gavioli and Cecilia Wadensjö (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Public Service Interpreting. New York, London: Routledge; 17–31.

Wadensjö, Cecilia, Laura Gavioli (2023) “Introduction.” [In:] Laura Gavioli and Cecilia Wadensjö (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Public Service Interpreting. London, New York: Routledge; 1–14.

Ziegler, Klaus, Sebastiano Gigliobianco (2018) “Present? Remote? Remotely present! New technological approaches to remote simultaneous conference interpreting.” [In:] Claudio Fantinuoli (ed.), Interpreting and Technology. Berlin: Language Science Press; 119–139.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2025 Tertium Linguistic Journal

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.