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Interpreter-mediated Questioning of Minors (ImQM): the voice of the children and their rapport with the interpreter

Tijdschriftbijdrage - Tijdschriftartikel

This paper focuses on interpreter-mediated interviews with victims, suspects and witnesses under the age of 18 who are vulnerable because of their age, native language and country of presence, with particular emphasis on how to provide the necessary information, support and protection for this group. The paper reports on the results of the European project Cooperation in Interpreter-Mediated Questioning of Minors (CMIQ). As the name suggests, cooperation and teamwork among stakeholders are of paramount importance in interpreter-mediated questioning of minors (ImQM). This contribution will focus on semi-structured interviews conducted by Belgian researchers with twelve Flemish children, boys and girls aged five to 17, of which 11 were hearing and one was deaf. Based on the outcomes of twelve semi-structured interviews with minors, results point to specific perceptions of the interpreter reported by children: the interpreter seems to be the person they turn to when speaking and the person they trust most. Since codes of ethics prescribe, among other things, neutrality and often even ‘invisibility’ on the part of the interpreter, reflection on this topic is necessary. Based on the paramount importance of rapport-building with the child, this paper argues that the role of interpreters should be discussed not only during a briefing,but also in joint interprofessional training. In this way, all stakeholders improve their knowledge of their respective professional roles in ImQM situations, which helps to further tackle contradictory expectations with regard to the role of the interpreter. Keywords: minors; interpreter-mediated questioning; ethical code of the interpreter; briefing;joint interprofessional training.
Tijdschrift: Revista de Llengua i Dret
ISSN: 0212-5056
Issue: 71
Pagina's: 27 - 44
Jaar van publicatie:2019
Toegankelijkheid:Open