Interpreters at war: Testing boundaries of neutrality

This chapter aims to explore the distinctive attitudes and narratives of interpreters in conflict zones, whose role is no longer seen as a fixed notion as they adjust their positioning along a spectrum from invisibility to advocacy. In this context, we will explore the extent to which institutional and professional boundaries have been challenged, and the ethical and training-related issues which are currently being raised. Ultimately, improved skills for interpreters in crisis and war zones can be assumed to provide a spring board for these very same interpreters to function during post-war and post-crisis reconstruction, enabling countries to participate more fully in rebuilding their societies and economies.