Ethics and Training of Interpreters in the Asylum Context

Asylum interpreters are required to faithfully interpret what is being said during the interview – a central tenet of their codes of ethics. They must not o  er advice or express their views on matters being interpreted. However, they have often been found to act as ‘principals’, prompting applicants to respond, summarising a testimony, or editing out information. Researchers have partly attributed such deviations from ethical principles – such as neutrality and impartiality – to a lack of properly trained interpreters and interpreting service users. In many countries, short-term programmes have been developed without su  cient consultation with interpreter trainers and failed to deliver e  ective training, and few means are available for service quality management. This chapter explores the distinctive attitudes and narratives of asylum interpreters, whose role is no longer seen as a fi xed notion as they adjust their positioning along a spectrum from invisibility to advocacy. In this context, it argues the need to engage more systematically with ethical issues in the context of interpreter (and interpreting service user) training, and that the responsibility of asylum interpreters extends beyond clients to include the wider community to which they belong.