Community interpreting is a type of

interpreting Interpreting is a translational activity in which one produces a first and final target-language output on the basis of a one-time exposure to an expression in a source language. The most common two modes of interpreting are simultaneous interp ...

service which is primarily found in community-based situations. It is a service provided in communities with large numbers of

ethnic minorities The term 'minority group' has different usages depending on the context. According to its common usage, a minority group can simply be understood in terms of demographic sizes within a population: i.e. a group in society with the least number o ...

, enabling those minorities to access services where the

language barrier A language barrier is a figurative phrase used primarily to refer to linguistic barriers to communication, i.e. the difficulties in communication experienced by people or groups originally speaking different languages, or even dialects in som ...

might be an obstacle. Contexts in which such interpreters are necessary are typical include medical, educational,

housing Housing, or more generally, living spaces, refers to the construction and housing authority, assigned usage of houses or buildings individually or collectively, for the purpose of Shelter (building), shelter. Housing ensures that members of so ...

social security Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...

and legal areas. Community interpreting includes sign-language as well as spoken language interpreting. Community interpreters need not only to be fluent in the language that they are interpreting, but also with the

public services A public service is any service intended to address specific needs pertaining to the aggregate members of a community. Public services are available to people within a government jurisdiction as provided directly through public sector agencies o ...

involved, to be aware of the cultural and racial implications of the interpreting work. Community interpreting is usually source-text oriented, as opposed to translations that may be target-audience oriented. Interpreters are also expected to follow the Interpreter's Code of Ethics. The label is considered controversial by those who argue that the classification of different types of interpreting is inherently divisive.

References

External links

Critical Link International

AIIC (Professional Interpreters Organisation)
Course on Community Interpreting offered
* Language interpretation {{translation-stub