‘No professional interpreter at hand!’ Training healthcare professionals on how to work with child language brokers

Abstract

A qualitative study conducted in Spain in 2023 by the authors of this paper highlights the complexity of child language brokering in medical contexts. While such brokering may offer uncertain benefits for communication and subsequent medical treatment, it often results in negative consequences on the children, which can be difficult to mitigate. However, in some situations, children may be the only bilingual individuals available to assist. Moreover, language-brokering tasks can prove rewarding and, at their best, have a profoundly positive impact. Although legislation in most countries rightly prohibits child labour, children may still be called upon to interpret for family members or friends in medical contexts where no professional interpreter is readily available. Such tasks may not be recognised as ‘labour’, and the adults involved may be unaware of the potential risks to the child. Raising awareness of the implications of such tasks and offering guidance on how to prevent long-lasting adverse effects on minors is therefore essential. This is what our paper sets out to do, drawing on testimonies from the authors’ qualitative study. It offers a series of guidelines to help health professionals and patients engage with child brokers in ways that minimise risks for everyone involved. While these recommendations represent an imperfect solution to a deeply imperfect situation, they aim is to encourage safer practices.