Análisis de la comunicación interlingüística establecida en el Sistema de Acogida de Protección Internacional (SAPI) y del impacto emocional experimentado por las personas que intervienen como intérpretes en este contexto

Abstract

The importance of ensuring the access of people in forced displacement situations to free and high quality interpreting services has been highlighted by several studies (Handi, 2010; Las Heras Navarro, 2012; León Pinilla, 2018). Providing linguistic assistance to the beneficiaries of the Spanish International Protection Reception System (IPRS) is also crucial for properly developing their autonomy preparation itineraries (MISSM, 2021). Moreover, the peculiarities of the interpreting services that take place in International Protection contexts (IIPC) may have an emotional impact on the individuals facilitating communication, who might thereby face difficulties during their performance (Holmgren et al., 2003; Lai et al., 2015; Roberts, 2015; Shakespeare, 2012; UNHCR, 2017; Valero Garcés, 2015; Williams, 2004). In accordance with the reviewed literature, our study aims (1) to analyse interlinguistic communication established in participating non-profit organisations and gather proposals for improving the linguistic assistance provided to non-Spanish-speaking beneficiaries; (2) to explore the emotional impact experienced by interpreters and their coping strategies; and (3) to gather proposals related to training and coping mechanisms. To reach these objectives, a mixed-method survey was designed. Through online questionnaires and in-depth interviews, data were collected from 50 % of the organisations in charge of reception facilities within the IPRS framework, getting a final sample of 107 individuals with various professional profiles (17 managers, 65 service providers, and 25 interpreters). The results obtained, firstly, show that interlinguistic communication in these organisations is most often established directly by service providers (who use simplified Spanish or lingua francas) or through ad hoc interpreters, while attention in users’ native languages or mediated by professional interpreters is uncommon. In addition, nearly half of the surveyed participants collaborate in organisations lacking adequate services to meet communication needs. Specifically, the problems observed were related to the difficulties to address the native languages of beneficiaries, the number of individuals providing interpreting services, their availability in emergency situations and to their training and experience. Secondly, the analysis of the emotional impact of interpreting reveals that the context, the interpreters’ personal circumstances, and their working conditions lead to negative emotional and physical difficulties. However, interpreting is also associated with positive emotions, with most participants reporting more benefits than negative effects in the long term. Additionally, even though a high percentage of interpreters have received training in various coping techniques, most of them often self-access it, and, in the absence of organisational support, they resort to strategies frequently applied in personal settings. In fact, 95 % of participants stated the need for training and tools to cope with perceived emotional impact. Therefore, in line with participants’ proposals, the conclusions drawn from our study confirm the importance and urgency to promote the professionalisation of linguistic services and improve working conditions for interpreters in the IPRS, widen organisational and academic training offers related to coping strategies and IIPC, and foster the application of measures for dealing with emotional impact (e.g., briefing and debriefing, group support, or counselling, among others).