Humanitarian interpreting in the context of African migrant reception in the Canary Islands

Abstract

The Canary Islands have traditionally been known for their beautiful beaches and tourist resorts. However, in the last decades, African migrant reception in this territory has become a human rights issue, which requires attention from all those involved in providing infrastructure, medical assistance, integration opportunities, etc. At the base of any of these actions is communication. Assisting migrants as soon as they arrive in Spanish territory, is certainly a new context where both language and cultural barriers are present. In this article we aim to describe the characteristics of the so-called Atlantic route in the context of irregular migration by sea, with a view to justifying its designation as a humanitarian crisis context and the consequent need to address this situation by providing suitable interpreter training for both ad hoc interpreters and those involved in interpreter education. We will also describe the main differences in the role played by interpreters and cultural mediators, with a special focus on ethical principles attached to the interpreting profession. Finally, after presenting some of the challenges in current communication practices with people arriving on the coasts of the Canary Islands, we will discuss whether translation and interpreting services should adapt to this specific situation.