The interpreter – a cultural broker?

A community interpreter works behind closed doors and becomes witness to how the exercise of authority and communication is carried out in multicultural Sweden. With time, interpreters collect experiences about interpreted meetings, power relations and unequal situations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of the interpreter and especially the meaning of serving as a cultural broker. How do interpreters manoeuvre their position in the frontline between different parties without violating the professional ethics? The paper is thus a contribution, from a culture-analytical perspective, to a wide-ranging discussion about the role of the interpreter and professional ethics.

• Affiliations: 1: Malmö University; 2: Halmstad University; 3: Lund University