Posted on: October 14, 2024 by admin
Migrating to Australia can be challenging for families with limited English proficiency. While kids can settle in quickly, parents can find learning a new language, culture and way of life overwhelming. So they rely on their children to interpret and translate languages, understand services and communicate with others.
However, bridging the communication gap can be a big responsibility for kids. It can affect their social lives and introduce them to harsh realities early on, not to mention the organisational risks involved in using children as language brokers.
A child language broker is a child who informally interprets and translates verbal and nonverbal language for their parents. These children facilitate communication between their parents, other family members, and people who speak the dominant language.
While children can help parents communicate in a different or dominant language, they should never replace or be used as professional interpreters and translators. Relying on kids for interpretation can impact their social development, emotional health, and well-being. It can also have various implications for organisations, like ethical violations and lawsuits.
Unlike professional interpreters and translators, kids lack the skills to interpret and communicate complex information accurately. As a result, organisations or businesses relying on children as interpreters face various risks.
Language brokering for parents can affect children in various ways, including mentally, socially and developmentally.
Interpreting and translating for parents requires children to take on more responsibility in adolescence. This task can become an expectation, and children spend their youth as translators and interpreters for their families instead of playing outdoors, competing in sports, or participating in other social activities like their peers.
Child language brokers are often exposed to age-inappropriate information. They can be forced to understand and interpret sensitive topics like physical harm, racial discrimination, financial issues and medical diagnoses from a young age. These harsh realities can be traumatic and lead to long-term psychological effects.
When translating and interpreting becomes a requirement, it can feel like a burden on children. Parents can demand kids’ availability, taking away their choice and freedom. This expectation can lead to resentment and strained parent-child relationships.
Another challenge for child interpreters is the obligation to confidentiality or secrecy. When kids learn sensitive information, they are faced with keeping it confidential. They may be required to omit or hide information from other family members or legal authorities. This secrecy can cause stress and anxiety in children.
Relying on kids for translations and interpretation skews the roles between parent and child. Kids must often adopt more adult-like responsibilities and the stress and anxiety that come with it. They can experience higher levels of depression and use harmful coping mechanisms like substance use.
One of the most significant challenges child interpreters face is parents’ lifelong dependency. Language brokering can often continue into adulthood, impacting family dynamics, responsibilities, and relationships.
At SYL, we understand the skill, responsibility, and professionalism required in translation and interpretation. Our NAATI-certified professionals provide customised solutions to individuals and businesses. We ensure the confidentiality of our services, giving you peace of mind that your information is secure and privacy is respected.
Our experts are experienced in communicating sensitive and complex information and do so without stigma or shame. Whether you prefer remote or in-person services, we provide various accessible interpretation and translation solutions.
Request a quote online today or call us on 1300 000 795 to speak to a consultant.
