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Translation and the Construction of Identity: Abstracts
Date: 12-14 August 2004
Venue: Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea
Carmen Valero
Women represent a high percentage of the migrant population; nevertheless, they
are the most marginalized group within migrant communities. My proposal aims at
contributing to the study of the reality of migrant women in EU countries as
intercultural mediators/interpreters. The information comes from an
international project dedicated to the comparison, discussion and exchange of
experiences and achievements in relation to women’s participation in the public
services sphere in the different countries involved.
The steps followed in my presentation will be:
First, a brief description of the situation of women in the migratory
phenomenon.
Second, state of the art in relation to women’s role as bridges for cultural
and/or linguistic communication between providers and receptors of public
services for the migrant population.
Third, an overview of the controversy over defining concepts such as
“mediators”, “interpreters”, “translators” through an analysis of the most
relevant characteristics involved in intercultural communication, with examples
taken from practice and theory.
Fourth, an analysis of various measures and programmes that have been put into
practice to integrate women as intercultural mediators in those countries with
greater experience in migration.
Fifth, the study of some suggestions and key recommendations given by
specialists both nationally and internationally on how to promote women as
intercultural mediators, recognizing their potential and possibilities as
providers of public services. Most of these initiatives aim to empower women
within ethnic (and/or linguistic) minorities, and to draw the international and
pan-national institutions’ and policy makers’ attention to the potential of
migrant women as mediators.
As for the research project presented here, the fulfilment of its main
objectives will enhance not only international and inter-disciplinary
cooperation, but it will also help in the construction of an identity for women
as mediators helping from or helping minorities.
Panel 3: Empowering Research in Crosscultural Communication - The Role of
International and Pan-National Institutions
Widening the Scope of Translation in Crosscultural Communication: Gender,
Migration and Mediation
University Of Alcala, Madrid, Spain
© IATIS 2003