Languages of lesser diffusion and French public service interpreting: a matter of terminology and strategy

Abstract

Since the 1970s in France, public service interpreting has become a major branch of the professional translating sector. Today, the non-profit organizations that provide interpreting services are now able to provide interpreters in nearly all the languages spoken by new immigrants, languages that often have unexpected shifts and changes as a result of geopolitical changes.

However, despite the resources that have been provided and an outstanding ability to adapt, the market for translating and interpreting in the context of migration is under constant linguistic pressure, which in part determines the status of these associations in the market. This has consequently led to new challenges for everyone involved in the sector, both for interpreting organizations and for the institutions that benefit from their services. Managing the language portfolio has therefore become a crucial issue, requiring a variety of short-, medium- and long-term strategies.

After briefly outlining the history of the emergence of community interpreting in France and the issues involved, we will look at the designation of ‘rare’ languages or languages of lesser diffusion in the context of the language market for interpreting and translating. We will then consider the strategies currently  implemented to meet demands for rare or even very rare languages. We will finally investigate new opportunities for developing and/or rapidly creating a pool of interpreters.