{"id":1918,"date":"2022-10-10T00:42:35","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T00:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/?p=1918"},"modified":"2022-10-03T18:41:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T18:41:06","slug":"language-brokering-the-importance-of-this-language-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/language-brokering-the-importance-of-this-language-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Language Brokering: The Importance of this Language Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever considered what it\u2019s like to be part of an immigrant family living in a country where most of the family does not speak their native language? That’s exactly why we’re focusing on language brokering today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s globalized world, with travel and migration being at their highest in history, this sort of situation is far more common than you\u2019d want to think. In the United States, approximately 14% of the population are immigrants born outside of the country. Another statistic shows that approximately 26% of the Us\u2019s immigrant population has children who are born within the United States.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You might be wondering why we\u2019re giving you all these statistics; this is where the title of today\u2019s blog post comes in. Many families depend on their children to be translators and interpreters. In such a case, the children are considered to be language brokers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our <\/span>Day Interpreting<\/span><\/a> post today explores language brokering, what it is, how it works, and how it affects the lives of children who find themselves in these situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get right into it.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is Language Brokering?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Language brokering involves interpreting and translating for the older family members (who have little understanding of that country\u2019s language) as the child\/youth in the family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason why they are called brokers has a lot to do with the fact that as children, they unintentionally become the language interpreters and translators for their parents in particular. The children within these families are usually placed in complex social and business situations because they have to serve as a proxy to help their parents understand what\u2019s going on.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Language Brokering?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Language brokering takes place because a professional interpreter or translator isn\u2019t available to assist. It is also a case where the family that finds themself in such a situation prefers to have someone who is trustworthy to translate and interpret for them. With this in mind, language brokering has advantages and disadvantages, and we\u2019ll explore a few below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advantages of Language Brokering\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Children\/youth are like sponges when it comes to learning a new language and becoming acclimated to the culture of a new country. That said, here are a few advantages of language brokering:<\/span><\/p>\n