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Article In: Interpreting: Online-First Articles

“l thought it would mostly be bureaucratic stuff, not a banana and a condom”

An interview study on interpreted sex worker consultations

 | University of Vienna
 | University of Vienna
 | University of Vienna | University of Silesia in Katowice
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Abstract
This article reports on an original interview study with 12 professional interpreters who provide interpreting for sex workers at public service institutions, mostly remotely. These consultation appointments focus on health issues and registration requirements and are mandatory under the German Prostitute Protection Act. Our study investigates the challenges interpreters perceive when interpreting in a setting in which private and taboo topics become official subjects of conversation. Our results suggest that, despite the taboo context, interpreters do not find working in such consultations particularly problematic. The challenges mentioned relate to terminology and technical jargon, besides the specifics of remote interpreting, such as the lack of visual information in the case of audio interpreting. The study participants also stressed the need for cultural sensitivity, accompanied sometimes by a shift towards utilitarian decision-making, particularly in those languages in which sex work is perceived as a more noticeable social taboo. Some situations, such as perceived intersectional vulnerabilities or suspicions of forced prostitution, trigger stronger emotional discomfort among interpreters, raising the question whether interpreters have adequate coping strategies at their disposal.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical background
    • 2.1Sexuality and language
    • 2.2Translation of sexuality-related content
    • 2.3Interpreting sexuality-related content
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Contextual background
    • 3.2Data and analysis
  • 4.Findings and discussion
    • 4.1The situational context
      • 4.1.1Interlocutors
      • 4.1.2Organisation and structure of encounters
    • 4.2Talking about sex-related topics
    • 4.3Interpreters’ emotional discomfort and coping strategies
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (49)
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