“Children as Interpreters: A Dramatic Story of Sacrifice”

Introduction:

Interpreting, a noble profession connecting individuals across language barriers, plays a crucial role in communication. However, when this service isn’t readily accessible, the responsibility often falls on the shoulders of immigrant or children of Deaf adults. In this personal account, a Latin American woman shares her journey as a child interpreter, emphasizing the emotional toll and legal implications of this challenging role.

Section 1: The Burden of a Young Interpreter

As a young immigrant in the United States, the child faced a daunting responsibility as the designated interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents. While praised for maturity, the stress of interpreting critical information at a young age hindered her ability to enjoy a typical childhood. While there can be some positive effects, such as maturing early and developing greater socio-emotional awareness, these benefits do not justify the use of children as interpreters.

Section 2: Heart-Wrenching Moments

She recalls two pivotal instances that shaped her childhood. First, as a child facing a life-threatening medical procedure, she had to convey the grim survival odds to her parents due to the lack of professional interpreters. Second, during a job layoff, she became the bearer of bad news for her parents and numerous Spanish-speaking colleagues, witnessing their collective devastation. These situations are fortunately becoming less common due to a greater education of the population, however it is still important to emphasize that children should not be exposed to such emotionally charged situations if it can be avoided.

Section 3: Reflections on Lost Childhood

Reflecting on the impact of her role as a child interpreter, she expressed regret over missing out on a typical childhood. This realization highlights the broader issue of immigrant children sacrificing their youth to bridge language gaps for their families. The downside of growing up too fast is the loss of innocence that should accompany childhood. Having the child act as a language professional during stressful situations can cause them to become jaded and lead to issues with depression or dysthymia.

Section 4: The Legal Landscape

A legal analysis reveals that federal law prohibits children from serving as interpreters, emphasizing the necessity of qualified adult professionals in non-emergency situations. The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education explicitly state that schools should not rely on untrained individuals, including students, for interpretation. It is important to educate people on this law forbidding children to act as translators for court-related matters. Any interpretation or translation made by a child will most likely be thrown out and rendered useless and the judge may even reprimand those involved in requesting that the child be used for legal communication.

Section 5: Advocacy for Change

The narrative calls for awareness and advocacy to end the exploitation of children as interpreters. The author underscores the importance of prioritizing children’s well-being and enforcing existing laws that mandate professional language assistance for Limited-English-Proficient (LEP) individuals. This can be done by reminding doctor’s and attorney’s offices that they need to hire a professional linguistic specialist and that harm can be done by using children instead.

Conclusion:

Society should prioritize the welfare of immigrant children and those of Deaf adults and implement laws that safeguard their rights. We should emphasize the need for qualified adult interpreters to ensure accurate and compassionate communication, avoiding the undue burden placed on children.

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