This research examines public service interpreting in Finland and its linguistically diversifying social service landscape, form the point of view of public service interpreters. The project studies street-level social service encounters where public service interpreters are present and take part and examines the professional role and status of public service interpreters in social services.
The research produced empirical data in collaboration with public service interpreters in the Spring–Summer 2022. The research is administered at Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies. The research received external funding from Högskolestiftelsen i Österbotten for the period 2021–2022.
MORE INFORMATION
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COLLABORATION AND NETWORKS
REjustice – Linguistic justice, global migration and the Nordic welfare state (2023–2027), funded by Vetenskapsrådet.
MigraFam – Ordering the ’Migrant Family’: Power Asymmetry Work and Citizenization in Welfare Professional Bureaucracies (2017–2023), funded by Academy of Finland.
SOSKIELI – Language diversity and vulnerability in social work in the era of digitalisation (2021–2023), funded by The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
MICA – Migration, Care and Ageing (2018–2025), funded by Academy of Finland.
Satakieli – Finnish research network on linguistic diversity and the welfare state, University of Helsinki.
INEQ – Helsinki Inequality Initiative, University of Helsinki.
ACTIVITIES
”Ammatillista rajanvetoa: asioimistulkkaus sosiaalipalveluissa haavoittuvassa asemassa olevien asiakkaiden kanssa työskenneltäessä”. Online presentation in the SOSKIELI-webinar, 13.12.2023, Nordberg, C.
”Monitoimijaisuus ja (kielellinen) monimuotoisuus palvelujärjestelmässä: Asioimistulkkien rooli ja asema”. Online lecture at the course ”Monialainen yhteistyö palvelujärjestelmässä” 2023–2024, University of Helsinki, discipline of social work, Kara, H.
”Public service interpreting as hybrid and precarious work” workshop presentation held at Critical Perspectives on Precarious and Informal Work symposium – PrecaNord, University of Helsinki, Finland, 25 August 2023, Nordberg, C. & Kara, H.
”Unfolding occupational boundary work: Public service interpreting in social services for structurally vulnerable migrants in Finland” workshop presentation held at the 1st International Conference on the Right to Languages: Linguistic Policies and Translation and Interpreting in Public Services and Institutions, Universitat de Valencia, Spain, 16 June 2022, Nordberg, C. & Kara, H.
PUBLICATIONS
Mattila, T., Mäki, K., Heino, E., & Kara, H. (2023). Characteristics and prerequisites for successful public service interpreting in social work. SOSKIELI-blog. Accessible here.
Kara, H. & Nordberg, C. (2023). Configuring public service interpreting in Finland as a sentient professional practice and affirmative social service work: Emotion in the work of public service interpreters. Nordic Social Work Research. Accessilbe here
Nordberg, C., & Kara, H. (2022). Unfolding occupational boundary work: Public service interpreting in social services for structurally vulnerable migrant populations in Finland. In “Language Policies for Social Justice,” edited by Mellinger C.D. & Monzó-Nebot, E. Special Issue, Just. Journal of Language Rights & Minorities, Revista de Drets Lingüístics i Minories 1(1-2), 137-162. Accessible here.
RESEARCHERS
Camilla Nordberg (PI), D.Soc.Sc., Docent
University Lecturer in Social Policy, Åbo Akademi University
camilla.nordberg@abo.fi
Hanna Kara, D.Soc.Sc.
University Lecturer in Social Work, University of Helsinki
hanna.kara@helsinki.fi