Public service interpreting

Collaborative hub   Standards, regulation and ethics   Capacity building   Signed language

What is public service interpreting?

The international standard for requirements and recommendations for community Interpreting (ISO 13611:2024) defines public service interpreting as:

Interpreting that enables people to access services available to society as a whole, which they would otherwise be unable to access due to a communication barrier resulting from the use of different languages.

The ISO standard was developed in response to the global need to accommodate the growing linguistic, cultural and ethnic diversity of people communicating through spoken or signed languages. Public service interpreting ensures equal access to community services for individuals who do not understand the language in which a service is delivered. Public service interpreting is provided in a wide range of settings, including:

• public institutions: local authorities, migration services, schools, universities and community centres
• social services: refugee boards, self-help centres and welfare offices
• business and industry services: housing, real estate, insurance and financial services
• faith-based organisations: rituals, ceremonies and community gatherings
• media organisations: television broadcasts, internet platforms and other media
• emergency services: disaster response, pandemic management and crisis communication

Public service interpreters, or community interpreters, work in these settings, and must comply with specific rules and regulations. In particular, legal and healthcare interpreting are often treated as distinct fields requiring specialised training. Although some countries categorise legal and healthcare interpreting under public service interpreting, others maintain them as separate disciplines.

Public service interpreting has evolved into a recognised profession and is subject to certain standards and regulations.

Public service interpreting typically involves three parties:

• service users: individuals who need access to essential services but face language barriers, such as a parent communicating with a teacher
• service providers: individuals who deliver services in the language of the institution or organisation, such as a public service employee, counsellor or teacher
• public service interpreters: skilled professionals who are proficient in 2 or more languages (spoken, signed or written) and can work with different language registers

Public service interpreting plays a vital role in ensuring everyone has equal access to essential services in multilingual and multicultural societies. As a dynamic and evolving profession, public service interpreting continues to address the challenges posed by linguistic diversity, underscoring the need for ongoing training, collaboration and standardisation.

Focus on migration

In the context of the Knowledge Centre on Translation and Interpretation (KCTI), public service interpreting refers to interpreting that enables clear, two-way communication between national or regional authorities and individuals with a migrant or refugee background who do not speak or understand the national language(s) sufficiently. This type of interpreting plays a crucial role in:

• assessing the status of asylum seekers and potential asylum seekers
• ensuring access to essential public services, such as healthcare, social support and police services

In recent years, the demand for public service interpreting across the EU has grown significantly, driven by a significant increase in the number of migrants. In response to this evolving landscape, the focus here is placed on public service interpreting in the context of migration, particularly in relation to standard-setting efforts.

Challenges and responses

Despite the growing demand for public service interpreting, there is still significant room for developing uniform standards in key areas such as quality, training, ethics and pay. Moreover, there is still no universally accepted definition of public service interpreting. Many public service interpreters lack access to formal professional training or have only received partial training. This shortage of trained interpreters was particularly evident during the exceptional migratory flows in 2015 and 2016, when EU countries faced challenges in organising enough interpreting services, including in the hotspots set up by the EU.

To address these issues, an increasing number of educational institutions and universities have begun developing specialised interpreting courses. Some of these institutions have sought support from DG Interpretation to help them with standard setting and curriculum development. Read more on capacity building in public service interpreting. 

DG Interpretation's role

The core mandate of DG Interpretation is to provide conference interpreting for the European Commission and several other EU institutions. Public service interpreting, as a distinct field, falls outside this remit and is the responsibility of EU countries. Although DG Interpretation does not organise or provide public service interpreting, it is committed to fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

The KCTI serves as a resource for those involved in public service interpreting. Its purpose is to:

• provide a space for sharing information and best practices
• support the development of communities of practice
• facilitate a bottom-up approach to standard setting in public service interpreting

By providing this platform, DG Interpretation aims to promote dialogue and cooperation among those working in the field, contributing to the long-term development of public service interpreting across the EU.

How to contribute

Visit the Collaborative Hub for full details on how you can contribute.

Let’s interpret!

A video series on public service interpreting called Public Service Interpreting and the Challenges of the New Millennium was produced by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona with DG Interpretation’s financial support.