Introducing SLPs to the Concept of Language Brokering

In a recent coincidence, I found myself in a fascinating conversation with a researcher whose work also focuses on young children, language, and bilingualism. Dr. Su Yeong Kim from the University of Texas is studying the positive and negative impact of serving as a family’s interpreter. When she began to describe this process as language brokering, I immediately fell in love with the term and knew more professionals like SLPs needed to learn about it.

I love the term language brokering because it simultaneously describes the very impressive and adult-like role of translating but also conveys the stressful demands we are placing on our little friends when asking them to interpret for their parents and community. As an SLP, it’s helpful to understand how language brokering can influence what’s being conveyed in a meeting or during an evaluation. Here’s an overall definition of language brokering to get us started:

Language brokering, sometimes referred to as child language brokering, is when a child assists in facilitating communication between individuals who speak different languages. This can involve interpreting spoken language, translating written text, or helping individuals navigate cultural differences during communication. Language brokers often play crucial roles in diverse settings such as business negotiations, healthcare, legal proceedings, and community services. They bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, enabling effective communication and understanding between parties who speak different languages.

Here’s what’s important, this topic is not black and white! There are real camps for and against language brokering. Like most things in life, I feel that the truth lies somewhere in the middle: we can honor and support the family’s use of the home language and at the same time acknowledge the impact it may be having on the message of the translation. Let’s use our time here to cover the benefits and challenges in order to get familiar with the topic.

The Role of Children and Young People in Language Brokering

Children and young people become language brokers out of necessity, serving as intermediaries to bridge linguistic gaps between their family members and the broader society. They often possess proficiency in both their heritage language and the dominant language of their community, enabling them to navigate and translate information effectively. This role extends beyond mere translation; it encompasses cultural mediation and interpretation of complex concepts, making children and young people invaluable assets in facilitating communication within their families.

10 Child Language Brokering Examples

Medical Interpretation: A child translates medical information between a healthcare provider and their non-English-speaking parent during a doctor’s appointment.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: A bilingual child assists in translating discussions between their monolingual parents and teachers during parent-teacher conferences.
Legal Interpreting: A youth translates legal documents or interprets conversations between a lawyer and their immigrant family member during a legal process.
Business Negotiations: A child helps translate negotiations or discussions between their parents and business partners who speak a different language.
Community Services: A teenager assists in translating information during community events or workshops for immigrant families.
Social Services: A bilingual child helps their family navigate social services by interpreting conversations with caseworkers or completing forms.
School Communication: A student translates school announcements or newsletters for their non-English-speaking family members.
Interpreting for Relatives: A child translates conversations between relatives who speak different languages during family gatherings or events.
Language Assistance in Technology: A youth assists in translating technical instructions or troubleshooting guides for family members who speak a different language.
Cultural Mediation: A bilingual child helps bridge cultural gaps by explaining cultural norms or traditions to family members who are unfamiliar with them.

Factors Influencing Involvement in Language Brokering

Several factors influence children and young people’s involvement in language brokering:

Family dynamics: In immigrant families, language brokering may arise due to the lack of English proficiency among older family members. Children and young people step into this role to assist their parents and relatives in various aspects of daily life, including healthcare, education, and legal matters.
Cultural background: Cultural values and norms play a significant role in shaping children’s and young people’s involvement in language brokering. In cultures where family solidarity and intergenerational support are highly valued, children are more likely to take on responsibilities to aid their family members.
Linguistic proficiency: Proficiency in multiple languages is a fundamental factor driving children and young people to become language brokers. Growing up in bilingual or multilingual environments equips them with the necessary language skills to facilitate communication between different linguistic communities.

Here is a really neat interview of Dr. Su Yeong Kim and then let’s highlight the benefits and challenges.

Benefits of Language Brokering on Children and Young People

Brokering language offers opportunities for personal growth and skill development, it also presents challenges and impacts children and young people in various ways:

Cognitive development: Language brokering enhances cognitive skills such as language processing, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Children learn to navigate complex linguistic and cultural contexts, which contributes to their cognitive flexibility and adaptability.
Emotional well-being: Despite its cognitive benefits, language brokering can be emotionally taxing for children and young people. The responsibility of mediating communication between family members, coupled with the pressure to accurately convey information, may lead to stress, anxiety, and feelings of burden.
Identity formation: Language brokering plays a significant role in shaping children’s and young people’s cultural identity and sense of belonging. While it connects them to their cultural heritage and family roots, it may also pose challenges in negotiating multiple identities, particularly in contexts where their heritage culture differs from the dominant culture.

Challenges Faced by Children Who Are Language Brokering in Immigrant Families

We have so many reasons to celebrate our language brokers and even be wowed by their skills. However, it’s clear that we also need to acknowledge that it can take quite a bit of effort. From a special education standpoint, what we are discussing in those meetings is quite complex. So alongside the benefits of language brokering, there are also some challenges.

Linguistic Limitations of Brokering Language

Vocabulary limitations: Children may lack a comprehensive vocabulary in both languages, making it difficult to accurately convey complex ideas or concepts. Translating at a grocery store is one thing. But, trying to convey information from medical or financial forms requires an advanced level of understanding.

Cultural nuances: Understanding and conveying subtle cultural nuances or idiomatic expressions can be challenging, as children may not have fully grasped the cultural context of both languages.

Emotional Challenges Stemming from Language Brokering

Stress and anxiety: Serving as a language broker can be emotionally taxing, leading to stress and anxiety, especially in high-pressure situations such as medical appointments or legal proceedings.

Feelings of responsibility: Children may feel a strong sense of responsibility to accurately convey information between parties, leading to feelings of pressure and burden.

Social Considerations of Becoming the Community’s Interpreter

Peer relationships: Being a language broker can impact peer relationships, as children may feel different or isolated due to their unique role. While some children feel pride for their language abilities and sharing their culture, some children are more motivated to “fit in.”

School performance: Balancing language brokering responsibilities with academic demands can be challenging, potentially affecting school performance and overall well-being.

Language brokers play a significant role in our communities and for their families. It’s time to acknowledge them for their strengths and for developing a skillset that I can only imagine will turn them into incredible adults.

Ask them if they are comfortable and willing to undertake the job we are asking them to do.

Acknowledge the difficulty nature of the task.

Reduce the complexity of our statements.

And last but not least, offer them their overdue praise for voluntarily helping to serve their family well.

Want to Learn More and Earn CEUs?

Dr. Henriette W. Langdon, author of Working with Interpreters and Translators: A Guide for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, presented an incredible course on interpreting: Collaborating with Interpreters and Translators to Serve Multilingual Populations

Additionally, we have a two hour CEU workshop on Working with Interpreters