Unveiling public service interpreting in Hungary: insights from NGO perspectives

In the face of challenges confronting migrants and refugees, public service interpreters and translators play a vital role in facilitating their access to rights, essential information, and services. This study examines the landscape of public service interpreters and translators (PSITs) in Hungary, where, despite the absence of official PSITs, refugees and migrants are present and require language assistance. The research’s focus is restricted to the practices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), recognizing their valuable role in helping migrants assert their rights and navigate the complexities of the Hungarian administration. Through semi-structured interviews, the research extensively surveys six NGOs to explore the qualifications, language skills, and duties of the interpreters they collaborate with. Additionally, it investigates the vital documents within the NGO context, whether they are available in foreign languages, and identifying those responsible for translations. Beyond these aspects, the research extends its inquiry to include the perspectives of NGOs on language boundaries in health care, seeking to understand the way non-Hungarian speakers access health services. By examining these dimensions, the findings also aim to contribute valuable insights and serve as a foundational step toward enhancing language services in Hungary.