Mapping the situation of community interpreting in the Czech Republic

In this article, we delve into the current community interpreting situation in the Czech Republic, focusing on several aspects directly linked to this topic. Our primary objective is to analyze the community interpreting market, particularly in relation to the absence of qualification requirements for community interpreters. As a result of this state of affairs, four groups of interpreters provide these services: professional interpreters, non-professional interpreters, intercultural workers and ad hoc interpreters who work privately, through NGOs, or as contractors of state institutions. We examine the training options and certification processes available in the Czech Republic and address the new challenges that have arisen with the outbreak of the migration crisis in 2022, including short-term and long-term responses. The roles of NGOs and academia in shaping the profile of community interpreters in the Czech Republic are also explored, given that there is no official registration of this profession with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Our study combines descriptive and empirical approaches, presenting up-to-date data on training for community interpreters, specifically within the project under the National Restoration Plan funded by the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, we present the findings of our research conducted in collaboration with NGOs that aimed to map the current situation of community interpreting services they provide. The Institute of Translation Studies at Charles University closely cooperates with various stakeholders in the field of community interpreting, which enables us to provide an adequate overview of the current situation in this area.