In Search of the Essential Competences for Overcoming Language Barriers in Public Services

Tamara Mikolič Južnič; Nike K. Pokorn

doi:10.4312/elope.18.1.15-35

Authors

Tamara Mikolič Južnič University of Ljubljana
Nike K. Pokorn University of Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/elope.18.1.15-35

Keywords:

linguistic inclusion, national vocational qualification, community interpreting, intercultural mediation, competences

Abstract

It is argued in the article that despite the relatively strong presence of English in Slovenia, the use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) alone does not guarantee access to quality public services. To supplement the use of ELF interpreting support is needed, in particular in high-risk situations. A step in this direction was the certification of a national vocational qualification for community interpreters for Albanian in 2020. Since at the same time a new vocational profile for intercultural mediators was created, which also aims to assist the inclusion of migrants in the Slovene society, we investigated the differences between these two profiles by comparing the competences defined in both. The results show that despite some overlaps Slovene vocational standards for both professions differ significantly: while transfer and linguistic competences are central to community interpreter’s profile, conflict resolution and mediation competence figure more prominently in the intercultural mediator’s profile.

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