ISSN: 1579-9794
Hikma 24(2) (2025), 1 - 5
GAVIOLI, LAURA AND WADENSJÖ, CECILIA. THE ROUTLEDGE
HANDBOOK OF PUBLIC SERVICE INTERPRETING. NEW YORK,
ROUTLEDGE, 2023, 437 PP., ISBN 978-0-367-27842-7
Public service interpreting (PSI) has obtained increasing significance
within the realm of language professionals, driven by a growing demand for
interpreters across various PSI settings (Corsellis, 2008). Pertinent topics,
such as court interpreting, healthcare interpreting and community interpreting,
have been addressed in several authoritative handbooks, including Mikkelson
and Jourdenais’s (2015) The Routledge Handbook of Interpreting, Stone et
al.’s (2022) The Routledge Handbook of Sign Language Translation and
Interpreting, and Moratto and Lim’s (2024) The Routledge Handbook of
Korean Interpreting. In addition, De Pedro Ricoy et al.’s (2009) Interpreting
and Translation in Public Service Settings: Policy, Practice, Pedagogy marked
the initial effort to contribute to the burgeoning body of empirical studies on
translation and interpreting in public service settings. However, it fell short of
providing a comprehensive overview of various PSI issues from diverse
perspectives. Hence, there is a dire need for a thorough exploration of PSI
facets, offering theoretical insights and practical implications for relevant
stakeholders. In response to this demand, The Routledge Handbook of Public
Service Interpreting by Laura Gavioli and Cecilia Wadensjö emerges as a
timely publication that delves into a wide array of topics rooted in empirical
research within the domain.
Comprising twenty-five chapters, the volume is organised into three
parts, adhering to a structured framework of theory, methodology, context and
practice. These facilitate comprehension for PSI practitioners and guide
potential researchers in conducting relevant studies. Part 1 elucidates PSI
research’s theoretical and methodological foundations across its initial seven
chapters. In Chapter 1, Valero-Garcés presents a comprehensive overview of
critical challenges in PSI, encompassing coping with diverse languages,
navigating asymmetric relationships in essential scenarios and the public
sector’s efforts to deliver effective services. She also delves into contentious
issues surrounding interpreters’ ethics and their pivotal role in shaping the PSI
profession. The subsequent three chapters explore qualitative research
perspectives, shedding light on how interpreters’ engagement in public service
situations mirrors and affects social change. In Chapter 2, Gustafsson
employs ethnographic methods to unveil nuanced aspects of equitable
communication in public settings, with a particular emphasis on interpreters’
narratives as rich sources of insight into minority access to public services.
Chapter 3 by Baraldi looks into sociological perspectives on agency,
exemplifying instances where interpreters facilitate social change by
advocating for marginalised groups. In Chapter 4, Mason scrutinises
2 Yonghua (Yoka) Wang
Hikma 24(2) (2025), 1 - 5
pragmatic approaches to PSI research, demonstrating how language, identity
and power dynamics intertwine to shape meaning in public service
interactions, thereby contributing to social pragmatics of interpreting.
In Chapter 5, Meyer addresses the emergence of data collections for
shared research use in PSI studies, like transcripts of interpreted interactions.
He also discusses the development of corpus-based methods for organising
and analysing PSI data. He also underscores the significance of the
Community Interpreting Database (Angermeyer et al., 2012) as a prominent
example of publicly available PSI corpora. The final two chapters of Part 1
delve into the changing landscape of public service interpreting and
translation, mainly focusing on integrating technology and written document
translation. Chapter 6 by Braun, Sharou and Temizöz investigates the impact
of technology on healthcare interpreting, highlighting its transformative effect
on interactions and the challenges it poses for interpreters and service
providers. In Chapter 7, Taibi explores the nuances of translating written
documents for public service, emphasising the importance of accessibility and
responsiveness to readers’ needs and contexts, especially in crisis situations.
Part 2 scrutinises various facets of PSI services across different
settings. The first four chapters of this part concentrate on face-to-face and
remote PSI in legal contexts. In Chapter 8, Angermeyer examines contextual
challenges in courtroom interpreting, drawing attention to the distinctions
between cross-examination and inquisitorial proceedings. Pöllabauer, in
Chapter 9, outlines the evolution of interpreter-mediated asylum interviews
and discusses recurring issues observed in studies exploring authentic
discourse data. Chapter 10, by Licoppe, examines the influence of video links
on courtroom interpreting through ethnomethodology and conversation
analysis. In Chapter 11, Tipton delves into interpreting for victims of domestic
violence, reflecting on both personal and contextual vulnerability.
In addition to legal settings, healthcare, social care, and education are
crucial domains of PSI services. In Chapter 12, Gavioli and Merlini explore the
dual purpose of clinician-patient interpreting: providing medical therapy and
offering care and reassurance. They underline the importance of
comprehending patients’ experiences and concerns to deliver effective
treatment. Plejert, in Chapter 13, examines the challenges of interpreting in
mental health contexts, where cultural differences can complicate
assessments and tests. Interpreters face the delicate task of providing
accurate equivalents without influencing patients’ comprehension. Chapter 14
by Van De Mieroop, Cox and Kerremans addresses PSI in social care, which
has received less attention than in legal and medical contexts. The
contributors highlight the scarcity of empirical research into interpreters’
involvement in social care encounters. They also emphasise the significance
Reseñas 3
Hikma 24(2) (2025), 1 - 5
of interpreter presence and its impact on rapport between institutional
representatives and clients. In Chapter 15, Berge explores interpreting in
educational settings, another under-research area, using classroom video
recordings to advocate for systematic collaboration between interpreters and
teachers to enhance learning conditions.
Part 3 focuses on enhancing the quality of interpreting and promoting
interpreters’ career development in PSI, with an emphasis on interpreter
education as vital for professionalisation and service enhancement. In
Chapter 16, Skaaden explores the organisational aspect of interpreter
education, highlighting its influence on professional integrity and service
quality. Chapter 17 by Stone, Roy and Brunson underscores the value of
signed language interpreter education for enhancing spoken language PSI.
They reveal similarities between signed and spoken language education
practices and discuss innovative teaching methods. Dahnberg examines the
effect of role-play as a training tool for PSI in Chapter 18, exploring its
suitability and design variations for both signed and spoken languages.
Chapter 19 by Tiselius and Dimitrova investigates interpreters’ cognitive
processing via scripted role plays and discusses the concept of monitoring in
face-to-face encounters. The contributors also highlight interpreters’
adaptation in discourse and propose exercises on cognitive load monitoring
for interpreter training. In Chapter 20, Sagli and Skaaden examine blended
learning that combines online and on-campus education across various
disciplines. They provide readers with a blended learning model at Oslo
Metropolitan University, emphasising interactive didactics for effective
learning both online and on-site.
Chapters 21 and 22 underline the significance of applying authentic
recordings and transcripts in interpreter training. In Chapter 21, Niemants,
Hansen and Stokoe introduce the Conversation Analytic Role-Play Method for
interpreter training, emphasising its simulation of real interpreting challenges.
Ticca, Traverso and Jouin, in Chapter 22, propose the REMILAS (Refugees,
Migrants and their Language in Healthcare Services) research project on
multilingual healthcare settings, highlighting a new training programme based
on natural interpreter-mediated talk and self-learning methods. Chapter 23,
authored by Krystallidou, analyses interprofessional education (IPE) as a
teaching model in PSI, drawing on experiences from healthcare education.
The use of IPE in practical training sessions for PSI and medical students to
foster collaboration is discussed. Chapter 24 by Felberg and Sagli explores
the training of public service providers to communicate effectively via
interpreters, stressing its importance and accessibility. The final chapter of the
Handbook, Chapter 25, focuses on educating public service interpreter
teachers. Kadrić and Pöllabauer investigate teaching methods for dialogue
4 Yonghua (Yoka) Wang
Hikma 24(2) (2025), 1 - 5
interpreting, which are applicable beyond teaching to a broader interpreting
context.
As an interpreter, translator and trainer of translator and interpreter, I
find several distinct characteristics in this volume that encourage me to
recommend it to pre- and in-service interpreters, interpreter educators and
researchers of PSI. First, the volume adopts a clear theory-methodology-
context-practice structure that provides easy access for readers to understand
its content and offers explicit guidance for practitioners to follow in their work.
Furthermore, this book delves into various aspects of PSI, covering theoretical
concepts, methodological approaches and practical concerns. Third, the
volume encompasses a wide range of PSI settings, such as healthcare, legal
contexts, social services and emergent situations, offering interpreters and
researchers a nuanced and in-depth understanding of the contexts in which
they are engaged.
Another notable contribution of this volume is its provision of
professional guidance and extensive implications for PSI training. By
synthesising the findings and analyses of empirical studies, the book assists
public service interpreters at different career stages in rethinking how to
advance professional development. Additionally, it enables interpreter trainers
to reflect on and enhance their training programmes by incorporating
knowledge, skills and teaching methods suggested in the volume. Moreover,
the Handbook offers diverse perspectives and insights into PSI by featuring
contributions from leading interpreters and researchers of various disciplines
across the globe. This interdisciplinary approach underscores the
interconnected nature of interpreting, linguistics and sociology. The rich
experience of these experts in teaching and researching specific domains
ensures that readers gain a comprehensive and authoritative understanding
of PSI.
While this volume offers a comprehensive overview of public service
interpreting, it is not without its limitations. Firstly, despite featuring
contributions from leading global experts in PSI, the book could benefit from
incorporating a broader range of voices and perspectives, including those of
in-service public service interpreters, service users and relevant
policymakers. This would provide readers with a more diverse and nuanced
understanding of PSI. Secondly, given the increasing prevalence of artificial
intelligence (AI) technology across industries, readers may expect insights
into how AI tools can be applied in PSI services and PSI training. Integrating
discussions on AI technology in PSI could enhance the relevance of the
volume to contemporary practice. Thirdly, while the volume offers suggestions
for providing PSI services and training potential interpreters, more practical
guidance and best practices for interpreters and interpreter trainers would be
Reseñas 5
Hikma 24(2) (2025), 1 - 5
more beneficial. Addressing topics such as navigating challenging situations,
managing stress and maintaining professionalism could further support
interpreters in their roles.
Albeit these minor flaws, the book herein reviewed provides a
comprehensive and systematic exploration of various aspects of public
service interpreting, including theoretical foundations, methodological
approaches, authentic settings, interpreter training and career development.
It serves as a valuable resource for early-career interpreters seeking to
understand PSI, novice researchers looking for an introductory primer, and
experienced scholars interested in new theoretical and methodological
perspectives. Overall, the Handbook offers informative and explicit insights
that make it an essential resource for pre-service and in-service public service
interpreters, interpreter educators, interpreting materials developers,
curriculum designers and other stakeholders involved in the field of PSI.
REFERENCES
Angermeyer, P. S., Meyer, B., & Schmidt, T. (2012). Sharing community
interpreting corpora: A pilot study. In T. Schmidt & K. Wörner (Eds.),
Multilingual corpora and multilingual corpus analysis (pp. 275–294).
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Corsellis, A. (2008). Public Service Interpreting: The First Steps. New York:
Palgrave Macmillan.
De Pedro Ricoy, R., Perez, I. A., & Wilson, C. W. L. (Eds.). (2009). Interpreting
and Translating in Public Service Settings: Policy, Practice, Pedagogy.
Oxon and New York: Routledge.
Mikkelson, H., & Jourdenais, R. (Eds.). (2015). The Routledge Handbook of
Interpreting. Oxon and New York: Routledge.
Moratto, R., & Lim, H. O. (Eds.) (2023). The Routledge Handbook of Korean
Interpreting. Oxon and New York: Routledge.
Stone, C., Adam, R., de Quadros, R. M., & Rathmann, C. (Eds.) (2022). The
Routledge Handbook of Sign Language Translation and Interpreting.
Oxon and New York: Routledge.
[YONGHUA (YOKA) WANG]
