Non-cooperative communicative situations and impartiality Interlinguistic and intercultural mediation with asylum seekers

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the dilemmas related to impartiality faced by interlinguistic and intercultural mediators involved in professional interviews with asylum seekers. It is common that, due to a lack of trust between interlocutors, these interactions are uncooperative. The data for this study are drawn from interviews with mediators and service providers who work with two NGOs and who are often involved in such interactions. Based on the data from the interviews, as well as from other work in this field, a description is given of the different types of situations in which mediators' interventions may be likely to benefit or harm one of the interlocutors. From a theoretical viewpoint, an alternative classification of the principles governing the communicative behaviour of mediators in this type of interaction is proposed. The data presented in this study seem to point to the convenience of considering impartiality not as just another principle of action, but as a determining factor when dealing with the dilemmas posed by the application of these principles.