Children and teenagers acting as language brokers : the perception of teachers at secondary schools

Translation and Interpreting Studies (TIS) usually consider all types and genres of translation and interpreting by adults who perform either as professionals or amateurs. However, under the current migration reality, there are many children and teenagers who act as translators and interpreters for their parents and (extended) families or communities, without any training or acknowledgement. They are called Child Language Brokers, to clearly state the difference with professional, adult translators and interpreters, and this article seeks to shed some light on their reality, which has received little, if any, attention from scholars in the translation, interpreting and interculturality fields. After a general overview of the existing literature, the design and results of a study conducted in Barcelona (Spain) in 2019 and 2020 are shared. The aim of the study is to describe the existing reality with a view to contributing to mapping the actual situation of child language brokering around the world