Interpreting in the context of community work: Language and cultural mediation for Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia – background and case study

Abstract

Slovakia has not developed a systematic tradition of public service interpreting (PSI), as it has historically been a country with low levels of immigration. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the need for language mediation in communication between newly arrived refugees and Slovak public institutions increased dramatically. This paper examines how this need was met and presents results of a survey among Slovak institutions providing integration services, focusing on interpreted communication strategies, challenges, and perceived institutional needs. Complementary semi-structured interviews with non-professional interpreters working at border crossings illustrate frontline realities. A case study highlights the experiences of a PSI practitioner who simultaneously works as a community worker, focusing on communication with refugees. The study identifies key challenges in PSI practice in Slovakia and formulates recommendations for the development of accessible PSI services and systematic university-level interpreter training tailored to the Slovak context. By contextualizing these findings within broader European PSI discussions, the paper contributes to knowledge from a country with a previously limited PSI infrastructure, thereby expanding perspectives from non-traditional immigration contexts.