A Voice for the Voiceless

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Interpreters on the Front Line

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An insight into the work of public service interpreters, a job where every word matters.

An insight into the gruelling work of public service interpreters in the UK, a job where every word matters, revealed through the story of Isaac, a Glasgow-based Urdu interpreter.

How does it feel to be a voice for the voiceless? This documentary gives a fascinating insight into the gruelling work of public service interpreters in the UK, through the personal story of Isaac, a Glasgow-based Urdu interpreter. 

Isaac interprets for high profile murder trials, retelling devastating personal stories in asylum statements, taking police statements in the middle of the night, and delivering life-changing news in healthcare settings.

It’s a profession where every word matters. In the courts, the right words are the difference between freedom or imprisonment. In the asylum system, they are the difference between safety and danger. In health settings, they are the difference between life and death. The stakes are high, and interpreters need to be highly trained in order to make the right choices under pressure. 

Despite the potential consequences of misinterpretation, there are concerns that standards are dropping, partly due to the challenges of outsourcing to agencies. We hear from those raising the alarm – an ex-agency employee, an agency CEO pushing for a better way of operating, the director of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters whose mandate is to protect the public, and a refugee who had a terrible experience during his asylum statement.

Isaac and his interpreting colleagues ask an important question - who is looking out for them? Exposed to extreme and traumatic situations on a daily basis, how can they let off steam without breaking confidentiality rules? What can be done to protect the public service interpreters whose skills are vital to our society?


A Snow Films production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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