Child language brokering in the migrant and deaf families in Türkiye

Aral M., Şen Bartan Ö.

Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development , cilt.47, sa.7, ss.1-17, 2026 (SSCI)

Özet

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of voluntary interpreting performed by children of migrant and Deaf families in Türkiye on their language skills, their views on interpreting and the difficulties they experienced during interpreting, their emotional state related to interpreting (before, during, and after interpreting), and ethical aspects. Semi-structured retrospective interviews were conducted with 3 migrants and 3 CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults) who have previously provided interpreting for their families in social settings in Türkiye. The data obtained were evaluated using thematic analysis. The study is expected to shed light on child language brokering in Türkiye from two different modalities. Furthermore, since this type of non-professional interpreting is an ongoing interpreting activity alongside professional interpreting services, accessing the state of these interpreting activities and issues may also provide a way to generate solutions. In this way, it is expected to contribute to increasing the awareness of professionals working in fields such as healthcare, courts, and education about child language interpreting in different contexts and modalities.