In the face of challenges confronting migrants and refugees, public service interpreters
and translators play a vital role in facilitating their access to rights, essential
information, and services. This study examines the landscape of public service interpreters
and translators (PSITs) in Hungary, where, despite the absence of official PSITs,
refugees and migrants are present and require language assistance. The research’s
focus is restricted to the practices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), recognizing
their valuable role in helping migrants assert their rights and navigate the complexities
of the Hungarian administration. Through semi-structured interviews, the research
extensively surveys six NGOs to explore the qualifications, language skills, and duties
of the interpreters they collaborate with. Additionally, it investigates the vital
documents within the NGO context, whether they are available in foreign languages,
and identifying those responsible for translations. Beyond these aspects, the research
extends its inquiry to include the perspectives of NGOs on language boundaries in
health care, seeking to understand the way non-Hungarian speakers access health services.
By examining these dimensions, the findings also aim to contribute valuable insights
and serve as a foundational step toward enhancing language services in Hungary.
