“...then I say: ‘I’m sorry, I cannot judge that.’”

Abstract

Linguistic analyses for origin determination (LADO) constitute an established, yet not uncontroversial, practice in asylum procedures. While formal LADO procedures rely on the assessment of linguistic evidence by language experts and have themselves been subject to methodological criticism, little is known about whether and under what conditions interpreters are informally called upon to assess applicants’ linguistic origin in the course of asylum procedures. This article explores the extent to which interpreters may encounter such situations in Austrian asylum practice. Based on an exploratory interview with an experienced interpreter from the relevant context, it examines the scope of action available to interpreters in such situations and potential tensions between professional role conceptions and institutional expectations. It further identifies research desiderata and relevant areas for future empirical research and formulates recommendations for practice.