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Regional Varieties of Spanish in the Context of Czech/Spanish Community Interpreting

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2021

Abstract

The paper presented at the conference addressed the topic of Czech/Spanish community interpreting. Since there is a growing Hispanic community in the Czech Republic and many of the services offered by Czech integration centres are being used more often by non-EU nationals than by EU citizens, it is desirable for Czech/Spanish community interpreters to be familiar with different varieties of Spanish (i.e.

Cuban, Venezuelan, etc.). Being familiar with different regional varieties of Spanish may help the interpreter avoid serious problems and, generally, feel more confident.

The paper presented data collected through a questionnaire survey among Czech/Spanish community interpreters. Apart from questions closely linked to different varieties of Spanish (from where are the interpreters' clients originally from most frequently, how often were the interpreters in contact with American Spanish while studying Spanish or interpreting, etc.), the survey also addressed the COVID-19 pandemic (whether the demand for Czech/Spanish interpreting increased, whether there has been an increase in phone or video remote interpreting, etc.).

At the end of the presentation, possible improvements in the education of future Czech/Spanish community interpreters were provided.