Abstract

PALMER, John. The wichi interpreter: rights and challenges. Rev. Mus. Antropol. [online]. 2020, vol.13, n.3, pp.07-22. ISSN 1852-060X.  http://dx.doi.org/http://doi.org/10.31048/1852.4826.v13.n3.27662.

Abstract Despite various regulations (e. g., the Argentine Constitution) establishing the right of Argentina’s indigenous peoples to have a bilingual interpreter in their judicial and administrative proceedings, in the real life of the Wichi people (Gran Chaco region) this right is generally disregarded. Non-compliance with this right in judicial proceedings, for example, is a serious formal defect that warrants the nullification of the act. After a brief sociolinguistic contextualization of the Wichi language (Mataguayan language family), this paper examines, on the one hand, the rights of the Wichi of Argentina to have a bilingual interpreter in their dealings with the State and, on the other hand, the different obstacles and challenges that Wichi interpreters face in carrying out their task. Thus, three judicial cases are commented upon in order to show not only the complexity of the problem, but also the ambiguities and inconsistencies that lead to a disregard for the right to legitimate defence and, therefore, harm the Wichi people, legally and morally. In addition, to illustrate another aspect of the problem, the Wichi signposts of the Tartagal Judiciary Centre (Salta) and a bilingual booklet on indigenous law are analyzed. The paper concludes that, for the Wichi, the act of interpreting and translating implies a deep commitment to the “inside” of words: a prior search for Wichi goodwill (husék) or its lack is required, before translating what is expressed in one language into the other.

Keywords : Bilingual interpreter; Indigenous justice; Translation; Linguistic rights.

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