The current political decisions regarding the cut in funding for the German Translators’ Fund and the changes brought about by the Court Interpreters Act raise questions that go far beyond the professional challenges of individuals. This article sheds light on the impact of these measures on the linguistic and cultural landscape of Germany, on the professional situation of professionals in the field of translation and interpreting, and on the social significance of their work.
Admissions now only for a limited time
The German government’s planned cuts to the German Translators’ Fund and other federal cultural funds will have far-reaching consequences for Germany’s cultural and linguistic landscape. In particular, the halving of these funds threatens the livelihoods of numerous people who work as translators and interpreters and are already confronted with an increasingly precarious market environment. This is aggravated by the Court Interpreters Act (GDolmG), which was passed in 2023 and tightens the framework for the admission of interpreters, further exacerbating an already strained situation.
The Court Interpreters Act stipulates, among other things, that in future interpreters will only be sworn in for a limited period of time – a regulation that previously only applied in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to sec. 7 of the law, the general swearing-in now ends after five years and can be extended by a further five years at a time upon request. This poses a significant hurdle for interpreters, since the general swearing-in is a central requirement for working in court. Without this authorization, interpreters are not allowed to work in court proceedings, which directly endangers their professional existence. The fact that these restrictions do not apply to authorized translators raises the question of whether the law in its current form sufficiently takes into account the special requirements and challenges of interpreting.
At ReSartus, we are closely monitoring the impact of the legislative changes on the interpreting and translation professions and warn that the combination of funding cuts and more restrictive legislation will lead to an acute shortage of skilled workers. Professionals in these fields play a key role in a culturally and linguistically diverse society such as Germany. They are indispensable for ensuring communication and understanding in a country that relies on a high degree of linguistic mediation due to its migration experiences and international interdependencies. Limited admission, which makes access to these professions more difficult, will result in experienced professionals who have done valuable work for many years no longer being able to continue their professional activities. This particularly affects people who interpret and translate into rare or less common languages, but whose expertise and experience are indispensable. In particular, older colleagues and those who tend to work in this field on a part-time basis are now increasingly considering leaving the industry after losing their certification. In addition, each language requires its own examination, including examination fees. This may mean that interpreters who are currently sworn in for a whole range of related languages will not renew their admissions for their less frequently required languages, as the effort involved to maintain them is no longer worthwhile.
The potential consequences this might have for the justice system should not be underestimated. The role of interpreters in court proceedings is essential to ensuring fair and just administration of justice. Without qualified professionals with the necessary legal and linguistic skills, there is a risk of misunderstandings and wrong decisions, which can undermine the credibility of the justice system. In this context, it is concerning that the Court Interpreters Act further restricts the framework conditions for interpreters instead of strengthening them. It raises the question of whether the time-limited swearing-in does justice to the role and importance of interpreters in the judiciary and whether the regulations are sufficiently flexible to meet the various requirements and specializations within the interpreting profession
Austerity measures affect the Translators’ Fund
The planned cuts to the Translators’ Fund will further exacerbate this problem by putting even more pressure on an industry that is already underfunded. The market alone does not adequately support the work of translators and interpreters, as fees often do not reflect the extensive training and expertise required for these professions. Increasing competition from abroad and from machine translation is putting additional pressure on fees. Particularly in an international economic and cultural country like Germany, which relies on exchange with other countries and cultures, linguistic mediation plays a central role. Translators and interpreters not only enable communication, but also contribute significantly to cultural diversity and literary exchange. The German Translators’ Fund supports this work by funding projects and works that would not be realizable without these funds. Cutting funding in half would put many professionals in a precarious situation and impoverish the cultural landscape.
The German government’s plans to cut the Federal Cultural Foundation and, in particular, the German Translator’s Fund, illustrate a worrying development that endangers a fundamental pillar of linguistic and cultural mediation. In combination with the Court Interpreters Act, this threatens to jeopardize the existence of many professionals in these fields and to further exacerbate the shortage of skilled professionals. The social and cultural consequences would be far-reaching and could, in the long term, undermine Germany’s position as a culturally diverse and open country. To counteract these developments, a re-evaluation of the proposed cuts and a revision of the legal regulations are urgently needed. Only in this way can it be ensured that qualified specialists can continue to do their important work and that the country’s cultural diversity is preserved.
