synopsis

Thesis Synopsis

French Interpreters: From French Colonial Africa to Modern Conflict Zones in Afghanistan and Iraq

Introduction

This study studies the role of interpreters from the World Wars, late 19th century, to the contemporary conflict zones in both Iraq and Afghanistan. It investigates how the role of interpreters in terms of hierarchical positions, functions, and responsibilities have evolved specifically from French colonial time to the operations in the modern military. Here, the contributions of interpreters will be analyzed in terms of their integration into command structures, language policies, continuities in their practical roles, and communication over time. This study shows the impact of language policy on authority of interpreters, training, positioning, and recruitment as key agents of those polices inside the systems of military.