As part of my thesis, in which I use the theoretical field of translation studies in order to shed new light on cultural translation, interaction and dynamics in Australian immigration literature, I intend here to focus on various aspects of the role of the immigrant child as translator in the two texts: Hiam by Eva Sallis and Stella’s Place by Jim Sakkas.

My aim is to discuss how cultural translation is performed in these two texts and in particular what the impacts are on the child as well as the family for being used, or forced to use, a child as translator. By translator I here mean the fact that since the immigrant child grows up with access to (at least) both languages, he/she becomes the family translator, the mediator between adults and various institutional representatives such as doctors and teachers, the negotiator, and also the interpreter of the “new” culture.

I want to focus on how, in these texts, the child is used in situations of interaction; what different discursive strategies are being employed? Besides the role as interlingual translator, the child is, due to his/her linguistic, cultural, as well as social competence, also used as an instrument that will help the parents survive and as a shield against the new and frightening society.

One result of the immigrant child being weighed down with these responsibilities is that the power structure of the whole family is turned upside down. How is the family dealing with that? The fact that the parents are unable to speak the language and have difficulties handling the everyday life on their own may have fatal consequences.