Bridging Worlds: Crisis Translation as a Catalyst for Integration : Assessment of Usability and Institutional Roles

Abstract

In this thesis, I aim to investigate the role of crisis translation in refugee integration, with a specific focus on translations provided by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Finland amidst Russia’s attack against Ukraine. In addition to assessing the usability of Kela’s translations, I aim to investigate the institutional role within the scope of Finnish law and the European Union’s directives regarding crisis translation practices. The research aims to investigate and evaluate the usability of Kela’s translated materials and assess how EU directives and Finnish laws support translation practices regarding integration efforts. The specific focus of the assessment lies within the material’s effectiveness in aiding refugee integration and providing vital information for Ukrainians. This study employs a heuristic analysis of usability when analyzing Kela’s translated materials. I am basing the heuristic analysis on Suojanen et al. (2015) work User-centered translation. Additionally, the laws are assessed by whether or not they acknowledge language as a core tool in integration efforts. Kela’s materials are extensive; however, a few usability issues arise. Most of these issues concern URLs embedded into some brochures. However, the materials can be argued to provide the audience with necessary vital information to ease integration into Finland. Secondly, Finnish laws have implemented EU directives as standard practice but are very vague in nature. They do not particularly acknowledge language in integration efforts and do not notably support translation processes. In conclusion, Kela has gone above and beyond to provide as much information as possible despite somewhat lacking usability. Institutional roles are lacking; therefore, language and translation are still not acknowledged as integral tools in aiding and providing the best integration for all individuals coming to Finland.