Citizen interpreters in crisis response: Social capital, ethical trade-offs, and hybrid quality control in emergency language services--A comparative analysis of volunteer-led practices in COVID-19 pandemic and climate disasters.

This article examines the critical role of citizen interpreters—community volunteers with bilingual fluency but limited formal training—in emergency language services (ELS) during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal and Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. Using social capital theory (bonding and bridging capital) and cultural capital concepts, it analyzes how these interpreters navigate tensions between cultural relevance, ethical dilemmas, and institutional accuracy. The study proposes a hybrid quality control model combining rapid crisis terminology training, peer review, and institutional mentorship to enhance both trust and accountability. Findings emphasize that citizen interpreters’ culturally embedded relational expertise, when supported by participatory frameworks, can transform ELS into practices of language justice, addressing gaps left by professional and technological approaches. The article calls for institutional investment in volunteer infrastructure and ethical training to sustain inclusive, culturally sensitive crisis communication.