The study investigates language and social interaction in the mediation of criminal and civil cases, in monolingual encounters as well as multilingual encounters involving an interpreter. With the help of a mediator pair, the parties affected by a crime or dispute engage in dialogue to discuss what has happened and to seek resolution or compensation. The study uses video recordings to examine what it is like to participate as a speaker in this type of mediated conversation. The concept of ‘distributed agency' illustrates how all those present can take part in shaping the mutual positioning and interaction between the main parties: in building conversational actions, agency becomes distributed and intertwined between the mediators, parties and interpreters in various ways. In addition to videos, interviews and written documents are examined. The approach and results of the study will be used to reflect on and further develop mediation practices in collaboration with stakeholders.

2023

2027