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ICAHI (Interlingual and Intercultural Communication in International Protection Hearings in Italy) research project focuses on the analysis of interlingual and intercultural communication in international protection hearings in Italy, with particular attention to the role of interpreters and linguistic-cultural mediators. These hearings represent a turning point in the asylum procedure, as the assessment of the applicant’s credibility—and consequently the outcome of the protection request—depends on them.

Building on previous research in this area, our project seeks to broaden the scope of observation by including a wider range of language combinations and a larger number of actors involved. The aim is to understand how communicative dynamics, power asymmetries, cultural differences, and professional practices shape meaning-making during the hearings.

Our project does not merely describe existing challenges, but seeks to develop operational proposals for the definition of best practices, with particular reference to interpreter training and interprofessional collaboration among all actors involved in the hearings. In this perspective, our research positions itself as both a tool for knowledge production and an instrument of intervention, with the potential to impact academic, institutional, and social domains.