What is child language brokering? Why does it exist?

When we think about childhood and adolescence, we think about going to school, playing, making friends, playing sports, etc. What we do not usually envision is children and youth who act as language and cultural mediators for other children and for adults even in situations and on topics and issues from which minors are usually protected. Activities in which children and youth take on this role are labelled Child Language Brokering and this Chapter will explain why, in many situations, children are required to take on the role of the language broker, what they translate and mediate and for whom, and the effect that this practice has on their and their families’ lives.