This article approaches the issue of communication, particularly the "linguistic barrier", based upon a reflection on the German term Dolmetscher, which designates an individual that "translates" orally one language to another. This activity is considered only one of several communication problems. By investigating the origin of the German term, we emphasize the double nature related with this activity: one of rejection, and another one of acceptance. On one hand this term originates from words that are strangers to the German language, highlighting the issues of rejection and non-communicability. On the other, this term, in its origin, designates not only the interpreter, but the mediator between adversary parts, highlighting the acceptance dimension.
communication; interpretation; linguistic barrier; polyphony