In the article by Malkki, the term "speechless emissary" refers to individuals, often refugees or displaced persons, who are sent or forced to leave their homes and communicate their distress or suffering to the outside world. These individuals may lack the ability to speak the language of the country they find themselves in, or they may have experienced such trauma that they are unable to articulate their experiences. As a result, they become symbolic figures of suffering and displacement, representing the larger issues faced by marginalized and vulnerable populations. The concept highlights the limitations and challenges of communication in the context of displacement and trauma.
