Medical Interpreting

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Three modes of interpretation for medical interpreters

I have spoken about this in the past, but I believe this is worth considering once again. Healthcare interpreters need to be proficient and the three modes of interpretation. What are they and when are they needed? 1 Consecutive Interpreting By far the most common and preferred method of interpreting for medical interpreters is consecutive […]

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Conduits of Communication? Part 4

As we have considered so far in this series of articles, a conduit of communication is simply a machine, a robot. Although I understand the purpose is to keep healthcare interpreters neutral and unbiased, people are not machines. People are complicated, and so are the roles of the professional interpreter. In addition to being professional

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Conduits of communication? Part 3

How has the concept of the medical interpreters simply serving as a conduit of communication affected the relationship between the medical professionals and interpreters? For many years now, interpreters and medical professionals have been taught that the role of the medical interpreter is to serve only as conduits of information. They are to remain invisible,

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Conduits of communication? Part 2

As discussed in Conduits of Communication Part 1, there is a valid reason why it has been taught that interpreters are conduits of communication. By categorizing interpreters into unemotional machinery, the issue of interpreter bias is perceived to have been addressed. However, often resolving one problem creates new ones. For instance, in 2015, my downstairs

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It has been one crazy year!

Hello everybody! Welcome to my blog reboot. Hopefully, I have not lost too many followers. Let’s begin with a 2020 recap of our company. Next, 2021 intentions will be shared with you. First, I am very grateful because we survived! The beginning of 2020 was exciting, hopeful, and full of plans. I began attending Columbia

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Interpreting at Aquatic Therapy

A number of years ago, I was assigned for the first time to interpret for a patient receiving aquatic therapy. I was in a large, indoor, aquatic center. The atmosphere was quite warm in order to keep the swimmers comfortable. I stood uncomfortable, sweating profusely on the side of the pool shouting instructions to the

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Being watched by another interpreter!

From time to time, I find myself interpreting at an assignment and another interpreter observes. It is not the most comfortable feeling to have someone listen to everything you say, ready to point out any mistake that is made. This is the case sometimes when I have been assigned to interpret by the insurance company,

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When the interpreter has to deal with someone flirting

I originally wrote this in 2012. I find it funny because it still happens from time to time. Sometimes the interpreter finds himself in very unusual circumstances.  I have talked about the uncomfortable feeling of interpreting vulgar language. How about interpreting for someone inappropriately flirting? A while back, I was assigned to interpret for a

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Bad News

I originally wrote this in 2011 and since that time the experience has occurred over and over again. It never gets easier. I was recently interpreting for a patient at a doctor’s appointment. The doctor entered the room and in a very clear, straight forward way, told the patient that he had tried everything he

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I am tickled pink to be interpreting!

This was originally posted in 2011 with a couple of updates. When interpreting, accuracy is absolutely necessary. There is no room for mistakes. In a medical setting for example, the patient needs to know what the doctor is saying. Likewise, the doctor must know the patient’s concerns in order to perform his vital job correctly.

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