Lesson 1: Roles of An Interpreter Flashcards
What does LEP stand for
Limited English Proficiency, meaning to not speak/understand English fluently
what do you call someone that does not speak/understand English fluently
Limited English Proficient
What are the 2 main purposes of a medical interpreter
- facilitate understanding in communication between people who speak different languages
- facilitate equal access to health services for LEP patients
what is facilitation?
It means to make something easier, sometimes that requires the medical interpreter to take an active role
what are the 4 main types of communication barriers?
- linguistic barriers
- Barriers of register
- cultural barriers
- systemic barriers
what is an example of a linguistic barrier
a patient and provider speak completely different languages or only speak a little of each other’s language, but not enough to converse
what are barriers of register
refers to the level, complexity, and style of language used; also includes medical terminology that a patient may not be familiar with
- if high register, that means language is more complex and hard to understand
- if low register, that means that language is simple, easy to understand
what are cultural barriers
differences in cultural beliefs in regards to health, healing, autonomy, etc which leads to conflicting expectations of behavior which affects communication and quality of care
what are systemic barriers
these are the barriers at a system level that prevent certain patients from being able to access healthcare
- includes racism, Socioeconomic status (SES), etc
what are the 4 roles of a medical interpreter
- conduit
- clarifier
- culture broker
- advocate
how does an MI act as a conduit
this is when an interpreter is simply saying in target language what the patient has said in source language
when does a MI act as a clarifier
this is when an interpreter makes something said more clearly understandable and may speak with their own voice
when does a MI act as a culture broker
this is when an interpreter is more invasive and provides cultural framework that helps facilitate communication
when does a MI act as an advocate
interpreter will speak on behalf of patient and will be the focus of the interactions
what are the 3 relationships in healthcare appointments?
- patient to provider
- patient to MI
- provider to MI
which of the 3 relationships in healthcare appointments is the most important?
- patient to provider
- the other two help support this main relationship
what is incremental intervention
idea of MI role fluidity that strives to stay in the background as much as possible
what is the difference between translation and interpretation?
Translation is done in written form while interpretation is done in oral form
explain how each interpreter role is increasingly invasive into the patient-provider relationship
the Conduit is the least invasive because an MI is just interpreting the message into the target language, but as an MI moves up the pyramid to the role of culture broker or advocate, the MI begins to use their own words and will be more invasive, leading the conversation
Why is it important for the interpreter to be as unobtrusive as possible in an interpreted encounter?
The main job of an MI is to facilitate communication between two parties without drawing unnecessary attention to themselves because this ensures that the focus will remain on the conversation and not on the MI’s presence; this also helps maintain the neutrality and integrity of the interpretation process and preventing any potential bias or influence on the interaction
What is a collaborative environment and how does it affect the roles an interpreter may take on?
A collaborative environment is a setting where multiple individuals are actively working together and sharing info and responsibility to achieve a common goal
- as an interpreter, this means not just translating words but also actively participating in the communication process by clarifying meaning, providing cultural context, and sometimes advocating for the patient if necessary
What is an adversarial environment, and how does it affect the roles an interpreter may take on?
An adversarial environment refers to a setting where parties involved are actively opposing each other (like in court cases)
- this can impact an interpreter’s role because it requires them to maintain neutrality and focus on accurately conveying the information without taking sides or influencing the interaction
