Training of Lecturers

3.3 The role of an interpreter

In a multicultural setting, interpreters take on the task of mediating verbal and nonverbal communication and thus they take on the task of mediating culture. In any setting that requires translation of spoken communication, the interpreter takes on the role of a facilitator: he takes part in the exchange, yet has to stay in the background. His task is to accurately translate verbal and nonverbal communication between two parties that could otherwise not communicate. Thus, his viewpoint and his role considering secrecy and partiality are key points.

A few questions arise regarding the spatial position of the interpreter during the exchange. Is it better if the interpreter stands or sits down? Should he or she stand or sit next to the pediatrician or next to the child along with its caretaker(s)? Not all situations are the same, so no overall advice can be given here. Since, however, facilitation and mediation are the main tasks of the interpreter in a multilingual exchange, it is recommended that he or she takes a neutral position. He should be located in a way that communication flows freely between the pediatrician and the patient and not from the pediatrician to the interpreter to the patient or vice versa. Contributing to the free flow of communication between the provider and the child, the pediatrician should include visual aids that can serve as a basis for communication whenever possible. In some languages picture dictionaries of medical terms with simple definitions of diseases, instruments, medicine, and other health-related items are available and should be used.

Interpreting in pediatrics is unique compared with other multilingual settings in that the interpreter, like the pediatrician, is dealing with patients whose ability to express themselves is not yet fully developed. In some cases, as with very young children, communication can be very rudimentary and therefore limited. The interpreter must thus choose the appropriate register when mediating between a child’s vocabulary and that of an experienced, studied professional such as a pediatrician. It is recommended to keep the tone and mood of the experience playful if possible. This will help the interpreter to build rapport with the child and can ease the situation emotionally. It also aids in forming a bond of trust and respect. This will in turn ensure that the parents and the child trust the tending pediatrician.

In order to successfully mediate multicultural differences, it is imperative that the interpreter is a trained professional who knows, understands and appreciates the cultural idiosyncrasies of both parties involved - the patient with his or her caretaker and the pediatrician. The interpreter should at all costs avoid expressing surprise, irritation or even disdain over any expression of cultural belief, value, orientation or the like coming from either the provider or the patient. The interpreter’s role as a neutral facilitator should be observed.

Online Resources

• The importance of language and culture in pediatric care: Case studies from the Latino communityThis article emphasizes the role of an appropriate language in pediatric care.
• Roles of community interpreters in pediatrics as seen by interpreters, physicians and researchersThis paper is an attempt at defining more clearly the various roles of community interpreters and the processes implicitly connected with each of them.