Interpreters and Language Mediators in the Italian Health-Care Sector. Institutional, Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Role and Training

Abstract

THIS PAPER EXAMINES A NUMBER OF ASPECTS related to interpreting in the healthsector in Italy. After a brief overview of how interpreters are recruited and the impact of recruitment policies on performance and quality, it addresses issues related to the differentiation of tasks and role between interpreter and language mediator. Lastly it addresses issues related to training. In Italy, the term ‘language mediator’ is used as a rough synonym for the English ‘Community Interpreter’ or ‘Public Service Interpreter’, for reasons that will be explained below. The paper suggests that this terminological confusion impacts on a number of important aspects, not least rendition, the interpreter’s own self-perception and task-management. Nevertheless, it will also examine how one might make use of this more flexible and pro-active role description to improve communication between health-care provider and patient.