Interpreting and knowledge mediation in the healthcare setting: What do we really mean by “accuracy”?

George Major,Jemina Napier

doi:10.52034/lanstts.v11i.304

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of “accuracy” in the context of interpreter-mediated healthcare interaction by reporting on a study of simulated doctor-patient consultations involving professional Australian Sign Language (Auslan)/English interpreters. Wadensjö’s (1998) taxonomy of renditions is used to analyse the ways interpreters convey health information. Our data reveals that interpreters frequently produce reduced and expanded renditions that are not detrimental to the message or the interaction. There has previously been little discussion of how qualified interpreters make these decisions, and we suggest that achieving accuracy in the healthcare setting may be a more dynamic and context-dependent process than previously suggested. While the use of role-plays can on the one hand can be considered a delimiting factor (due to their artificial nature), they also allow a systematic comparison of different interpreters, thus providing more robust evidence for healthcare interpreter training.

Highlights

Introduction and contextual overviewThe success of interpreter-mediated healthcare interaction depends to a significant extent on the linguistic choices made by interpreters (Tebble, 1999) and the ethical tenet of accuracy is considered important, given that real health outcomes are on the line (Hale, 2007)
Accuracy is defined as the requirement for an interpreter to deliver information within a message “in the same spirit, intent and manner of the speaker, with no additions, deletions or alterations to the meaning” (Napier, McKee, & Goswell, 2010, p. 74). What does this look like in practice? And what are the implications for healthcare? Studies have shown that untrained interpreters in healthcare settings may not convey information accurately (e.g., Dubslaff & Martinsen, 2005; Valero Garcés, 2005), but few studies have systematically explored how qualified interpreters perform in this regard, and even fewer have described how healthcare interpreters can add or omit information and still achieve accuracy
This paper explores the concept of accuracy in the context of interpreter-mediated healthcare interaction involving Australian Sign Language (Auslan)/English interpreters

Summary

Introduction

The success of interpreter-mediated healthcare interaction depends to a significant extent on the linguistic choices made by interpreters (Tebble, 1999) and the ethical tenet of accuracy is considered important, given that real health outcomes are on the line (Hale, 2007). This paper explores the concept of accuracy in the context of interpreter-mediated healthcare interaction involving Australian Sign Language (Auslan)/English interpreters. Accreditation is available at Paraprofessional or Professional level. Paraprofessional level accreditation is an entry-level qualification that assesses interpreters as being “safe to practise”, the Professional level is regarded as the ideal minimum level of competence. An accredited interpreter is not necessarily a trained interpreter

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