The Dos and Don’ts of Interpreting
Give Your Clients the Best Interpretive Service Possible
Nonprofit staff should stop interpreting. Unless they are interpreters, that is. The premise is simple: you wouldn’t let someone fix your car just because they have a couple of vehicles in their garage and we don’t allow people to teach high school algebra just because they passed some college math classes, so why do we think that merely knowing a language is sufficient for interpreting, particularly when the stakes can be so high?
If you’re bilingual to any degree, it’s probably happened to you. Someone comes up to you and says “You know Spanish, right? Would you mind helping out with this?” And you agree, stop whatever you’re doing – such as the job you’re actually paid to do – and start interpreting. Depending on the topic and your skill level, you might do a fine job or you might stumble through. It might not really matter if, say, you’re explaining where the cafeteria is. But if you’re giving information about the process to become a citizen or how to file for Medicaid, even a small mistake can have major consequences.
And mistakes happen. One study found that untrained interpreters in health care settings, such as family members or staff pulled from other jobs, averaged 31 errors per encounter. These included omissions (leaving out important information), false fluency (using words or phrases that do not exist in a particular language), substitutions (replacing a word or phrase with one of a different meaning), editorializations (injecting the interpreter’s opinion), and additions. In other words, even the most well-intentioned person can be doing more harm than good.
Even certified interpreters can fail to meet standards, particularly in specific arenas. For instance, there is no national certification or licensing of health care interpreters. In fact, only one state, Washington, has an official certification process. Which is not to say that people can’t be trained and certified in health care interpreting – they are all the time. However, the programs available vary widely – from 240+ hour classes complete with role playing and practicums to six-hour crash courses of dubious value.
The ideal solution is to have bilingual front-line staff who understand the subject matter they are dealing with and can help out clients in their language of preference. Barring that, be choosy in your selection of an interpreter. Look for:
- Formal training in interpretation. Ask the interpreter to explain any certifications he or she may have.
- Cultural competence. Do not underestimate the ability to understand slang, interpret nonverbal cues, be sensitive to religious values, etc. Remember, people in dozens of countries speak Spanish and French; someone from Spain may not be the ideal interpreter for a largely Mexican clientele.
- Specialization in the pertinent subject matter, such as legal or health care interpreting
Other factors to consider:
- Will the interpreter be physically present, or will the interpretation occur over the phone? Being able to see body language is useful, but if your need for interpreting is rare, or you have far-ranging language needs, a phone service may be more practical.
- Will the interpretation be simultaneous or consecutive? With consecutive interpreting, not only is there a lag while the interpreter conveys the message, there is a danger that part of the message will be lost if the speakers don’t pause frequently. Simultaneous interpretation lets the parties speak naturally and hear responses immediately; however, it is more expensive.
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