Professionalisation on interpreters
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Abdelhak Elghezouani
Abstract
In this paper I suggest that the professionalisation of interpreters in mental health care must be linked to the specific functions they have in their role as mediators and consequently to the identities they assume in this context. The involvement of a linguistic intermediary, a third person, brings additional complexity and plurality of frames to a setting that ordinarily includes two persons. Professionalisation, to my mind, implies sorting out and determining more precisely which function (or functions) the interpreter can have and will have in this kind of setting. In other words, professionalisation will concern the real functions and the desired functions of the linguistic intermediary. The paper distinguishes between four ways of viewing the role of interpreter, suggesting one of these – that of a culture and language broker more than that of a mere translator – to be developed for mental health care encounters specifically.
Abstract
In this paper I suggest that the professionalisation of interpreters in mental health care must be linked to the specific functions they have in their role as mediators and consequently to the identities they assume in this context. The involvement of a linguistic intermediary, a third person, brings additional complexity and plurality of frames to a setting that ordinarily includes two persons. Professionalisation, to my mind, implies sorting out and determining more precisely which function (or functions) the interpreter can have and will have in this kind of setting. In other words, professionalisation will concern the real functions and the desired functions of the linguistic intermediary. The paper distinguishes between four ways of viewing the role of interpreter, suggesting one of these – that of a culture and language broker more than that of a mere translator – to be developed for mental health care encounters specifically.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Foreword: Interpreting professions, professionalisation and professionalism 1
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Critical linking up
- Critical linking up 11
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Interpreters on duty in Interaction: Studies of micro dynamics
- The interpreter in multi-party medical encounters 27
- Interpreting in asylum hearings 39
- Conversational dynamics as an instructional resource in interpreter-mediated technical settings 53
- A data driven analysis of telephone interpreting 65
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Interpreters in the community: Studies of macro dynamics
- Interpreter-mediated police interviews 79
- Community interpreting in Poland 95
- Alternative futures for a National Institute of Translation 107
- The interpreter’s ‘third client’ 121
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Developing local standards
- The Swedish system of authorizing interpreters 135
- Establishment, maintenance and development of a national register 139
- From Aequitas to Aequalitas 151
- The California standards for healthcare interpreters 167
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Professional ideology: Food for thought
- Professionalisation of interpreting with the community 181
- Why bother? Institutionalisation, interpreter decisions and power relations 193
- The interpreter as advocate 205
- Professionalisation on interpreters 215
- Professional stocks of interactional knowledge in the interpreter’s profession 227
- Aristotelian ethics and modern professional interpreting 241
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Improving and assessing professional skills: Training initiatives and programmes
- Formative assessment 253
- Interpreter internship program 263
- On-line and between the lines 273
- A bachelor programme in interpreting 283
- From helpers to professionals 297
- Index 311
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Foreword: Interpreting professions, professionalisation and professionalism 1
-
Critical linking up
- Critical linking up 11
-
Interpreters on duty in Interaction: Studies of micro dynamics
- The interpreter in multi-party medical encounters 27
- Interpreting in asylum hearings 39
- Conversational dynamics as an instructional resource in interpreter-mediated technical settings 53
- A data driven analysis of telephone interpreting 65
-
Interpreters in the community: Studies of macro dynamics
- Interpreter-mediated police interviews 79
- Community interpreting in Poland 95
- Alternative futures for a National Institute of Translation 107
- The interpreter’s ‘third client’ 121
-
Developing local standards
- The Swedish system of authorizing interpreters 135
- Establishment, maintenance and development of a national register 139
- From Aequitas to Aequalitas 151
- The California standards for healthcare interpreters 167
-
Professional ideology: Food for thought
- Professionalisation of interpreting with the community 181
- Why bother? Institutionalisation, interpreter decisions and power relations 193
- The interpreter as advocate 205
- Professionalisation on interpreters 215
- Professional stocks of interactional knowledge in the interpreter’s profession 227
- Aristotelian ethics and modern professional interpreting 241
-
Improving and assessing professional skills: Training initiatives and programmes
- Formative assessment 253
- Interpreter internship program 263
- On-line and between the lines 273
- A bachelor programme in interpreting 283
- From helpers to professionals 297
- Index 311
