What is the role of an interpreter?

The role of an interpreter is best explained by RID at the following link, however in short, an interpreter is a communication broker between two parties who do not share a common language. An interpreter is not an advocate, they cannot offer legal or medical advise or their personal opinion. Interpreters will sign what you voice, and they will voice what your patient signs. Interpreters operate in 1st person to retain the message in its entirety. Interpreters are often asked to “calm the patient down” or “please just hang out with the patient and keep the patient company” and that is not within their role of an interpreter, your staff and providers must tend to your Deaf consumer as if they are hearing and your interpreter’s only role is to facilitate communication. People will often tell an interpreter, don’t interpret this”, by that time it is too late and an interpreter has already signed verbatim “don’t interpret this”. If there is something that you do not want interpreted, you ...  more