The Medical Interpreter (Chapter 1. An
Overview of Medical Interpreting
What is Communicative Autonomy? - answerThe capacity of each party in an encounter
to be responsible for and in control of his or her own communication.
What is the purpose of interpreting? - answerThe purpose of interpreting is to support
communicative autonomy. Interpreters do so by facilitating communication Among
parties who d not share a common language.
What is community interpreting? - answerA specialization of interpreting that facilitates
access to community services for individuals who do not speak the language of service.
What is medical interpreting? - answerInterpreting for patients, their families and
healthcare staff in order to facilitate access to healthcare.
What are the categories of interpreters? - answerStaff, contract (self-employed
freelancers), bilingual staff members (often referred to as "dual role" interpreters),
Volunteer.
Explain more about staff interpreters position. - answerTypically full time, salary with
benefits such as vacation and retirement plans. They generally work in hospitals or
large community health centers, or health departments.
Explain more about Contract interpreters (self-employed freelancers) position -
answerThey accept contract work from organizations such as language companies,
hospitals or nonprofit language services. They do not usually receive extra benefits.
They might or might not be reimbursed for expenses such as parking, tolls and mileage.
Explain more about bilingual staff members (dual role) position - answerBilingual
employees hold a primary job that is not interpreting (e.g., medical assistant or nurse).
They can be asked to interpret part-time as needed.
Explain more about volunteer interpreters position. - answerNot paid, often work in a
group such as a "language bank", which is a collection of volunteer interpreters who
serve a particular organization or network.
What is MMIA? (Now IMIA) - answerMassachusetts Medical Interpreters Association
(International Medical Interpreters Association)
Overview of Medical Interpreting
What is Communicative Autonomy? - answerThe capacity of each party in an encounter
to be responsible for and in control of his or her own communication.
What is the purpose of interpreting? - answerThe purpose of interpreting is to support
communicative autonomy. Interpreters do so by facilitating communication Among
parties who d not share a common language.
What is community interpreting? - answerA specialization of interpreting that facilitates
access to community services for individuals who do not speak the language of service.
What is medical interpreting? - answerInterpreting for patients, their families and
healthcare staff in order to facilitate access to healthcare.
What are the categories of interpreters? - answerStaff, contract (self-employed
freelancers), bilingual staff members (often referred to as "dual role" interpreters),
Volunteer.
Explain more about staff interpreters position. - answerTypically full time, salary with
benefits such as vacation and retirement plans. They generally work in hospitals or
large community health centers, or health departments.
Explain more about Contract interpreters (self-employed freelancers) position -
answerThey accept contract work from organizations such as language companies,
hospitals or nonprofit language services. They do not usually receive extra benefits.
They might or might not be reimbursed for expenses such as parking, tolls and mileage.
Explain more about bilingual staff members (dual role) position - answerBilingual
employees hold a primary job that is not interpreting (e.g., medical assistant or nurse).
They can be asked to interpret part-time as needed.
Explain more about volunteer interpreters position. - answerNot paid, often work in a
group such as a "language bank", which is a collection of volunteer interpreters who
serve a particular organization or network.
What is MMIA? (Now IMIA) - answerMassachusetts Medical Interpreters Association
(International Medical Interpreters Association)
