Interpreting practices in health care : an investigation of differences across trained and untrained interpreters in initial assessment interviews, within the field of Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy

Abstract

Interpreting is an act that has become so customary within the South African context that it has become virtually invisible. Most health care institutions rely on ad hoc interpreting, which involves haphazard interpreting arrangements in which anyone who speaks the patient's language, is called on to interpret. Untrained interpreters are consistently used in clinical practice due to a severe lack of trained interpreters. Despite this, to date little research has been conducted investigating the differences between trained and untrained interpreters. Furthermore, little research has been undertaken on the use of interpreters in the field of Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy. There is much need for interpreters within our profession, as clinicians usually either speak English or Afrikaans, with very little or no knowledge of indigenous South African languages. In this study, differences between trained and untrained interpreters were examined in the initial assessment interview, within the field of Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy.