7 - Interpreters' voices

Summary

In sorting out the puzzle of the role of interpreters during an ICE, a crucial piece of information is the interpreters' perception of their role. This emic perspective (Van Maanen 1988) allows us to triangulate the evidence of the role at play (discussed in the previous chapter) and the self-reported data obtained from the IPRI. This perspective made it possible for me to contextualize my observations on the role that interpreters play (chapter 6).

My conversations with the informants on their role were in the form of semi-structured interviews. As mentioned in chapter 4, I explored three issues during the interviews: (1) their perceptions of the parties with whom they work (patients and HCPs); (2) sources of stress and tension at work; and (3) their role. Each interview lasted approximately forty-five minutes.

In the following sections I synthesize my analysis of each interpreter's interview. During these interviews, the interpreters interjected anecdotes, stories, and examples, while the manager focused on the skills that are required of interpreters who work at CH. Of the eleven interviewees (ten interpreters and the manager), seven chose Spanish as the language for the interview and four chose English. For the sake of brevity in this chapter, most of the Spanish quotes are translated into English. Informants, except for the manager, are presented in alphabetical order.

Roberto, the manager

Roberto perceives the parties with whom he works as very different from one another: HCPs are educated and powerful, pressed for time, and in need of accurate information.