10 / A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION IN HEALTH CARE / NATIONAL HEALTH LAW PROGRAM
Modes of Interpreting
Modes Description Effective Use Challenges
Consecutive
Consecutive interpreting utilizes
turn-taking as a means to facilitate
communication.
The interpreter waits for natural
pauses in the conversation during
consecutive interpreting to render an
accurate interpretation. The interpreter
may interrupt the speaker after a few
sentences to interpret what has been
said before allowing the speaker to
continue.
Consecutive interpreting works most
effectively during conversations in
which there are natural pauses between
sentences. Health care often consists of
a string of question and answer sessions
which makes this the most easily
implemented mode.
Most effective in small rooms where
talking at the same time is confusing
for listener.
The effectiveness of an interpreter’s
consecutive interpretation depends
on his or her memory. Because the
interpreter must listen to a critical
amount of information before
interpreting it, he or she will have to
memorize it and then interpret.
The interpreter must also manage the
flow of the conversation, which can
be challenging when working with
two or more individuals with distinct
personalities and communication styles.
Simultaneous
Simultaneous interpreting occurs
when the interpreter begins message
conversion before the speaker has
finished speaking and then delivers the
same message at almost the same time.
Simultaneous interpreting can be
delivered either with specialized audio
equipment (allowing the interpreter to
be remote) or in-person using a whisper
technique referred to as chuchotage.
Simultaneous interpreting requires
intense concentration and can lead
to interpreter fatigue. In conference
settings, simultaneous interpreters
work in pairs and switch off every 20-30
minutes in order to rest.
Simultaneous interpreting can be used
during emergency situations in which
time is of the essence. Simultaneous
interpreting is also used frequently
during mental health encounters in
which the provider may not want to
interrupt the patient’s message.
Simultaneous interpreting is effective
during encounters in which not everyone
requires the interpreter. The interpreter
can move closer to the LEP person
and interpret to him/her only without
interrupting the speakers. For example,
during group therapy, in which only
one patient is LEP, the interpreter can
either work remotely or use a whisper
technique, allowing the speaker to
continue the teaching with minimal
interruption. The interpreter may,
however, need to display flexibility, and
utilize the consecutive mode when the
LEP patient wishes to interact with the
rest of the group or ask questions of the
therapist.
With whisper interpreting, interpreters
face the risks inherent to being in close
proximity with other persons.
In small groups, the interpreter may be
distracting to the speaker if he or she is
speaking at the same time as them, or
too loudly.
The challenge with remote simultaneous
interpreting is the availability of
equipment. Usually such specialized
equipment is available for rent from
conference interpreting companies.
Summarization
Summarization requires that the
interpreter pick out the main ideas of a
message and omit details. Due to the
delicate nature of health care and the
heightened importance of the details,
this mode of interpreting is rarely
recommended.
In a situation in which a provider may
be trying to get general information
transmitted quickly, the interpreter,
with the approval of the provider, may
help the situation by summarizing the
discourse of the family members.
Often times a health care provider may
obtain valuable insight from the details.
When summarizing, the interpreter
may inadvertently omit some of these
important details, possibly interfering
with the provider’s ability to make
informed decisions. The interpreter
makes the decision to identify details he/
she feels is important and/or relevant.