An interpreter plays a crucial role when we work with people who do not speak English. Without their assistance we would not be able to provide a service to many groups: including refugees, migrants, and deaf people. But many workers find the experience of using an interpreter frustrating and disconcerting. They are unsure of how they ought to communicate, how the interpreter should behave and how to ensure that all parties fully understand each other. In this course we clarify exactly what the interpreter’s role is, examine best practice in working with them, and discuss some of the ethical and professional issues involved.
These images are examples of words that are very challenging to translate from their source language! An interpreter’s role is often a creative, rather than mechanistic one.
