Demeanor of a Professional Interpreter

• Introduce him or herself to both you, and your client. He/she will inform you of his/her duties and/or expectations. He/she will tell you that everything will be interpreted accurately and completely (this means that even bad words would be interpreted), and that all information from the conversation will be kept confidential. He/she will ask you to speak slowly, make frequent pauses, and to avoid using slang and too technical vocabulary.
• Use first person speech when interpreting your word and the words of your client. For example, if your client says, “My stomach hurts,” he/she will interpret, “My stomach hurts,” (NOT “She said her stomach hurts.”).

If you say, “I will order an Upper GI for you,” she might say, “The interpreter is not familiar with the term the doctor used. She will ask him to clarify it so she can interpret accurately.”

• Stand or sit in an unobtrusive place as much as the room setting allows if interpreting in person.
• Never offer advice or opinions related to anything else beside linguistic and cultural issues. For cultural profiles go to Massacusetts General Hospital Medical Interpreter Services and click on the country you wish to research.
• Never get into a side conversation without notifying the other person about it. For example (as stated above), interpreter would notify the client first that she need to clarify something with you before starting to talk to you in his/her own words. This way the client is not left aside all confused and not knowing what is going on.
• Sometimes carry a dictionary and/or a notebook to jot down notes while interpreting.