I have a question that is way different from this, but has to do with navigating difficult situations. Sometimes the providers or patients say two, three medical conditions in a sentence. If you are not aware of those medical terms, how do you keep your coolness in asking for repetition or a moment for you to look up those words? Some patients and providers may think you are not qualified enough or you're not good, but frankly there are hundreds of medical terms to learn along the way. How do we stay professional knowing that this happens ? What to say when are embarrased to ask for repetition/ a moment to find a word again.?
Thank you for sharing this situation. Yes, there are 100's (and even 1,000's!) of medical terms that interpreters need to learn, and there is always more to learn. It is important to be sure to prepare and study for assignments as best possible before accepting an assignment. For example, if an interpreter goes to an assignment at pediatrics and does not know the names of the common childhood vaccinations - a common topic at pediatrics - that reflects poorly on the interpreter's preparedness and could raise legitimate concerns about the interpreter's qualifications for that department. On the other hand, if a pediatric appointment addresses Kawasaki disease - and the interpreters are not given details about the appointment type ahead of time - it is reasonable that the interpreter might need to use additional strategies to determine an equivalent rendition in the target language. Of course, it is always more important (and ethical!) to disclose your limitations, and it is never okay to "make up" words. So, remember that your goal and purpose is to make it possible for speakers of different languages to communicate effectively; your goal is not to "appear" polished and perfect. Reminding yourself - and others - of that will help to elevate the shared goal of any encounter: effective communication for the best possible outcomes - even if that means an occasionally "choppy" interpretation. There is a lot more that could be said about this scenario, but hopefully this brief reply gives some helpful nuggets to keep in mind. (P.S. Don't forget to remind yourself how many terms you do know... and remember that not even medical providers know every medical term/concept for every medical "thing" there is, has been, or will ever be.)
