[Dayane Malone]

I agree knowing this helps interpreters understand the word better.

[Dayane Malone]

I agree with you Emily. It’s important understanding medical suffixes.

[Dayane Malone]

For a medical interpreter understanding prefixes and suffixes is a very useful skill to have. Medical terms can be complicated, and full of words that most people never hear in their everyday life. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals often use these terms when describing conditions, procedures, or treatments. If an interpreter can recognize the smaller parts that make up these words, it becomes a lot easier to understand their meaning and interpret them correctly for the patient.
Prefixes and suffixes are like puzzle pieces that gives clues about what a medical word means. For example, the prefix hyper- means “too much” or “above normal,” and hypo- means “too little” or “below normal.” So when an interpreter hears hypertension or hypoglycemia, they can quickly understand these words refer to high blood pressure and low blood sugar. Similarly, the suffix -itis means inflammation, so words like bronchitis or dermatitis instantly suggest an infection or irritation in a specific part of the body.
Knowing these word parts also helps interpreters stay calm and confident in environments like hospitals or emergency rooms. Even if they’ve never heard a term before they can use their knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to make an educated guess about its meaning. This not only improves accuracy but also helps avoid dangerous misunderstandings that could affect a patient’s care.
Summarizing, learning medical prefixes and suffixes gives interpreters a strong foundation for understanding medical language. It allows them to translate more accurately, communicate more clearly, and build trust with both healthcare providers and patients. This knowledge makes their work smoother and faster.

[Dayane Malone]

Hi Judy, I agree with you. “The existing legislation is helpful, but not enough”.

[Dayane Malone]

I agree with you Brian we can do need improvements, everyone deserves equal access to services no matter what language they speak.

[Dayane Malone]

Executive Order 13166, created in 2000, is one of the most important rules that protects people with Limited English Proficiency. This order says that federal agencies and any programs that receive federal funds must make sure everyone can access their services, even if they don’t speak English well. This includes providing interpreters, translating important forms, and making sure no one is excluded because of language barriers.
In theory this law is strong because it supports equal access and fairness for all. It connects directly to the Civil Rights Act, which says that people cannot face discrimination based on national origin. However, in practice, Executive Order 13166 is not always followed the same way everywhere. Some agencies and organizations do a great job offering translation and interpretation, but others struggle because they lack money, training, or awareness. The order also does not give people a direct way to take legal action if their rights are ignored, which makes it harder to enforce.
In Massachusetts, we can see the influence of this order in hospitals, schools, and courts that provide interpreter services. The state has made efforts to make information available in multiple languages and to train staff to help LEP individuals. However, gaps still exist. Smaller offices or less common languages often don’t get the same level of support, which means some people still face communication barriers.
Overall, I believe that today’s legislation is a good start but not enough. Massachusetts is doing better than many other states, but there is still a need for stronger state laws, better enforcement, and more resources. Everyone deserves equal access to services regardless of what language they speak.

[Dayane Malone]

Thank you for sharing!!

[Dayane Malone]

Thank you for sharing the pages of references.

[Dayane Malone]

The four chief roles of a medical interpreter are conduit, clarifier, cultural broker, and advocate. Each one is important for making sure the provider and patient understand each other clearly and respectfully.

Message Conveyor or Conduit
This is the interpreter’s main job to pass messages exactly as they are said from one language to another. The interpreter doesn’t add or leave out anything, they simply make sure both sides understand each other. For example, if a doctor says, “You need to take this medicine twice a day,” the interpreter repeats that same message in the patient’s language. The goal is to stay neutral and accurate.

Message Clarifier
Sometimes, words or ideas don’t translate perfectly. In this case, the interpreter becomes a clarifier, someone who makes things clearer. For example, if the doctor says “hypertension” and the patient looks confused, the interpreter might explain, “That means high blood pressure.” This helps make sure everyone understands what’s being said without changing the meaning.

Cultural Broker
The interpreter also helps bridge cultural differences. Health beliefs and customs can be very different from one culture to another. For example, in some families, medical decisions are made together, not by one person. The interpreter can explain this to the doctor so that both sides can communicate more respectfully and avoid misunderstandings.

Patient Advocate
The interpreter can act as an advocate when needed. This means speaking up to make sure the patient gets fair and safe care. For example, if a patient is asked to sign a form they don’t understand, the interpreter can tell the provider that the patient needs more explanation before signing.

In short, medical interpreters do much more than translate words; they make sure understanding, respect, and trust are part of every conversation.

[Dayane Malone]

I agree with you and think its important to have a pre session if possible.

[Dayane Malone]

I agree with everything you said and that in an emergency situation theres no need for a pre session.

[Dayane Malone]

I believe a pre session involving myself (the interpreter), the provider, and the patient offers many benefits that can improve the overall quality, accuracy, and efficiency of the encounter. A pre-session allows everyone to establish clear communication and expectations, understanding each other’s roles, and clarify the goals of the session before interpretation begins is beneficial. This preparation ensures that the interpreter is well informed about the setting and terminology leading to a smoother and more professional interaction between everyone involved.
One major benefit of a pre session is the opportunity to clarify confidentiality and accuracy expectations. By explaining to both parties that everything said will be interpreted faithfully and confidentially the interpreter helps build trust and sets the foundation for effective communication. It also allows the interpreter to ask the provider about the nature of the appointment whether it’s medical, mental health, or social services so they can mentally prepare for potential technical terms or sensitive topics.
A pre session can help avoid misunderstandings or ethical issues. For example, without one, a patient might start speaking directly to the interpreter instead of the provider, expecting advice or opinions. Similarly, the provider may use complex terminology or abbreviations unfamiliar to the patient. Addressing these scenarios beforehand prevents confusion and maintains professionalism. A pre session also helps avoid logistical issues like unclear seating arrangements, overlapping speech, or cultural misunderstandings that might compromise communication.
However, it may not always be necessary to conduct a full pre-session especially in short, routine, or emergency situations where time is limited. Whenever possible, a pre-session enhances collaboration and ensures a respectful, accurate, and effective communication experience for everyone involved.

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by Dayane Malaone.

[Dayane Malone]

I feel like translators have more time to analyze and decide on the best term or word to use, while interpreters have to think fast and choose the most accurate and appropriate word for the situation in real time.

[Dayane Malone]

Hi,

I agree with your discussion! In my opinion, being an interpreter can be more challenging because there’s no time to really think about the best words everything happens so fast and live, right in the moment. Translators, on the other hand, have the time to research, review, and choose the most accurate or natural words for what they’re working on. Both roles are important, but I think interpreting requires a lot of quick thinking and confidence to keep up with the conversation while staying accurate.

[Dayane Malone]

Hi,

Interpreters and translators are not the same thing or do the same thing, they actually have very different jobs. The biggest difference is that interpreters work with spoken language and “transfer” that message the best way possible. While translators deal with written language to “carry” “trasnlator spend meticulous hours transforming linguistic content from one language to another” (introduction to medical interpreting page 21)
An interpreter listens to someone speaking in one language and immediately says the same thing in another language. It’s all happening live, right there in the moment like during a doctor’s appointment, a court hearing, or a meeting. Interpreters have to think quickly, remember what was said and speak clearly without having time to look things up or double check. One of the hardest parts of interpreting can be keeping up with the pace and emotions of the conversation while still making sure the message is accurate.
A translator on the other hand, works with documents, books, or any written material. They have more time to read carefully, research the right words, and make sure the final version sounds natural in the other language. Their main challenge is to keep the same meaning, and cultural feel while making the text easy to understand.
It’s really important to understand that interpreting and translating aren’t the same thing. Both jobs are important they just help people communicate in different ways.

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