Singy Pascal, Guex Patrice
Liaison Psychiatry Service, University of Lausanne Hospital Les Allières, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Commun Med. 2005;2(1):45-51. doi: 10.1515/come.2005.2.1.45.
Immigration in Western societies sometimes leads to medical consultations without any shared language between physician and patient. The intervention of a third party is required in such cases. This paper details a study of the role of such a third party. Conducted between 1998 and 2001 in French-speaking Switzerland by physicians and linguists, this research used several techniques of data production. In order to compare the viewpoints of the actors concerned (physicians, patients, and translators), researchers used questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Analysis of these data reveals that professional translators perceive themselves as active participants who improve communication by bridging the gap between physician and patient. In the translators' perspective, this gap is both linguistic and cultural. On the other hand, most physicians and patients interrogated do not share this view. Points of view about languages can lead to miscommunication in medical settings in spite of a qualified interpreter's presence. This article discusses visions of the interpreter's role, which range from instrument to co-therapist.
在西方社会，移民情况有时会导致医患之间没有共同语言，从而需要第三方介入。本文详细介绍了对这样一个第三方角色的研究。这项研究于1998年至2001年在瑞士法语区由医生和语言学家开展，运用了多种数据收集技术。为了比较相关各方（医生、患者和翻译人员）的观点，研究人员使用了问卷调查、半结构化访谈和焦点小组。对这些数据的分析表明，专业翻译人员将自己视为积极参与者，通过弥合医患之间的差距来改善沟通。从翻译人员的角度来看，这种差距既是语言上的，也是文化上的。另一方面，大多数接受询问的医生和患者并不认同这一观点。尽管有合格的口译员在场，但关于语言的观点差异仍可能导致医疗场景中的沟通不畅。本文讨论了对口译员角色的不同看法，其范围从工具到共同治疗师。
