Introduction
This step-by-step guide has information for people who may need to organise an interpreter for another person who can't communicate in English.
You should consider whether the person can understand the full range of the English language - including at speed and technical terms in the relevant situation such as court, police interview and negotiations.
You should also consider whether your client can communicate as well as the average native speaker of English in the relevant situation.
Assessing a person's language skills can be hard and is normally conducted by trained linguists.
Ask if they want an interpreter
Explain the role of an interpreter and ask your client, using an open question - 'What do you think about asking an interpreter to help us?' or 'What do you want to do?'
It is important to raise the topic of working with an interpreter in a sensitive manner.
There may be a number of reasons the person may not want to work with an interpreter including any of the following:
- may not know what an interpreter does
- may have had a negative experience with an interpreter in the past
- may not want other people knowing about their business
- may think they have to pay for an interpreter
- may feel shame or anger because you are indicating their English isn’t ‘good enough’.
Suggested way to ask if they want an interpreter
You could ask the person by using the below script as a guide.
'Before we start talking, I want to ask you about what language we should use today. Maybe we can talk in English, or maybe it’s better if we talk in your language. I don’t speak your language, so if we think it’s better to talk in your language I will ask an interpreter to help me.'
How to explain the role of an interpreter
You could explain it to the person by using the below script as a guide.
'An interpreter is someone who speaks your language and speaks English and has had training to help them understand the medical words that you will hear today. The interpreter will put everything I say into your language, and everything you say into English. The interpreter must follow rules. They can’t take sides. They must keep the message the same - they can’t add anything or leave anything out. The interpreter must keep everything we talk about secret.'
Ask open-ended questions
Get your client to speak to you in narrative (story) form by asking open-ended background questions such as:
- 'tell me about…'
- 'what do you think will happen if…?'
Avoid yes or no questions or questions that can be answered with one or two words.
Don't use biographical questions as a benchmark
Most Aboriginal Territorians who speak English as a second language will have had repeated experience providing biographical data to service providers - eg: where do you live, what’s your date of birth, are you employed.
Don’t rely on a person's ability to provide biographical data as the basis for deciding whether to work with an interpreter.
Just because they can adequately answer simple questions about their life does not mean they have sufficient English proficiency to describe symptoms, understand medical procedures, or discuss options for the legal case or medical treatment.
Ask your client/patient 'what language do you speak most at home' rather than 'do you speak English?'
Most people will answer 'yes' because they do speak some English.
Assess their comprehension
Write down two sets of two medium length sentences, using the style and some of the terms that your client will encounter in the interview.
Read each set to your client and ask your client to explain back to you what you just said.
Assess their communication
Use the table below to assess a person's communication skills in English.
If two or more of the points in the ‘likely to need an interpreter’ column apply to the person, you should organise an interpreter.
| Response | Likely to need an interpreter | Less likely to need an interpreter |
|---|---|---|
Articulating back | The person has difficulty articulating back what you said to them. | The person is able to articulate meaningfully most of what you said to them, using their own words. |
Short or long answers | The person only speaks in short sentences of four to five words. Or they mainly give one-word answers. | The person speaks in full sentences of six or seven words or more, and elaborate answers to questions. |
Agrees or disagrees | The person consistently agrees with your questions or propositions you put to them. | The person is easily able to disagree and articulate a different point of view. |
Inappropriate responses | The person frequently responds inappropriately to your comments or question, for example, responding with “yes” to what or where questions. | The person consistently responds meaningfully and appropriately to questions and comments. |
Unsure of meaning | You are sometimes mystified as to what exactly your client is telling you even when the words and grammar they are using are clear to you. | You can process the person’s speech clearly and understand what it is they are telling you. |
Contradictions | The person appears to contradict themselves, and is unaware of the apparent contradictions. | The person does not contradict themselves, or if they do, they are aware of and can address the contradiction. |
Uses new vocabulary | The person does not add significant amounts of new vocabulary to the conversation. They rely on using the words or phrases that you have previously said to them. | The person frequently adds new vocabulary to the conversation. |
Good grammar | The person does not use English grammatically, for example, mixes up pronouns (“he” instead of “she”); uses the past tense incorrectly (“He look at me”). | The person uses English grammatically. |
Repeating and simplifying | You find yourself frequently needing to restate and simplify your utterances. | You can talk easily in a normal manner. |
If you have any doubts call the Aboriginal Interpreter Service on (08) 8999 8353 .