The Interpreters' Newsletter n. 25 - 2020

Founded in 1988 as the first journal on Interpreting Studies, The Interpreters’ Newsletter publishes contributions covering theoretical and practical aspects of interpreting.

Non-verbal communication is a fundamental element of intercultural interactions. This paper seeks to discuss non-verbal expressions, such as gazes, long pauses, pointing gestures, nodding and other head movements, produced by the participants in Polish-English courtroom interactions with a view to studying the interpreter’s obligation to provide accurate renditions and to remain impartial. It is hypothesized that not only may non-verbal components of the original speakers’ utterances have an impact on the interpreters’ renditions, but also that the interpreters’ own non-verbal expressions have the potential to add to the meaning of their utterances. The results of the analysis show that all participants, including interpreters, use a non-verbal channel and that body language can affect the meaning of the messages transmitted throughout the interactions and lead to a possible lack of accuracy and/or impartiality in interpreting.

Healthcare interpreting is a relatively new profession from two perspectives. Its many facets are still being studied in the field of Interpreting Studies and, more often than not, it does not rely on a full-fledged workforce. It requires particular professional translation and interpreting competences. Moreover, this profession is anchored in the new multicultural societies and faces new challenges that we will try to analyse within the framework of the sociology of the professions. This allows us to understand how a profession works, how it is recognized, and what is needed to achieve this recognition. We will attempt to define healthcare interpreting and explain the importance of recognizing it as a social practice. Against this backdrop, we will discuss the paradigm of invisibility, a principle that has been addressed in training programmes since the beginning of the professionalisation process of interpreting and translation.