BECOMING
A MEDICAL
INTERPRETER
A GREAT PROFESSION TO PRACTICE
BY: CARMEN L. GONZALEZ
Who Am I? ☺
▪ Carmen L. Gonzalez
▪ Born and raised in Nicaragua
▪ Living in San Francisco, California since December 1998
▪ Spanish Medical Interpreter certified in 2001
▪ Spanish Interpreter for Administrative Hearings since 2004
▪ Certified Medical Interpreter-CMI since 2011
▪ Legal Court Interpreter in California-CCI since 2018
▪ Trainer for Interpreters and Translators since 2016
Carmen L. Gonzalez
▪INTERPRETERS ▪TRANSLATORS
▪ Transmit a spoken message ▪ They take a written text in a SL and
from the Source Language (SL) provide a written text into the TL.
into the Target Language(TL). ▪ Translation is written!
▪ Interpretation is oral! ▪ Usually held to a higher standard of
accuracy and completeness, including
▪ Expected to convey the the ability to reproduce the style of the
original.
essence of the message
immediately. ▪ Rely mainly on research with
background materials and dictionaries.
▪ MODES OF INTERPRETATION: ▪ Sight Translation
▪ Consecutive, Simultaneous
TYPES AND MODES OF INTERPRETATION
▪ TYPES
▪ MODES
▪ Conference, Business
▪ Simultaneous
▪ Legal: Court/Non-Court
▪ Consecutive
▪ Community: Educational,
▪ Sight Translation Social Services
▪ MODALITIES ▪ Medical
▪ On site
▪ Sign Language
▪ Over the Phone Interpreting (OPI)
▪ Others
▪ Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)
Modes of Interpretation
SIMULTANEOUS CONSECUTIVE
SIGHT TRANSLATION
o Oral rendition of text written.
o On extremely short notice.
o It can be done both ways:
o Speak at the same time.
o Challenging, requires different skills at
o Generally performed for once: o Only one person
large meeting/conferences.
❖ Reading – Comprehension speaking.
o Need to use equipment. o Generally performed for
❖ Analysis, Quick-thinking interpreting witness
o Work in pairs, in a booth. testimony in court.
❖ Terminology
o To convey the message
immediately.
o Also used for medical
❖ Memory appointments.
o Decalage ❖ Speech Production, and so on… o Listening skills!
o Note Taking / Memory
TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS’ SKILLS
❑ Through knowledge of the general subject
❑ Mastery of both languages: SL and TL
❑ A very good passive understanding of the SL
❑ Intimate familiarity with both cultures
❑ Extensive vocabulary in both languages
❑ Ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely in both languages
❑ Excellent Short-Term Memory, Ability to think fast
❑ Good Coping Skills, Ability to Work Under Pressure
LEGAL/COURT INTERPRETATION MEDICAL INTERPRETATION
▪ TARGET AUDIENCE: JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, ▪ TARGET AUDIENCE: PATIENTS/GENERAL
DEFENDANTS, PLAINTIFFS, LEGAL STAFF PUBLIC, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
▪ LEGAL PROCEDURES ▪ PATIENT EDUCATION MATERIAL
▪ ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS ▪ MEDICATION, DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
▪ MEDIATION, CONCILIATION, ARBITRAGE ▪ PRE/POST INSTRUCTIONS
▪ WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEM ▪ PATIENT RECORDS, TEST RESULTS
¿Qué es una Certificación?
(No es un Certificado!)
Certificación: proceso por medio del cual una tercera parte, que puede
ser gubernamental, organización profesional o acreditada, confirma que
un individuo está calificado para brindar un servicio en particular.
Hay dos certificaciones para intérpretes médicos en USA: CCHI y NBCMI.
https://cchicertification.org/certifications/eligibility/
https://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/prerequisites-spanish
Hay dos certificaciones para intérpretes legales en USA: Estatal y
Federal.
Requisitos Mínimos
▪ Tener al menos 18 años.
▪ Diploma de bachillerato o un
equivalente.
▪ Prueba de dominar un
idioma/lengua.
▪ Certificado de haber
recibido capacitación para
intérpretes profesionales
(mínimo 40 horas).
Lo que se aprende en el curso de capacitación
▪ Escuchar de forma activa
▪ Analizar los mensajes
▪ Equivalencias entre lenguas
▪ Variaciones regionales
▪ Mantener el registro
▪ Habilidades para usar la memoria
▪ Práctica reflexiva (monitoriarse uno mismo
y auto-evaluación)
DEFINITION OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Medical Terminology
A specialized area of technical vocabulary
used to describe the human body and
processes, conditions and procedures
associated with the scientific diagnosis, care
and treatment of the patient.
Carmen L. Gonzalez
HOW TO STUDY/PRACTICE MEDICAL ENGLISH
▪ Reading, Listening, Talking and Writing
▪ Learning Medical Terminology: Latin and Greek Roots
▪ Acronyms and Abbreviations
▪ Review of Grammar and Mistakes we make
▪ Websites with medical information
▪ Practicing Sight Translation
Carmen L. Gonzalez
HOW TO STUDY MEDICAL ENGLISH
BODY SYSTEMS
▪ Function
▪ Essential Parts-Organs
▪ Process
▪ Sample Terminology
▪ Diseases/Disorders
▪ Terms/Procedures
▪ Relation with other body systems
•Symptoms can be hard to describe.
• And there are just so many!
• Be careful about pain symptoms.
Using the wrong term for a
symptom can lead to the wrong
diagnosis…
PAIN AND SYMPTOMS DESCRIPTION
Carmen L. Gonzalez
ALWAYS REMEMBER
Carmen L. Gonzalez
LAST REMARKS!
Carmen L. Gonzalez
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @clgcnic
Carmen L. Gonzalez
