Impartiality, Trust, and Role Boundaries in Interpreting in Humanitarian and Healthcare Settings

The "conduit model" of interpreting would have us believe that experienced practitioners neutralize their individuality to become machines that spit out virtually identical products no matter the context in which they are deployed. In point of fact, interpreters in humanitarian and healthcare settings must become active participants who adapt to the context at hand, and who implement deliberate strategies to manage the complications and even conflicts that emerge during these unscripted interactions. So how do interpreters do it? How do they develop rapport and simultaneously remain impartial, and deliberate about not overstepping their bounds? Maha El-Metwally and Elena Langdon will speak to us about the challenges of interpreting in humanitarian and healthcare setting and share some of the strategies they have employed.