Intercultural Communication

Or … Who Gets Lost in Translation?

Lost in Translation?

• The German Coastguard

• Assumptions here: that English is somehow the default global language which everyone should learn

• In this case, the professional must/should learn the language

• Is this true for e.g. doctors? Lawyers? Police? Call centre operatives?

Lost in Translation ?

• Individuals interact with state institutions (e.g. justice system, healthcare) through language

• In multilingual societies, which language should be used?

• Can we demand that people use one language for the state?

• Is that always in the state’s interest?• Should the state provide education in the language for its

citizens?• Should the state provide language education for

professionals (e.g. healthcare workers, police)• Should the state pay for translators (written) and

interpreters (spoken)?

Language Use in the Justice System

• Police / Courts • Honour for Pc who learned Polish : A police officer who learned Polish to work with

the growing immigrant community in Wrexham has been honoured. (BBC)• Sussex Police has launched a recruitment campaign to attract Police Community

Support Officers who can demonstrate excellent Polish multilingual skills. (CityLocal, 29/2/08)

• A NEW multi-lingual team will help police save thousands of pounds in translation costs. Last year, Cambridgeshire police ploughed more than £800,000 into providing translation for victims and suspects who did not speak English. (P’Boro Evening Telegraph 30/5/07)

• TAXPAYERS have witnessed a near-fourfold rise in the cost of interpreter services in Scottish courts over the past three years. Country-wide costs increased by an average of 291 per cent over the last three years. The translation service now costs taxpayers £653,000 a year, compared with £167,000 in 2003-4, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. (Scotsman 04/01/08)

• Police dog handlers are learning to give orders to their animals in German, as 16 forces now import canines because of a shortage in the UK. Officers are learning basic German commands after a successful trial involving Derbyshire police and a team of alsatians from Berlin. (Daily Telegraph 11/1/08)

Costs and Benefits

• From a political, social and/or economic perspective, what are the costs/benefits for the below?

• Language Education for Citizens• For?• Against?• Language Education for Justice Professionals• For?• Against?• Interpreting and Translation• For?• Against?

Language Education for Citizens

• Long term benefits, not just for justice but also e.g. health, other areas of society.

• Reduces costs of employing translators/interpreters. • Reduces burden on e.g. police, lawyers, who can ‘get on with the

job• But … • Long term benefits are just that: long term. Language education can

take a long time. • People may not be able to learn e.g. ‘legal-ese’ – this is true even

for ‘native’ speakers! • Second language learning proceeds at different rates and different

people are better at it than others. • Motivation etc. may also play a part. Would you learn the language

quicker if you were guilty/innocent?

Language Education for Justice Professionals

• Already familiar with the technical jargon and how to simplify it.• Probably highly-educated, possibly better capacity/higher motivation

to learn L2? (N.b.: controversial!)• Language learning can be done in the context of the centralised

institution – thus success is more measurable• Probably cheaper than having *everyone* learning the language,

and cheaper than interpreters/translators.• But … • Motivation and capacity differs between individuals – being

educated does not guarantee ability or desire to learn L2 (indeed, there are many proudly monoglot linguists!)

• How many languages should each justice professional learn? One? Two? All languages of the community?

Interpreting / Translation• Specialist translators can become familiar with technical jargon• They can be used as and when needed, and at short notice• Different languages can be met by a ‘bank’ of translators• Translators probably already know the language anyway, and

haven’t studied it *just* to become a translator.

• But … interpreting is extremely costly.• In the justice system, two translators are usually needed for long

hearings to avoid fatigue.• Also, two usually needed in case necessary to clarify what is being

said• Interpreters are only human, and mistakes can be and are made.• Omission / Addition / Substitution / Editorialising / False Fluency• In the justice system, (mis)translation can lead to wrong verdicts.• In the healthcare system ...

(Lost in) Translation in Healthcare Settings – The Problem of Clinical Error

• Healthcare setting• Mis-translation can be life-or-death matter• Wrong diagnosis from wrong explanation of symptoms• Wrong treatment• Possible litigation? Increased long-term expense• Short-term expense: ‘My budget is eaten away by having to provide

translation services. Not for people who turn up for their appointments, overall it’s probably cheaper than letting STDs run rampant in the community. But my budget goes on people who do not turn up for appointments!’ - Interview data, Head of Genito-Urinary Medicine in a British city with large immigrant population.

• Flores et al (2003) examined interpreting errors in a pediatric healthcare setting

• Both professional and ‘ad hoc’ translators made large numbers of errors. Many of these were of potential clinical significance.

Problems with Translation:

• Omission: The interpreter did not interpret a word/phrase uttered by the clinician, parent, or child.

• Addition: The interpreter added a word/phrase to the interpretation that was not uttered by the clinician, parent, or child.

• Substitution: The interpreter substituted a word/phrase for a different word/phrase uttered by the clinician, parent, or child.

• Editorialization: The interpreter provided his or her own personal views as the interpretation of a word/phrase uttered by the clinician, parent, or child.

• False Fluency: The interpreter used an incorrect word/phrase, or word/phrase that does not exist in that particular language.

• From: Flores, G. et al. Pediatrics 2003;111:6-14

• Interpreter errors of potential clinical consequence included: • 1) omitting questions about drug allergies; • 2) omitting key information about the past medical history (a mother’s

statement that her child had been hospitalized at birth for a renal infection); • 3) omitting crucial information about the chief complaint and other important

symptoms • 4) omitting instructions about antibiotic dose, frequency, and duration; • 5) instructing a mother to give an antibiotic for 2 instead of 10 days (Fig 2);• 6) erroneously adding that hydrocortisone cream must be applied to an

infant’s entire body, instead of solely to a facial rash (Fig 3); • 7) telling a mother to give soy formula to her infant, instead of a physician’s

instructions to breastfeed only; • 8) omitting instructions on the amount, frequency, and type of rehydration

fluids for gastroenteritis; • 9) editorializing to a mother that she should not answer personal questions

asked by her physician about sexually transmitted diseases and drug use;• 10) explaining that an antibiotic was being prescribed for the flu; • 11) omitting and substituting for a mother’s description of her child’s

abnormal behavioral symptoms• 12) instructing a mother to put oral amoxicillin into her child’s ears to treat

otitis media

Copyright ©2003 American Academy of Pediatrics

Flores, G. et al. Pediatrics 2003;111:6-14

Copyright ©2003 American Academy of Pediatrics

Flores, G. et al. Pediatrics 2003;111:6-14

Copyright ©2003 American Academy of Pediatrics

Flores, G. et al. Pediatrics 2003;111:6-14

Copyright ©2003 American Academy of Pediatrics

Flores, G. et al. Pediatrics 2003;111:6-14

Copyright ©2003 American Academy of Pediatrics

Flores, G. et al. Pediatrics 2003;111:6-14

• For discussion:• What do we need to think about when

deciding on language policies in these specific contexts?

• What kinds of policies can/should we put in place in the justice system?

• In the healthcare system?• Should we, as sociolinguists, let our

feelings about criminals / immigrants get in the way of the facts?

• Or should we presume from a rights-based, liberal-democratic, and multicultural perspective?