FREE (Zoom will open at 6:45 for a mini social chinwag!)

This month's winning paper is... 

3. Healthcare interpreting as relational practice: Understanding the interpreter’s role in facilitating rapport in health interactions (Major, 2024) - click here to download

This article explores the extent to which healthcare interpreting can be considered “relational practice.” It describes an interactional sociolinguistic study conducted in Australia, based on video recordings of two naturally occurring interpreted general practice consultations. Participants were hearing Australian Sign Language (Auslan)/ English interpreters, deaf patients, and hearing doctors. Analysis of these recordings was supplemented by reflective interviews with participants. The study examines the ways in which interpreters facilitate good working relationships between participants, and to explore the extent to which their decision-making is driven by relational considerations. The analyses presented in this article provide evidence that relational work is an important aspect of the healthcare interpreter’s role. Some of the ways in which it is achieved, however, may challenge our ideas about “appropriate” interpreter behaviour. Thus, the skilled and experienced interpreters in the study were seen to modify face threats, directly influence the flow of interaction, and actively facilitate social talk and humour, occasionally even engaging in it themselves. It is argued that interpreters’ decisions can only be understood within the discursive context in which they occur, and such behaviour can highlight interpreters’ attentiveness to the maintenance of good rapport.

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This is our monthly reading group where a journal article or book chapter related to the world of interpreting – both spoken language and signed language – will be selected and read. The reading group will be giving us the opportunity to discover new research which will inform our practice and to discuss topics in a safe and supportive environment. The format for the event will be an introduction to the paper followed by breakout rooms for small groups to discuss the paper – We can discuss such things as what did you learn? What did you like? What did you not like? What did you not understand? How might this inform your practice? What other CPD might you look to undertake because of reading the paper?

If you are registering after voting has closed, you will not have a say in which paper will be selected and the winning paper will be listed below. This is to ensure we have ample time to read the paper before the event. (Top tip – register early next month!). Please do not worry if your preferred paper is not chosen this time as papers receiving a significant number of votes can be added to another month’s list.

Here is a handy document for anyone after a few tips or a refresher in how to get the most out of your social science article reading experience. Please click: How to Read (and Understand) a Social Science Journal Article

This is a FREE event for members and will be worth 1 unstructured CPD point. Obviously you can decide on an individual basis to allocate more CPD points to this session for pre-session reading/reflection time and post-session reflection/further discussion time. Zoom details will be sent 24 hours before.

We look forward to seeing you! Paul Michaels and your ASLI team; Anna, Shaunett and Tess

Please email us with any questions at: southeast@asli.org.uk