Interpreting for speech pathology: an ethnographic study

© 1998 Elizabeth ClarkAustralia is a multilingual and multicultural society in which approximately 20% of the population speaks English as a second or other language. This mix of languages and cultures presents a considerable challenge for the predominantly English-speaking speech pathology profession and means it is often necessary for speech pathologists to work with interpreters when providing services to patients from non-English speaking backgrounds. There has been limited political or professional action to address the specific needs of non-English speaking adults who have speech and/or language impairments, and limited research which can inform the ways speech pathologists and interpreters work together during the assessment of such patients. Recent changes in the funding of health care and language services in Victoria has created a need to understand the nature of interactions between these two professional groups and to define more effective work practices. This ethnographic study explores the difficulties that speech pathologists and interpreters experience when working together, and describes one context in which these difficulties occur, the assessment of speech and language impairment in patients from non-English speaking backgrounds. Data from interviews with members of both professions, observations and video recordings of actual assessments, and written materials pertinent to both professions was analysed in order to identify the salient features of interactions between the two professional groups during speech pathology assessments. This study highlights the linguistic and ethical difficulties that face interpreters in speech pathology, as well as the need to define more precise roles for both interpreter and speech pathologist in this context. There is also a need for increased, and more specialised, training for both professional groups in order that they develop the knowledge and skills required to understand and manage the variety of factors which can impact on interpreted speech pathology assessments. A number of practical recommendations are made for facilitating future collaboration between speech pathologists and interpreters. The limitations of this study are addressed and avenues for further research canvassed