Intercultural communication in healthcare interpreting : an exploration of possibilities

This thesis will present an exploration of how healthcare interpreters utilize intercultural communication skills as they interact with cultural differences in their work. I will review the literature on healthcare interpreting, including provision laws, standards, codes of ethics, paradigms, and roles. I will focus on intercultural communication literature in order to demonstrate possible ways that it can be applied to the healthcare interpreting field. In order to better understand how intercultural communication is being used in healthcare interpreting, I will conduct interviews with healthcare interpreters who have had intercultural training. In conclusion, elements of a training framework will be introduced that could be developed in order to train advanced interpreters who are interested in using an intercultural approach in their work