Interpreters' Role in Healthcare: Canada vs US

In Canada, interpreters are allowed to provide cultural explanations.

Interpreters in the US are not considered part of the healthcare team.

Interpreters in both Canada and the US have the responsibility to solve communication issues.

The role of an interpreter in Canada is more interventionist compared to the US.

Communicative autonomy means that interpreters control the dialogue between parties.

Interpreters in both Canada and the US follow a common principle known as communicative autonomy.

The professional community interpreter is encouraged to take on more responsibility for the parties' communication when interpreting.

In terms of Accountability, it is represented as a stand-alone principle in both the US and Canadian Code of Ethics for interpreters.

Each code of ethics for interpreters has the same number of standards of practice accompanying the ethical principles.

Interpreters are expected to engage in side conversations to better understand the context of the communication between service providers and clients.

Ethics and standards of practice are irrelevant for interpreters in maintaining an unobtrusive presence during interpretation assignments.

Strategic positioning and choosing interpreting modes are some strategies used by interpreters to minimize their impact on the parties' communication.