SPI 113 Quizzes

When an interpreter requests clarification of "XYZ," the appropriate way for the interpreter to ask for clarification is to say,

"The interpreter requests clarification of 'XYZ'."

How many ethical principles are there in the community interpreter's pledge and code of ethics?

8

Strategies by the interpreter that support communicative autonomy include:

A. direct speech, choosing appropriate interpreting mode, and refraining from side conversations.

"Communicative autonomy" means:

A. each party in an encounter is responsible for and in control of his or her own communicatio

According to your textbook, "community interpreting" is defined as

A. interpreting that facilitates access to community services.

Other names for "community interpreting" include:

A. public service interpreting B. dialog interpreting C. liaison interpreting D. all of the above (correct answer)

Choose the best answer. According to your textbook, the four key driving forces that have led to exponential growth of community interpreting are: global migration; language laws and policies; concerns for quality of care; and the impact of____.

A. technology and globalization

If an interpreter is unsure of whether or not to report a service provider's violation of an ethical principle, who may the interpreter contact to report this concern?

A. the provider's supervisor B. the agency that sent the interpreter to the site C. a lawyer D. all of the above (correct answer) The correct answer is: D. If an interpreter feels that a provider has violated an ethical principle, the interpreter should express his concern to any of the following: provider's supervisor, the agency that sent the interpreter to the site; or a lawyer. (If you are working for an agency, I would talk to the agency first. Always keep your employer informed! Do not surprise your boss!)

In The SAY NO Model, at least how many choices should you offer when saying, "No!"?

B. 2

Passage rates for the U.S. Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam (Spanish<>English) hover around:

B. 4%-5%

Bilingual employees who have received interpreter training and interpret part-time at their site of employment are referred to as:

B. dual role interpreters.

In which instances can interpreters immediately break confidentiality?

B. there is a threat of suicide or homicide

Initially, if the interpreter is not sure if there is a miscommunication between the service provider and service user, the interpreter should:

B. wait and see if the situation clears up on its own.

Which ethical principle is being described in the following statement? "The community interpreter refrains from allowing personal beliefs to manifest in his or her professional conduct, especially when rendering the content and tone of the message."

B: Impartiality

Passage rates for the two national certification exams for medical interpreters are between:

C. 70%-75% The correct answer is: C. The passage rate for the national certification exams for medical interpreters is around 70%-75%. Two organizations certify medical interpreters: NBCMI and CCHI. If you were to get certified by one organization, you do not need to get certified by the other organization. Both organizations are nationally recognized and respected.

The international organization that specifically promotes the profession of community interpreting is:

C. Critical Link International

Which ethical principle is being described in the following statement? "The community interpreter interprets everything that is said to ensure that all messages expressed during the encounter are communicated to all parties."

C. Transparency

As an interpreter, it is okay to say, "NO!" There is The SAY NO Model. In order, the three steps of The SAY NO Model are: be gracious; offer choices, and

C. give reasons

After an interpreted session, when a service provider asks the interpreter if the client was lying, the interpreter should:

C. offer to interpret any questions the provider may have.

This phrase refers to the process of critically examining your work experiences in order to identify the lessons learned so that you may improve your professional performance.

C. reflective practice

According to your textbook, the ethical principle of "impartiality" means:

C. the community interpreter refrains from allowing personal beliefs to manifest in his or her professional conduct, especially when rendering the content and tone of the message.

Modern-day community interpreting can be traced to the 1970s and to which countries?

D. Australia and Sweden

According to your textbook, four common barriers to clear communication are: linguistic challenges; role confusion; cultural misunderstandings; and

D. service system barriers

True or false? As a medical interpreter, you would always be allowed to carry a bottle of water with you in order to protect your voice.

False

True or false? Court interpreters monitor for understanding, just like community interpreters do. If there is a misunderstanding, the interpreter points it out.

False

True or false? When interpreting, misunderstandings will occur between the service provider and service user(client). In these situations, the interpreter, as a language professional, has the task of "fixing" the misunderstanding. (Clarification: In this instance, we are assuming that the interpreter has not made any linguistic errors or mistakes related to content.)

False

In community interpreting, how many ethical principles are there?

The correct answer is: A: 8! There are 8 ethical principles in community interpreting. They are: confidentiality, accuracy, impartiality, transparency, direct communication, professional boundaries, intercultural communication, and professional conduct.

Which is the preferred term in the T/I profession?

The correct answer is: B: Interpreting! This is the preferred term. Why? Often times, when individuals think of someone putting their own "spin" on a message and inserting their opinions, the term "interpretation" is used. Think about poetic interpretation and literary interpretation. The critic is suggesting what s/he thinks the author means or meant to imply.

Interpreting into and out of one language pair is referred to as:

The correct answer is: B: bidirectional interpreting. With bidirectional interpreting, you are interpreting into and out of a language pair. For example, you would be interpreting into and out of Spanish and English during a parent-teacher conference with a Spanish-speaking mother and an English-speaking teacher. An example of unidirectional interpreting might be in an auditorium setting. You might be interpreting into Spanish what the school principal says in English on stage while no one can interrupt the principal. In this case, you would interpret only into Spanish.

In the U.S., one state certifies community interpreters in public healthcare and social service sectors. This state is:

The correct answer is: C. Washington State certifies community interpreters in public healthcare and social service sectors. See this link for their sample training materials: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/fsa/language-testing-and-certification-program

The term "A language" means the same as "source language."

The correct answer is: False! "A Language" refers to a person's most "educated" language. "Source language" refers to the language of a written text, or the language FROM which one interprets. The key word for "source language" is "FROM." The source language of this quiz is English. If I asked you to translate this quiz into Spanish, Spanish would be considered the target language.

The term "B language" refers to a person's "target language."

The correct answer is: False! "B language" refers to a person's second most educated language. "Target language" refers to the language INTO which we interpret. The source language of this quiz is English. If I asked you to translate this quiz into Spanish, Spanish would be considered the target language.

In a Social Service setting, the term "client" refers to the person who is paying the interpreter.

The correct answer is: False! A "client" is also referred to as a "service user." Client - This is the person receiving services from the "Provider." (Example: in a nurse-patient dialog, the nurse is the "provider" and the patient is the "client." In a Social Service setting, the social worker is the "provider" and the person receiving services is the "client" or "service user.")

According to your lesson, interpreters must have a bachelor's degree in order to become a good interpreter.

The correct answer is: False! A bachelor's degree is not required to become a good interpreter. Becoming a good interpreter will require a great deal of studying on your own and in study groups. However, before jumping into study groups and practice dialogs, we must understand the basics of the profession, and that is what we are exploring during the first few weeks of this course. Thankfully, there are great resources for practice so that we can study dialog interpreting and acquire terminology. Two academically sound and recommended resources are "The Interpreter's Rx" and "The Interpreter's Edge." Both titles are by Holly Mikkelson, and can be found at www.acebo.com. Your workbook for this course includes examples of practice dialogs too! You can also search online for interpreting practice dialogs. So, how is an interpreter hired? Usually, there is the general interview with standard questions such as, "Why do you want to work for us? What are your strengths and weaknesses? etc." Then, you will usually take a written assessment, that frequently involves written translation. If you do well on the written assessment, you may be invited back for an oral assessment, during which you may have to interpret while being shadowed and evaluated.

As an interpreter, in addition to providing language assistance, it is acceptable to work as an advocate and help your clients by providing them with additional information about community services that they may need.

The correct answer is: False! As an interpreter, you interpret and that is all! Do not be a "helper" unless "helper" is in your job title. There are workshops popping up in our local area that are called "Interpreting for Social Justice." Those workshops and supporting organizations are usually NOT neutral. They lobby, advocate, and try to support vulnerable populations. That is NOT the role of the interpreter. The interpreter facilitates communication. The interpreter makes it so that individuals who do not speak English may access community services. As an interpreter, you are to remain neutral, and that is why you do not help. You are to remain impartial. If you are not neutral, that may jeopardize your career. I'm not suggesting that you be a robot and uncaring, but remain neutral, interpret, and that is all.

True or false?In the U.S. there is a comprehensive credentialing system for community interpreters.

The correct answer is: False! Australia and Sweden started developing the community interpreting profession in the 1970s. In the U.S., community interpreting did not really start to take off until the 1990s.

"Ethics" are merely suggestions on how professionals should behave and conduct their work.

The correct answer is: False! Ethics are the "rules" of the profession. If you violate ethics, then you could be prosecuted. "Interpreting Standards" are suggestions on how an interpreter should do his/her job, but they are not rules. The important take-away here is that ethics are "rules" and should not be broken. If you break them as an interpreter, prepare to face the consequences. Every decision an interpreter makes should be backed up by, or supported by, the code of ethics.

True or false? If an interpreter's certification expires, the individual may not legally continue to interpret.

The correct answer is: False! If an interpreter's certification expires, legally, the interpreter CAN continue working as an interpreter. Licensure does not exist for interpreters. If a professional's licensure expires, the individual cannot legally continue working. Doctors, lawyers, and teachers have licenses. If a doctor practices without a license, that individual has broken the law! If an interpreter interprets with an expired certification, the interpreter should have renewed the credential, but is not breaking any laws. If an interpreter's certification expires, the individual may have to go through the ENTIRE certification process all over again from the very beginning!

"Remote interpreting" should not be done via webcam.

The correct answer is: False! Remote interpreting can be performed using a webcam and many interpreters prefer it over telephonic interpreting. (Telephonic interpreting = interpreting on the phone.) Many interpreters prefer to see the faces of the individuals for whom they interpret.

Within the context of the T/I profession, the term "render" means "evaluate."

The correct answer is: False! Render; Rendition - To say the message in the other language. For example, in a traditional classroom your instructor would say, "Who can render/interpret this English message into Spanish for me?" Rendition - "I'm looking for volunteers to interpret what María just said. Bob, give me your rendition (oral version of interpretation)."

Interpreters should never use Spanglish, because it is unprofessional.

The correct answer is: False! Spanglish - hybrid language combining words and idioms from both Spanish and English. (Never use Spanglish when translating (written). ) Your name is attached to the translation and it is saved forever. Now, when interpreting, you can use Spanglish, but there is a catch. You can only use Spanglish if someone else uses it first, and then, you can only use the exact terms that they use. This helps avoid confusion. If a Spanish speaker uses a Spanglish term, you do not want to use a different term, or more "proper" term for two reasons. One, you may cause the speaker to feel inferior, as if you are correcting him or her. Two, if the non-English speaker uses "troca" and you use "camioneta," the person might think you are talking about something else, as if there were a second vehicle involved. Remember, you can use Spanglish, only if someone else uses it first. You limit Spanglish to the exact words they use, and you never ever write it down.

Community and legal interpreters follow the same code of ethics.

The correct answer is: False! The code of ethics for legal interpreters is much more rigid. Community interpreting allows for mediation, whereas legal interpreting does not. We will discuss mediation later in the program. In short, when mediating, the interpreter points out that there may be a misunderstanding. In community interpreting, the interpreter would point this out. In legal interpreting, the legal interpreter would not point this out and would keep interpreting as if nothing was wrong.

True or false? According to your textbook, a training program for interpreting is the same as a higher education program for interpreting.

The correct answer is: False! This is where, as a consumer, you need to be informed about your interpreting program. *Training* programs are usually offered outside institutions of higher education, vary in length, and are usually no more than 90 hours. The trainers may or may not have a college degree and may be small business owners. Higher education programs are offered within colleges and universities. They award college credits, degrees, and certificates. At Durham Tech, you receive over 280 hours of instruction at an accredited institution, and your instructors are required to have a master's degree or higher. A training program offered by an outside institution may still be valuable. Often times, that sort of program may offer shorter workshops on specific themes such as: interpreting for social justice; domestic violence; or refugee resettlement, to name a few. Always do your research on the program to find out if it is recognized and respected by the interpreting profession.

An interpreter today should assume the role of "cultural broker" and quickly explain cultural differences that may be hindering true communication.

The correct answer is: False! Today, and for at least the last 10 years, it is agreed that interpreters do not serve as cultural brokers. They do not explain cultural differences (although they should study them so that they are familiar with them for when it comes time to interpret the explanations).

True or false? When interpreting, if a cultural issue arises that could possibly interfere with communication, it is always the interpreters responsibility to both point out the difference and explain it.

The correct answer is: False. Although the interpreter may point out that there is a cultural difference that may be interfering with communication, the interpreter should NOT explain the cultural difference. The interpreter should point out that the difference may exist and then volunteer to interpret any questions. Not all members of a culture possess the exact same beliefs.

True or false? You are left alone with a patient in a doctor's office. (You shouldn't have been left alone with the patient in the first place!!! Now you are faced with an ethical dilemma!) While you are alone with the patient, the patient claims to have a sexually transmitted infection and asks you not to tell the doctor. You, as the interpreter, do not have the right to disclose this information to the doctor.

The correct answer is: False. As an interpreter, you do have the right to disclose this information to the doctor, and you should, so that the doctor receives this information and the patient receives the best treatment possible. If the patient asks you what to do, you can encourage the patient to reveal the truth so that the patient receives the best treatment. However, if the patient does not disclose this information, the interpreter is ethically bound to do so.

True or false? The interpreter worked as an interpreter for an elderly client. When the client passes away, the interpreter may disclose the elderly client's last wishes to the family.

The correct answer is: False. Confidentiality is protected here. The interpreter may not disclose information learned during a session -- even after a person's death.

True or false? According to your textbook, ethics are both rules and laws.

The correct answer is: False. Ethics are not laws. When ethics are violated, often times, no one enforces them because the bodies that created the code of ethics do not have any authority to impose consequences. On the contrary, the laws can be enforced. For example, laws regarding speeding can be enforced. If you were to drive over 85 mph you may receive a ticket.

True of false? During a public forum, one participant openly mentions that his house is in foreclosure. The interpreter is free to share this information in any setting after this encounter.

The correct answer is: False. Even though an individual discloses information in a public setting, the interpreter must not reveal this information in other settings. (The entire community may be talking about the foreclosure, and it is public knowledge, but the interpreter, who is a professional, is not allowed to discuss this. It would be violating the ethical principle of confidentiality.)

True or false? You interpreted for someone who was being deported. The individual's friends ask you about the status of the case and where their friend is. You, as the interpreter, can share that the friend has been deported.

The correct answer is: False. Information learned during an interpreted session is confidential. Even though the individual is no longer in the country, you cannot violate the ethical principle of confidentiality. There are some instances in which confidentiality may be broken. Those specific instances do not apply here and will be addressed in Week Three.

True of false? An interpreter who does not curse or use profanity in his or her personal life is not required to interpret bad words--as long as this individual lets the employer know in advance.

The correct answer is: False. Interpreters are required to interpret curse words -- even if the interpreter feels rude, has religious considerations, etc. Interpreters are required to follow the ethical principles of accuracy and transparency. All parties need to know the message and tone of what is being said. If an interpreter "softens" the language and does not interpret curse words, the interpreter is violating ethical principles. (If you do not want to interpret curse words, find a job in a setting where no one is likely to curse. However, is someone swears, you would still have to interpret the bad words in that environment as well!)

True or false? The most respected credentials for interpreters are certificates and licensures.

The correct answer is: False. Licensures are respected credentials, whereas certificates are not the most respected credentials. The key word here is "certification." An interpreter who possesses a certification has passed a state or national exam. Durham Tech's Community Spanish Interpreter - Public Service Diploma and Certificate Programs are worthwhile and you are not wasting your time, because they are awarded by an accredited college AND the programs' candidates have been evaluated in both Spanish and English. Your program director encourages you to pursue interpreter certification once you have completed your studies at Durham Tech. Remember, a "certificate" may just be a "certificate of attendance." Before you sign up for a program or a workshop, be sure to do your homework about the program. Be an informed consumer! If the workshop awards Continuing Education Units from a national interpreting organization, this means the workshop has been examined by the national organization and that the material presented should be up-to-date and useful.

Summarization is never acceptable when interpreting.

The correct answer is: False. Summarization is acceptable in a few instances. For example, you are in an office with a client and a provider. The provider receives a phone call, and you interpret what the provider says in order to keep everyone informed. You cannot interrupt the phone call. In emergency situations when it is impossible to ask for a repetition, you may have to summarize. In a mental health setting, the speaker may be too upset to repeat and ramble on and on. In that instance, you may have to summarize and even switch into simultaneous mode.

The term "chuchotage" means the same as "simultaneous whispered interpreting."

The correct answer is: True! "Chuchotage" means "whisper" in French. This is ironic. With "whisper interpreting" the interpreter does NOT whisper, but rather speaks in a low voice. An interpreter should not whisper because it is harder on the vocal chords. Do not "whisper" when performing "chucotage," but rather speak in a low voice. Sometimes, when performing whisper interpreting for one or two people, the interpreter will actually put a notebook or paper in front of his/her mouth so that the noise does not project forward and be a distraction for the entire group.

The concept of "communicative autonomy" implies that all parties are in control of their own communication. One party does not speak up on behalf of another.

The correct answer is: True! "Communicative autonomy" refers to the idea that an individual is in control of and responsible for his/her own communication. The key words are "in control of" and "responsible for." An interpreter only interprets, and that is all. The interpreter does not decide to clarify ideas that may be confusing. The interpreter does not explain cultural concepts for the service provider(teachers, doctors, etc.) event when asked! The interpreter does not ask for additional benefits for the non-English speaking individual, even if s/he knows that they exist. The interpreter interprets, and that is all. (This idea is being repeated, because so many interpreters disregard communicative autonomy. When they try to "help," they may actually be causing harm or confusion for the parties involved. If misunderstandings occur, the interpreter may perform something called "strategic mediation." The practice of "strategic mediation" will be discussed later in this program. In short, this idea refers to a brief intervention during which the interpreter may suggest that an individual may want to ask clarifying questions. Again, strategic mediation will be discussed at a later date.

True or false? In order to be a member of AIIC, one must take and pass a rigorous interpreting exam.

The correct answer is: True! AIIC in the International Association of Conference Interpreters. In order to become a member, one must pass an exam. To learn more, visit: aiic.net.

True or false? It is acceptable practice for an interpreter to avoid eye contact with the provider and the client while interpreting.

The correct answer is: True! Avoiding eye contact while interpreting is an acceptable strategy that many interpreters use to force service providers and service users to look at each other and to speak to each other directly. Avoiding eye contact while interpreting may also help an interpreter focus.

True or false? An example of a language proficiency credential could be a certificate from CEFR or ILR.

The correct answer is: True! CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) and ILR (Interagency Language Roundtable) are two organizations that rigorously test their exams for validity. The exams are administered and scored by trained graders. These credentials are widely recognized. Two additional sources that offer respected language proficiency testing are ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) and DELE (Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language, which is granted by the Ministry of Education from Spain). For more information about ACTFL and DELE, visit: actfl.org and dele.org.

The purpose of "community interpreting" is to facilitate access to community services.

The correct answer is: True! Essentially, the interpreter is facilitating communication so that the non-English speaking individual can access community services so that the individual can receive the same quality of service as an English-speaking individual (not better service, not poorer service). The interpreter does not serve as an advocate. The interpreter does not try to secure additional services for the non-English speaking individual. The goal is for everyone to receive the same quality of service - no matter what language an individual may speak.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 24 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

The correct answer is: True! Job Outlook - Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 24 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by increasing globalization and by large increases in the number of non-English-speaking people in the United States. Job prospects should be best for those who have professional certification. We will examine professional certification later on in this program.

The terms "healthcare interpreting" and "medical interpreting" may be used interchangeably.

The correct answer is: True! Medical interpreting and healthcare interpreting are the same. You will see them as medical interpreting, healthcare interpreting, and health care interpreting. All three variations are correct.

True or false? There are two nationally established certification programs for medical interpreters.

The correct answer is: True! There are two established programs. NBCMI and CCHI are the founding organizations.

True or false? According to your textbook, interpreter training and education programs can only help you up to a point. Once you are working as an interpreter, ethics, and their related standards will provide you with the guidance you will need to make wise decisions.

The correct answer is: True! Training and education programs cannot possibly cover every single situation that you will encounter when working as a community interpreter. For this reason, you need to become very familiar with the code of ethics(rules) and its standards(strategies)so that you can work ethically within new or unfamiliar situations.

True or false? If you are a bilingual employee who is trained to interpret, when you are required to interpret, interpreting should be your only role at that moment. For example, as an interpreter, you would only interpret. You would not weigh patients or take their blood pressure.

The correct answer is: True! When a bilingual employee who is trained in interpreting is interpreting (also known as a dual role interpreter), the individual should interpret and that is all. If an interpreter performs other duties at the same time, the interpretation's accuracy may suffer.

True or false? A credential is a form of evidence of a qualification. Certificates, certifications, and memberships in professional associations are all examples of interpreter credentials.

The correct answer is: True. A credential is a form of evidence of a qualification. All credentials are not meaningful. One can pay a membership fee and belong to an association for interpreters. However, just because one is a member, this does not mean one has the ability to interpret. At present, the only interpreting organization that requires individuals to pass a rigorous examination before one can become a member is AIIC, which is a professional association for conference interpreters.

True or false? RedT and InZone are two humanitarian organizations that train interpreters where conflict and natural disasters are occurring.

The correct answer is: True. For more information about these organizations, search them out online!

True or false? Standards of practice provide practitioners a set of formal guidelines, or strategies, to support professional conduct.

The correct answer is: True. Standards are guidelines or strategies, whereas ethics are rules

True or false? A number of credentials exist for community interpreters, and many are meaningless.

The correct answer is: True. There are many meaningless credentials available to community interpreters. For example, a certificate of attendance at a workshop does not guarantee that an interpreter is well trained, or even bilingual! Interpreting certificates or degrees from accredited colleges (such as Durham Tech) and universities, as well as state or national certifications, are examples of meaningful credentials, because one has been tested for language proficiency and interpreting skills. If you need to have your language proficiency assessed, (not interpreting skills, but language proficiency) ACTFL, ILR, and TOEFL, are some good places to start, because they are nationally recognized. If a small business offers to "certify" you as an interpreter, do not fall into this trap. You will not be certified. "Certification" means you have passed a validated, state or national exam for interpreters.

True of false? According to your textbook, a bilingual employee, who is also professionally trained as an interpreter, should not perform his/her primary job and interpret at the same time.

The correct answer is: True. When serving as an interpreter, you interpret, and that is all. You do not perform your other primary duties, because you may become distracted or even cross role boundaries. You do not want to confuse the service user(client) about your role. When you are interpreting, you want it to be very clear that you are the interpreter. You are not a witness, a chaperone, or a helper of some sort.

"Strategic mediation," or "mediation," refers to any action an interpreter does beyond interpreting that is intended to remove barriers to communication and facilitate access to services.

True

An "ISP" is an interpreting service provider. An "ISP" can include both interpreters and companies that provide interpreters.

True

Medical interpreting is part of community interpreting.

True

True or false? According to what you read in your book, licensure is mandatory in order to perform an activity, whereas certification is voluntary.

True

True or false? According to your textbook, in modern medicine, the precept, or rule, to "first do no harm" guides its practitioners. For community interpreters, "communicative autonomy," where each party is in control of and responsible for his or her own communication, should underlie every aspect of the development and practice of community interpreting.

True

True or false? If a service provider or service user swears and uses bad words, the interpreter must interpret the bad words, even if the interpreter does not curse normally.

True

True or false? Interpreters who explain barriers to understanding undermine both direct communication and communicative autonomy.

True

True or false? The interpreter should avoid the role of cultural expert.

True

According to your textbook, with respect to the ethical principle of confidentiality, in order for an effective encounter to take place, service providers and service users(clients) must establish:

Trust