When working with an interpreter, it’s important to remember one key truth: you are hearing the individual, not the interpreter. Understanding the Interpreter’s Role: It’s the Client’s “Voice” makes all the difference in effective communication. In every interaction, always keep in mind: It’s the Client’s “Voice” guiding the conversation.
An interpreter’s role is not to filter, edit, or soften communication. Their responsibility is to accurately convey everything the Deaf/Hard of Hearing individual says — including tone, urgency, mood, and yes, even swear words if they are used. This ensures that you have full access to the patient’s voice exactly as it is expressed and reminds you that It’s the Client’s “Voice” you are truly hearing.
Sometimes this can feel surprising or uncomfortable. An individual may speak harshly, emotionally, or in ways that seem disrespectful. It can be tempting to look to the interpreter and ask them to tone it down or leave something out. But doing so would compromise the integrity of the message — and ultimately, the communication because It’s the Client’s “Voice” that matters most.
The interpreter is not the source of the words — the patient is.
Here’s what this means in practice:
● If an individual swears, you will hear it.
● If an individual cries, you will hear it in the interpreter’s voice or see it in their signing.
● If an individual downplays their symptoms, you will hear that too. Clearly, It’s the Client’s “Voice” being communicated in all these situations.
The interpreter’s professional responsibility is to ensure nothing is lost, added, or changed.
Bottom line: Don’t take it personally. Don’t ask the interpreter to leave things out. What you hear is the individual — and the interpreter is simply the bridge making that communication possible.
