These are interesting, I'd like to jump in with my ideas if I may. (Not too different from others' in some cases.
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Originally Posted by taylorno
1st Scenerio
You are interpreting a Dr. appointment for a 14 year old Deaf girl and her 18 year old Deaf boyfriend. The Dr. tells them that she is pregnant and then proceeds discussing abortion options.
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I interpret exactly what all the clients say and don't step out of role at all. I'm pretty certain that in a situation like this any doctor will inform the patient that since she's underage, he's required to tell the parents -- I believe this is the case anyway, I could be wrong -- but even if he doesn't say that, it's not my place to jump in. I agree with the others on this one.
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2nd Scenerio
You are sub interpreting in college class. The professor hands the deaf student a paper, says finish this then starts the lecture. You, the interpreter then proceeds to interpret. All of a sudden, the professor runs to you, and loudly, says...DONT INTERPRET THIS< YOU ARE GIVING HIM THE ANSWERS
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That teacher sounds a lot like ones I've encountered at work. There's an added problem of not causing the teacher to feel he's lost face in front of the class -- I have inadvertently caused this when an ignorant teacher took an innocent statement very personally -- so careful diplomacy is called for. I would interpret what the teacher said, and then step out of role and say to the teacher quietly and politely (while signing) "It's my responsibility to interpret everything you say." I would then turn to the student and HOPE the student steps up to provide a solution, the easiest of which would be to ask the interpreter to take a break (which I have done), or we could move out of the room altogether while he's lecturing, the way hearing students do in these situations. But since the teacher is obviously so agitated, if neither client steps up with a solution I would end up proposing one myself. I consider that part of my role as mediator, which is part of being an interpreter sometimes. And in my experience 9 times out of 10 the student would just tell me not to bother interpreting.
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3rd Scenerio
You work with a Deaf Professional, and out of work, you are hired to interpret for the same Deaf Professional. There is some down time, and you are sitting until you begin again to interpret. The Deaf collegue/professional asks you to get a cup of coffee for them
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Ariakkas said it best. I would let the client know that if he wants to find the person who gets coffee, I'll communicate the request. I put on my best "helpful" face for this so the client hopefully understands that I am not being sarcastic or contrary, but am trying to politely draw a boundary. If the person persists in asking me why I can't do it, then I might become a little less helpful and simply say "I'm sorry, but that is not part of my job." If they don't get it the first time, then they don't understand what an interpreter's role is and I don't mind making it a little more clear.
(To be honest, if I'd worked with someone for a long time, long enough to be friends, I might get that cup of coffee if the client were willing to do the same or similar for me. I think when you work with someone enough certain boundaries can be blurred a bit as long as they do not apply to the major tenets of interpreter ethics, like confidentiality and conveying the message as given, etc. I'm thinking of a time when a client was going to get a (free) bottle of water and asked me if I wanted one. I was dying for one. If it had been a first time client I probably wouldn't have said yes, but since it was someone I worked with many times, I saw no reason to say no. I would never ever say this on the NIC however.)