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6.4: Accuracy and Completeness

  • Page ID
    141131
    • Yeny Peña-Grafton

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    The primary responsibility of the interpreter is to deliver messages accurately and completely. This means nothing should be omitted, added, or changed. The goal is to allow both patient and provider to have full communicative autonomy, as if they were speaking directly to one another without a language barrier.

    The Interpreter’s Role in Message TransferFree communication head balloons illustration

    During an interpreted encounter, the interpreter:

    If the interpreter encounters a barrier (such as not understanding a word, needing clarification, or recognizing a cultural misunderstanding) they must intervene using established professional protocols.

    Correcting CommunicationFree Hand Stop photo and picture

    When corrections are needed, interpreters have a duty to step in. This may include:

    These interventions should be done briefly, respectfully, and in the first person whenever possible, to keep the flow of communication intact.


    This page titled 6.4: Accuracy and Completeness was last modified on Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:44:55 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Yeny Peña-Grafton.

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