Why is linguistic competence important?
The U.S. is home to millions of national origin minority individuals who are "limited English proficient" (LEP). LEP individuals cannot speak, read, write or understand the English language at a level that permits them to interact effectively with health care providers and social service agencies.
Because of their inability to speak or understand English, LEP individuals are often:
- excluded from programs
- experience delays or denials of services
- receive care and services based on inaccurate or incomplete information
Health and social service organizations that lack properly trained interpreters often struggle to fill the language gap. They may encourage their LEP patients/clients to provide their own interpreters, have bilingual staff members act as interpreters, or even ask the patients' minor children or strangers that they have met at the provider’s office to interpret for them.
But untrained interpreters are often unable to understand the concepts or official terminology required for accurate interpretation. Risks of using untrained interpreters include:
- breaches of confidentiality
- message distortion
- danger (e.g. abusive spouses who interpret)
- emotional trauma for child interpreters
- unnecessary medical tests
- injury, malpractice, and death
Furthermore, untrained interpreters are unaware of the ethics and standards of practice of trained interpreters. Such practices may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Since the President's signing of Executive Order 13166 in August, 2000, all public and private entities receiving federal financial assistance are required to examine the services that they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide LEP persons with meaningful access to those services.
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Interpreting in the health and social service fields require the development of special skills and a strong degree of proficiency in both languages.
Trained interpreters respect a code of ethics, have clear roles and boundaries, maintain accuracy and confidentiality, and mediate culturally.
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