What should an interpreter clarify to avoid role confusion?

Clarifying their role during the interpretation is essential for maintaining clear boundaries and ensuring effective communication between all parties involved. By doing so, interpreters help prevent any misunderstandings about their responsibilities, such as whether they are facilitating communication, providing opinions, or making decisions. This clarification reinforces the interpreter's position as a neutral party who is there solely to relay information accurately without influencing the conversation or injecting personal viewpoints. Establishing this boundary can significantly improve the interaction, making it more productive and focused on the individual's needs.

Understanding the scope and limits of the interpreter's role is critical in a community context, where parties may have varying expectations. While understanding the patient's medical history, the surgeon's skills, and the clinic's policies might be important for context, they do not directly address the potential for role confusion that could hinder effective communication.