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Three topics were dealt with during this panel discussion on how Hmong, Khmer, Laotian, and Vietnamese refugees see the American school system: (1) the general issues of acculturation and assimilation; (2) conflicts between school and home expectations; and (3) the use of students and other nonprofessionals as interpreters and translators in communication with Southeast Asian refugee families, with emphasis on the need to be aware that among immigrants, English is sometimes used as a source of power. (CMG)

This paper summarizes the findings of an exploratory study concerned with certain temporal and qualitative aspects of simultaneous interpretation. Six French-English interpreters (2 professionals, 2 students and 2 amateurs) translated tape-recorded passages representing different types of materials from their weaker into their dominant language or vice-versa. As analyzed by computer, the translator's (T's) utterance generally shows the same pattern of temporal relationships as natural speech (by speaker S) but is less rhythmical. T speaks for a greater proportion of time than S and his speech rate vis-a-vis S's is greater in relation to prepared than to spontaneous texts. The synchronization of the 2 speech patterns suggests that T makes good use of S's pauses to deliver his version. Characteristically, T lags behind S by 2 to 3 seconds. Various types of translation departures occur (examples are given), and extent of omission is related to input factors such as S speech rate. A number of other observations are noted. (Author)

A study investigated translation problems arising in physician-patient interviews conducted in two languages with the help of an interpreter. Subjects were four adult native speakers of Gujarati, aged 42-70, whose physician interviews were videotape-recorded and translated, and the discourse was analyzed. Patients spoke in Gujarati, and the interpreters were family members. Questions were classified as simple, complex, or serial, and the frequency of each type was tabulated. Mistranslations in five categories (anatomical, symptoms and conditions, other terminology, euphemisms, loan words) were noted, and social and cultural factors evident in the exchanges were examined. It is concluded that while the interviews seem, on the surface and to the doctor, to be quite normal, they were often severely dysfunctional for linguistic and cultural reasons. The quality of information exchanged was such as to make correct initial diagnosis unlikely. Further study and consideration of the use of professional interpreters in such exchanges are recommended. (MSE)

College staff must understand the nature of hearing impairment, its effect on communication, and teaching methods that accommodate functional limitations in order to provide for the special needs of deaf students. Since the extent of a student's ability to communicate is determined by whether the student became deaf before or after he/she established the use of English and by his/her degree of hearing loss, the teacher should determine what the student can hear and when his/her hearing was impaired. As lip-reading, speaking, and the reading of abstract and idiomatic language are often problematic for deaf students, especially for those who became deaf at an early age, communication is best facilitated by the use of sign language and an interpreter. To improve the learning environment and compensate for the difficulties that may be encountered in group discussions and in note-taking, the teacher can, among other things, give a visual signal to the student before speaking, use body language, and have a light on, not behind, his/her face. A student's ability to lip-read never replaces the need for an interpreter. Provisions should be made to assure that the interpreter is clearly visible, that the teacher adjusts his/her pace to the interpreter, and that the interpreter is provided with an outline and new vocabulary before the lecture. (JP)

Spanish language planning needs and efforts in the public domains of health, law, work, media and communication, citizenship, social welfare, and education are described. For each of these domains, communication inadequacies, planning authorities, plans for alleviating inadequacies, and efforts at implementation of plans are identified. Perceived language inadequacies in the provision of services to the Spanish-speaking community have been addressed by a wide range of interacting planning authorities. Federal language planning activities are most often in the form of court decisions followed up by laws or regulations. Legal claims based on language discrimination must be backed up by a demonstration that substantial rights are diminished by lack of bilingual services. Other language planning activities include publication of textbooks to teach Spanish to personnel who serve Spanish speakers, bilingual signs and other information sources, and the training and use of interpreters. It is concluded that the most effective plans specify who is to implement the plan, who is to monitor the process, and what guidelines are to be used. Lack of definition and specification leads to disjointed implementation efforts. (RW)

This study concerns the problems posed by modes of interlinguistic communication, translation, and individual bilingualism, on which depend the quality of relationships between two ethnic communities belonging to a single political entity. It also addresses a frequent question about the need for translation in a bilingual country like Canada. The discussion involves the extent and quality of bilingualism in the Canadian population, bilingualism and biculturalism, the role and function of translation in an officially bilingual country, and reflection on the nature of the translation act. After an introductory review of the history of the French language and sociolinguistic geography in Canada, the discussion moves to the distinction one must make between institutional bilingualism and biculturalism on the one hand, and individual bilingualism on the other. A third chapter analyzes the scope and role of French translations in the socioeconomic and political life of Canada. Finally, the study attempts a theoretical and practical analysis of the role and nature of both oral and written translation. By way of conclusion, the findings of each chapter are synthesized in order to define the relationship which should link translation to other forms of bilingualism. (AMH)

Psychotherapy is an alien concept to many refugees from traditional cultures, since much of psychotherapy is tied to Western thoughts, practices, and belief systems. However, a variety of therapeutic strategies can be effective with refugees if modified to account for cultural factors. Four clinical intervention strategies are discussed with respect to their applicability to refugees: (1) crisis intervention; (2) cognitive behavioral therapy; (3) dynamic individual "relationship oriented" therapy; and (4) family and marital therapy. These approaches were selected based on their demonstrated cross-cultural utility and on general characteristics of refugee psychopathology and interpersonal dynamics. Suggestions are made regarding appropriate modifications to account for cultural factors within each approach. In addition, issues pertaining to the use of interpreters in psychotherapy are discussed, as well as general sources of difficulty in conducting psychotherapy with refugees. Finally, several approaches to treatment are described which were developed specifically for use with refugee or minority populations. References are included. (Author/TE)

This paper discusses the use of bilingual workers who do not have formal mental health training as mediators and providers of mental health care for refugees. The introduction provides a background discussion of the need for refugee mental health services, the characteristics of bilingual mental health workers, and the work places and expectations of the bilingual worker. After a brief discussion of the problem of job title, the functions of bilingual workers are enumerated and described: translation, interpretation, culture broker, outreach and community education, and mental health counselor or cotherapist. The next section addresses special issues and problems arising with bilingual workers, beginning with the psychosocial and interpersonal dynamics of the bilingual worker's role as interpreter between patient and clinician. Other issues include training, certification and quality assurance, bilingual career development, burnout among bilingual workers, and the potential for the abuse of power by bilingual workers. The discussion concludes with considerations for the recruiting and hiring of bilinguals. References are included. (TE)

A discussion of the role of court interpreters looks at the need for competent interpreters, the kinds and demands of court interpretation, and New Jersey's leadership in recognizing the necessity for court interpretation. Demographic and legal reasons for providing interpreters in today's courts are outlined. Three court interpreting functions (simultaneous, consecutive, and summary) are described, and the skill demands they make on the interpreters are noted. General skills needed for cross-cultural interpretation are also analyzed. The initiative taken by New Jersey's judicial system to develop a training and certification system is described. General lack of monitoring of the profession is blamed in part for the haphazard way in which the profession has developed. Information about the deficiencies in court interpreter qualifications and performance drawn from New Jersey's task force research are discussed. Other aspects of court interpreting considered include: (1) the employment patterns, compensation, and other duties of interpreters, including clerical work and language-family interpretation; (2) the source of the decision to hire an interpreter; and (3) the conditions under which this decision is made. (MSE)

Interrogation of Spanish speaking sources by English speaking interrogators continues to be a realistic scenario due to continued United States involvement in Central America. The use of bilingual interpreters, when applied correctly, enhances applied interpersonal communication in this cross-cultural context. Analysis of the interrogation situation evidences the need for interpersonal sensitivity by the interrogator. There are verbal and nonverbal communication elements which are central to a successful interrogation using an interpreter. A primary verbal concern deals with the approach used by the interpreter to convey interrogator statements. Nonverbal concerns deal with vocalic (tone of voice, inflection, and intent), proxemic (the physical arrangement of the three individuals), eye contact, and kinesic (body movements) considerations. The interpreter needs to serve as a bridge of understanding, verbally and nonverbally, between the interrogator and source. (MM)

A study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of research on individual variation in translation performance. Three translations produced by 20 students in their second year of an advanced English translation program at the Dutch State School of Translation, were analyzed for variability in the translation of Dutch modal verbs. It was proposed that the student's ability to resolve the difficulties of translating those forms would be a good predictor of his or her overall performance. It was found that while students do vary in their ability to produce acceptable translations, there are also many other factors that may interfere with analysis, such as differences in context, frequency of modal occurrence in texts, and the presence of other translation problems. Further research on the quantification of variability is recommended, and a heuristic rather than prescriptive approach to translation instruction is also proposed. (MSE)

Developments in court interpretation are outlined to illustrate the argument that more, and more qualified, interpreters are need to assist in both the federal and state courts. This discussion focuses principally on the criminal justice system, and includes federal statutory developments, especially concerning the implementation and impact of the Court Interpreters Act of 1978; constitutional bases for the appointment of a court interpreter, including federal developments in case law, state cases referring to the Federal Constitution, and state cases referring to state constitutions; a case study of the recent efforts of the State of New Jersey to improve its court interpretation services; the rationale and needed design for court interpretation training; and the current status of court interpreter training in the United States. Educational and administrative needs in the rapidly expanding field are examined. (MSE)

Offers suggestions to school counselors who consult with classroom teachers in order to help students who are hearing impaired develop feelings of capability, belonging, and contribution at school. Defines hearing impairment and provides information about the use of augmentation systems and interpreters in the regular classroom. (Author)