With the large percentage of immigrants living in the US, many hospitals and clinics have finally begun to formalize the implementation of bilingual services to bridge the language gap. The need for such services seems so obvious; miscommunication in issues of health can be incredibly dangerous! Doctors and nurses can’t rely on just gestures or stilted and broken language to communicate complicated medical terminology or deliver life-altering diagnoses.
A lack of translation can prove fatal, as in the case of a power outage in Washington: seventeen people died from carbon-monoxide poisoning caused by indoor use of generators and charcoal grills because they could not read the equipment warnings!
So it’s almost surprising that hospitals have taken this long to offer bilingual services. But there is something special about the new language services offered in one hospital: the staff interpreters not only translate symptoms, injuries, and medical histories, “but also navigate cultural nuances, explaining patients’ superstitions or their use of herbal remedies to medical personnel.”
This seems really perceptive, because culture is so tied to language. In class, we’ve talked about how finding out someone speaks the same language as us makes us feel a special connection to them; this is due in large part to the fact that we share the same cultural background along with the same language. And in medical clinics, where trust between the patient and the health provider is so important, it’s especially important that a doctor understand the cultural background of a person in order to best treat them.
And in fact, even in the example of the equipment warnings, the problem was as much a cultural one as a language one: while brochures with instructions on how to give first aid, survive an emergency, and create a family emergency plan were translated into a variety of languages, “the problem is with more than just information…some residents don't know what a smoke alarm is, and for them, being reminded to change the battery isn't helpful.” Clearly, crossing the cultural divide is not as simple as translating from one language to another.
This is an issue that resonated with me, because my mom works as a dietitian at a medical clinic, and she always sees patients who speak Spanish or Hebrew. Her ability to speak those languages immediately builds a connection between her and the patient; they can speak to her in their native tongue, but more than that, they recognize that she’s familiar with the Mexican or Israeli foods they eat (which is so important to a discussion on nutrition!); she can relate to the entire background and culture they’re coming from.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-interpret_bd21oct21,1,1529405.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
http://www.ajol.info/viewarticle.php?jid=76&id=29452
http://sociolingo.wordpress.com/category/african-education/african-languages-and-education/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003969991_emergency24n.html
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5 comments:
That is very cool that your mother has taken enough time and care to consider the language and cultures of her patients. My question is how would you propose society deal with the pressing need for medical providers and the like to be educated about such issues? Is it society's responsibility to provide the money for training and education, and in a way take care of its own through its development of language resources, or is it more a responsibility for the individual to better equip himself/herself? Just some thoughts about society's role in shaping the the use of language as a tool.
As someone who have seen and read translated medical brochures, I have to say they are a great effort, especially in spreading awareness about diseases and methods of prevention. Though the translation can sometimes be rather poor (at least in the ones I read through while waiting at the doctor's office), non-native and non-English speakers are definitely more likely to pick up and read translated brochures than medical jargons in their full English glory.
As someone who have seen and read translated medical brochures, I have to say they are a great effort, especially in spreading awareness about diseases and methods of prevention. Though the translation can sometimes be rather poor (at least in the ones I read through while waiting at the doctor's office), non-native and non-English speakers are definitely more likely to pick up and read translated brochures than medical jargons in their full English glory.
Excellent post and discussion!
I think it your mother is amazing to help bridge that cultural gap for so many people. I am curious as to how many of her colleagues are fluent or at least competent in other languages.
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