DEMYSTIFYING
SIGHT TRANSLATION IN
HEALTHCARE SETTINGS
Margarita Bekker, CoreCHI™
CCHI Commissioner
©2016, Natalya Mytareva, Margarita Bekker
Permission to use: The content of this presentation may be used for noncommercial purposes with the appropriate attribution to the author.
WEBINAR AGENDA
Overview of the WRITEs of healthcare
documents and current recommendations
on sight translation and translation of them
¢ Comparison of sight translation skills to
written translation and analysis of sight
translation skills components
¢ Exercises preparing for sight translation
¢ Brief quiz and wrap up
¢
REFERENCES FOR THIS PRESENTATION:
“Sight Translation and Written Translation: Guidelines
for Healthcare Interpreters.” March 2010 – a
publication of NCIHC (www.ncihc.org –
Resources/Publications)
¢ “What's in a Word? A Guide to Understanding
Interpretation and Translation in Health Care.” April
2010. (Published by the National Health Law Program
(NHeLP) in collaboration with the American Translators
Association and NCIHC - www.ncihc.org –
Resources/Publications)
¢ “CCHI Job Task Analysis Study and Results.” May 2010
(http://www.cchicertification.org/images/webinars/cchi
%20jta%20report-public.pdf)
¢
1. WRITES OF HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTS
1. Institutional forms:
Intake Forms
o Health History Forms
o
Characteristics:
— Communicative Purpose: to collect information
from reader
— Standardized & finite
— Heavy in formulaic language
— Heavy in “unique”, “low-context” medical or
insurance terminology
WRITES OF HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTS
2. Informational documents:
o Patient educational materials
o Specific patient care instructions:
Pre-op/procedure, Discharge
Characteristics:
— Communicative Purpose: to educate and instruct
the reader
— Diverse, with similarities
— User-friendly, close to spoken language*
— Moderate amount of terminology, usually
deductible from context (“high context”)
WRITES OF HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTS
3. Legal documents:
Patient’s rights, Privacy notices
o Waivers, Releases, General Consent
o Informed Consent
o Advance Directives
Characteristics:
— Communicative Purpose: to notify reader and
obtain signature
— Standardized & finite
— Heavy in formulaic language
— Heavy in terminology – both medical & legal,
“high” & “low” context
o
2. TRANSLATE OR SIGHT TRANSLATE? –
THAT IS THE QUESTION!
WHICH DOCUMENTS ARE INTERPRETERS ASKED
TO AND MAY SIGHT TRANSLATE?
1.
Institutional forms:
Health History Forms
Intake Forms
o
o
2.
Informational documents:
Patient-specific care instructions: Preop/procedure, Discharge
o Patient educational materials:
o
Ø
3.
only brief ones or excerpts!
Legal documents:
o
Waivers, Releases, General Consents
WHICH DOCUMENTS SHOULDN’T INTERPRETERS
SIGHT TRANSLATE?
1.
Informational documents:
o
Patient educational materials
Ø
2.
multi-page or with complex scientific information
Legal documents:
o
o
o
Patient’s rights, Privacy notices
Informed Consent
Advance Directives
WHICH DOCUMENTS ARE INTERPRETERS ASKED
TO TRANSLATE “ON THE SPOT”?...
¢
¢
Should interpreters translate anything?
Current situation in the profession
WHICH DOCUMENTS MAY INTERPRETERS
TRANSLATE “ON THE SPOT”?
Patient-Specific care instructions:
—
—
—
¢
¢
¢
Notes to the standard pre-op, pre-procedure,
or discharge instructions (i.e. not the whole
documents)
Medication dosages or times to take
Care logistics, e.g. who to contact when
Only from English into the patient’s
language
Only short, specific portions
“Non-technical” language
PROPER WAYS FOR INTERPRETERS TO
TRANSLATE ON THE SPOT
1. Ideally, the patient should write down in
their language what the interpreter
interprets.
¢ After the patient wrote down the
instructions, the patient reads their notes
aloud.
¢ The interpreter interprets to the provider.
¢ The provider confirms accuracy.
¢ However, we do not always have patients
who can WRITE.
PROPER WAYS FOR INTERPRETERS TO
TRANSLATE ON THE SPOT
2. If the patient cannot write, then the
interpreter WRITES.
¢ The interpreter interprets back to the
provider their notes.
¢ The provider confirms accuracy.
¢ The interpreter reads the final version to the
patient.
¢ The interpreter checks if the patient
understands the handwriting. (Tip: Make
sure you write the numbers in the way
common in the patient’s language, e.g. 7, 4,
6.)
WHICH DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE ONLY
TRANSLATED ONLY BY TRANSLATORS AND NOT
SIGHT TRANSLATED BY INTERPRETERS?
1.
2.
Patient educational materials (multipage and scientific publications)
Legal documents:
Patient’s rights, Privacy notices
o Informed Consent (and then explained by
provider whose words are then interpreted)
o Advance Directives
o
SCRIPT TO RECUSE SELF FROM SIGHT
TRANSLATING PATIENT EDUCATION/LEGAL
DOCUMENTS
¢ Documents
longer than 2 pages are not sight translated.
“I can assist you with a translation request for that.
Would you mind explaining and I’ll interpret?”
¢ “According to best practice and patient safety concerns,
this type of document (surgical consent) is not sight
translated, but I will be happy to interpret your
explanation of it for you.”
¢ “Since this is a Patient Education document, would you
talk us through and I’ll interpret? That way we can pause
when the patient has questions or doesn’t understand
something?”
3. COMPARISON OF
Sight
Translation
Translation
SIGHT TRANSLATION VS. TRANSLATION:
SIMILARITIES
¢
¢
¢
Same source – written English text
Preserve the intended communicative
purpose
Need to possess knowledge of
healthcare documents
SIGHT TRANSLATION VS. TRANSLATION:
DIFFERENCES
Difference
Sight Translation
Translation
1. Type of
documents
Only certain
documents
Any document
2. Method of
delivery
3. Method of
clarification
Oral rendition
Written text
Immediate, ask the
provider
Delayed, ask the
client, research
4. Handling the
linguistic form of
the source
May simplify the
linguistic form
Preserve the
linguistic form
MAIN COMPONENTS OF SIGHT TRANSLATION
SKILLS
1. Knowledge of terminology specific to
healthcare documents:
¢
¢
¢
¢
¢
¢
Legal terminology specific to signed documents
Health insurance terminology
Terminology specific to forms collecting
demographic information
Healthcare institutional terminology
Medical terminology for a specific condition or
setting
Terms for common conditions and allergies (on a
health history form)
MAIN COMPONENTS OF SIGHT TRANSLATION
SKILLS
2. Understanding of register:
¢ Ability to preserve the register of the
original text
¢ Ability to identify situations when the
register may be adjusted (to Neutral) and
¢ ability to adjust the register to Neutral
without sacrificing accuracy of meaning
MAIN COMPONENTS OF SIGHT TRANSLATION
SKILLS
3. Understanding of syntax:
¢ Ability to simplify the syntax of the
original text for the spoken language,
without sacrificing accuracy of meaning
(minimal simplification)
¢ Ability to simplify the syntax of the
original text for the specific situation,
without sacrificing accuracy of meaning
(maximally accepted simplification)
Terminology
Register
Syntax
LEVELS OF SIGHT TRANSLATION SKILLS
Master
Intermediate
Beginner
¢
¢
¢
Substitutes legal &
other terms with
synonyms often (5075% of the time)
because doesn’t know
precise equivalents.
Lowers the register to
Neutral most of the
time (75-99%) because
can’t preserve it.
Simplifies the syntax of
the text most of the
time (75-99%) because
can’t preserve it.
¢
Knows precise
equivalents for
legal & other
terms.
¢
Lowers the
register to Neutral
often (50-75% of
the time), because
can’t preserve it.
¢
Simplifies the
syntax of the text
often (50-75% of
the time).
¢
Knows precise
equivalents for legal
& other terms.
¢
Able to preserve
the register or
change it to Neutral
as needed.
¢
Simplifies the
syntax of the text
only when
necessary
linguistically or
situationally.
4. TIPS FOR EFFICIENT SIGHT TRANSLATION
1. Prepare - Collect healthcare documents
—
—
—
Health history/intake forms and memorize the
frequently used terms (e.g. diseases) and
words
Patient education documents & instructions
Documents with “legalese” and …translate the
frequently used paragraphs
2. Identify the intent of the document &
focus on preserving the intended
meaning
4. TIPS FOR EFFICIENT SIGHT TRANSLATION
3. Review the whole document to:
o Get a general idea
o Identify unfamiliar terms & words
4. Simplify the written form as you go:
o Interpret idea-by-idea, not word-by-word.
o You may change the order of the words or
phrases as long as you capture the meaning of
what is written.
o Break long sentences into shorter & simpler ones.
If necessary, repeat parts of the first simpler
sentence in the second one to maintain the
logical flow of thought.
4. TIPS FOR EFFICIENT SIGHT TRANSLATION
5. As you are sight translating the first
sentence, read ahead to the next
sentence to ensure an even pace.
6. Try to interpret at a moderate, even
pace and with a non-monotonous,
reasonably emphatic intonation.
EX. 1. GRAMMATICAL PECULIARITIES OF
HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTS
Identify the subject and predicate in each
part of the sentence.
SENTENCE 1
I understand that if additional testing,
invasive or interventional procedures are
recommended, I will be asked to read and
sign additional consent forms prior to the
test(s) or procedure(s).
SENTENCE 1
I understand that if additional testing,
invasive or interventional procedures are
recommended, I will be asked to read and
sign additional consent forms prior to the
test(s) or procedure(s).
SENTENCE 2
By signing below, you are indicating that
you intend that this consent is continuing
in nature even after a specific diagnosis
has been made and treatment
recommended; and you consent to
treatment at this office or any other
satellite office under common ownership.
SENTENCE 2
By signing below, you are indicating that
you intend that this consent is continuing
in nature even after a specific diagnosis
has been made and treatment
recommended; and you consent to
treatment at this office or any other
satellite office under common ownership.
EX. 2. GRAMMATICAL PECULIARITIES OF
HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTS
Into how many simple sentences can these
long sentences be split without changing
the meaning or too many
additions/repetitions?
SENTENCE 1
Representatives of this agency may contact
you during the course of treatment and/or
following termination from treatment to
determine your satisfaction with the
services at this agency.
SENTENCE 1
1.
2.
Representatives of this agency may
contact you to determine your
satisfaction with the services at this
agency.
They may contact you during the course
of treatment and/or following
termination from treatment.
SENTENCE 2
By signing below, you are indicating that
you intend that this consent is continuing
in nature even after a specific diagnosis
has been made and treatment
recommended; and you consent to
treatment at this office or any other
satellite office under common ownership.
SENTENCE 2
1.
2.
3.
By signing below, you are indicating
that you intend that this consent is
continuing in nature.
Continuing means it lasts even after a
specific diagnosis has been made and
treatment recommended.
And you also consent to treatment at
this office or any other satellite office
under common ownership.
SENTENCE 3
This consent form is simply an effort to
obtain your permission to perform the
evaluation necessary to identify the
appropriate treatment and/or procedure
for any identified condition(s).
How many segments of this sentence can
you re-word to make the speech flow more
natural?
SENTENCE 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
This consent form is simply an effort to
obtain your permission for us to do the
following:
to perform the evaluation which is
necessary
so we can identify the appropriate
treatment and/or procedure for
any condition(s) identified during the
evaluation.
EX. 3. VOCABULARY STUDY
¢ Read
the word and its definition
¢ Type the translation into your language in
the Chat or Questions box
TYPE YOUR TRANSLATION OF THE WORD
IN BLUE IN THE CHAT BOX
1. To consent (v) – to give permission to do
something; to agree
TYPE YOUR TRANSLATION OF THE WORD
IN BLUE IN THE CHAT BOX
2. To certify (v) – to confirm formally as
true, to attest in a formal statement
TYPE YOUR TRANSLATION OF THE WORD
IN BLUE IN THE CHAT BOX
3. Voluntarily (adv) – out of one’s own free
will; by choice; of one’s own accord, of
one’s own volition; willingly and without
constraint or pressure;
EX. 4. PARAPHRASE
Which paraphrase is the closest to the
original text? Why?
Keep in mind both versions are acceptable,
i.e. don’t change the meaning of the
original text.
SENTENCE 1
I certify that I have read and fully understand
the above statements and consent fully and
voluntarily to its contents.
1. I declare that I have read the statements in
this document and I completely understand
them. And I consent to what is stated here,
completely and out of my free will.
2. I declare that I have read this document and I
completely understand it. And I completely and
freely agree to what is written here.
SENTENCE 1
I certify that I have read and fully understand
the above statements and consent fully and
voluntarily to its contents.
1. I declare that I have read the statements in
this document and I completely understand
them. And I consent to what is stated here,
completely and out of my free will.
2. I declare that I have read this document and I
completely understand it. And I completely and
freely agree to what is written here.
EX. 5. PARAPHRASE
Which paraphrase of the original text is
wrong? Why?
SENTENCE 1
I certify that I have read and fully understand
the above statements and consent fully and
voluntarily to its contents.
1. I declare that I have read and fully
understand the statements in this document.
And I completely agree to it.
2. I declare that I have read this document, and
I completely understand it. And, by my own
choice, I completely agree to what is written
here.
SENTENCE 1
I certify that I have read and fully understand
the above statements and consent fully and
voluntarily to its contents.
1. I declare that I have read and fully
understand the statements in this document.
And I completely [omitted: voluntarily] agree to
it.
2. I declare that I have read this document, and
I completely understand it. And, by my own
choice, I completely agree to what is written
here.
SENTENCE 2
Your signature indicates full acceptance and
acknowledgement of each applicable
paragraph marked by an (X).
1. By signing this document, you completely
accept and acknowledge each paragraph that
applies to your case and next to which you put a
check mark.
2. Your signature means that you accept and
agree to each paragraph that applies to you and
next to which you put a cross mark.
SENTENCE 2
Your signature indicates full acceptance and
acknowledgement of each applicable
paragraph marked by an (X).
1. By signing this document, you completely
accept and acknowledge each paragraph that
applies to your case and next to which you put a
check mark.
2. Your signature means that you [omitted:
fully] accept and agree to each paragraph that
applies to you and next to which you put a cross
mark.
EX. 6. PARAPHRASE
Are these 2 paraphrases of the original text
wrong or acceptable?
By signing below, you are indicating that you intend that this
consent is continuing in nature even after a specific diagnosis
has been made and treatment recommended; and you consent
to treatment at this office or any other satellite office under
common ownership.
1. If you sign below, you are saying that you agree that this
consent continues even after your doctor makes a specific
diagnosis and recommends a treatment. And you also agree to
treatment at this office or any other office that belongs to this
organization.
2. By signing below, you are declaring that you understand that
this consent is of continuing nature. It lasts even after a specific
diagnosis has been made and treatment has been
recommended. And you also consent to treatment at this office
or any other office that belongs to this organization.
ACCEPTABLE!
By signing below, you are indicating that you intend that this
consent is continuing in nature even after a specific diagnosis
has been made and treatment recommended; and you consent
to treatment at this office or any other satellite office under
common ownership.
1. If you sign below, you are saying that you agree that this consent
continues even after your doctor makes a specific diagnosis and
recommends a treatment. And you also agree to treatment at this
office or any other office that belongs to this organization.
2. By signing below, you are declaring that you understand that this
consent is of continuing nature. It lasts even after a specific diagnosis
has been made and treatment has been recommended. And you also
consent to treatment at this office or any other affiliate office that
belongs to this organization.
HOW TO MAKE A HELPFUL GLOSSARY FOR
SIGHT TRANSLATION?
¢
¢
Make your own – the process of creating a
glossary helps our memorize the words
Make several subject-specific glossaries rather
than “one for all,” for example:
—
—
—
—
—
¢
Health history forms (Generic & specific, e.g. dental,
reproductive health, pediatric)
Forms/questionnaires for radiology & imaging, blood
tests, pre-op, etc.
Discharge instructions
Legal General consent, releases, waivers
Forms per client, e.g. Children’s hospital, Dentist’s
Include formulaic phrases, sentences, and even
paragraphs, not just words
EX. 7. CREATE A GLOSSARY OF “GENERAL
CONSENT FORMS”
Goal of an interpreter glossary:
¢ Learn the key information about a specific
subject in both working languages
¢ Memorize the correct equivalents to key
words and expressions on a specific
subject
¢ Have all key words and expressions on a
specific subject in one place that is easy to
retrieve and review
STEP 1. COLLECT 2-5 DOCUMENTS ON A
SPECIFIC SUBJECT
Texts used in this presentation:
“General Consent for Care and Treatment Consent” by
Appledore Medical Group:
http://appledoremedicalgroup.com/util/documents/consentto-treat.pdf
¢ “General Consent and Acknowledgement Form” by
Jackson Purchase Medical Associates:
http://internalmedicinegroup.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/06/General-Consent-andAcknowledgement-Form.pdf
¢ “General Consent for Treatment” by Tolland Imaging
Center, LLC:
www.tollandimaging.org/general-treatment-consent.doc
¢
STEP 2. IDENTIFY KEY EXPRESSIONS AND SET
PHRASES
1. Identify the communicative purpose of the
document.
2. Read 2-5 collected documents of this type
3. Compare the titles of the collected
documents, include titles in the glossary.
STEP 2. IDENTIFY KEY EXPRESSIONS AND SET
PHRASES
4. If the document requires a signature – start
by analyzing the paragraph immediately
preceding the signature. I recommend to
include complete sentences in the glossary.
STEP 2. IDENTIFY KEY EXPRESSIONS AND SET
PHRASES
5.
6.
7.
Identify expressions that appear in all of
the collected documents, add them to
the glossary.
Include any expressions that have no
standard equivalents in your language.
Paraphrase the selected expressions and
set phrases in English – write the
paraphrase in a separate column of your
glossary.
STEP 3. IDENTIFY KEY TERMS
¢
Include any hard-to-remember or
unfamiliar terms:
—
—
—
—
¢
Medical
Legal
Insurance
Other
Find definitions and synonyms in English
to the selected terms
STEP 4. TRANSLATE GLOSSARY ITEMS: SET
EXPRESSIONS, SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
1. Find a translation
Parallel (bilingual) text matching:
¢
¢
¢
¢
Find texts on the same subject produced by native speakers
(specialists), i.e. not translations
In a set of parallel texts, find one-to-one matches at phrase
level and at word level.
In case of standardized forms, the match can be at
sentence level (i.e. structural matches).
By using parallel text matching you can achieve lexical &
syntactic disambiguation more precisely to allow you to
extract linguistic knowledge and translation patterns
quicker and more accurately.
STEP 4. TRANSLATE GLOSSARY ITEMS: SET
EXPRESSIONS, SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
1. Find a translation
Use either your-language Google or yourcountry search engine (e.g. Russian – Yandex) to
find 2-3 documents of the same nature (subject
& communicative purpose)
Do you use your country’s search engine? Type in the
Chat box its name or URL (web address).
— Select the documents from reputable sites: your
country’s Departments of Health, major
hospitals (usually in the capital city of your
country), major universities, sample documents
for notaries or paralegals
—
STEP 4. TRANSLATE GLOSSARY ITEMS: SET
EXPRESSIONS, SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
1. Find a translation - If none of the original
documents from your country exist,
—
—
—
Do a search on ProZ.com:
http://www.proz.com/search
Search for translations into your language
published in the U.S., Canada, Australia, or
U.K. Keep in mind that translations available
online may be incorrect.
Translate the item yourself. A word about
Google Translate.
STEP 4. TRANSLATE GLOSSARY ITEMS: SET
EXPRESSIONS, SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
2. Verify accuracy of the translation
¢
¢
¢
¢
Compare 2-5 documents of the similar nature
in your country.
Start a query/ask a question at ProZ.com.
Consult with your fellow interpreters.
Ask your community (elders, educated people):
—
—
“If I say this, what does it mean to you?”
“I’m trying to convey this American concept in our
language. Does it make sense? Is there a better way
of saying this?
STEP 5. CONTINUE ADDING NEW ITEMS
TO THE GLOSSARY
Contribute to
CCHI’s free
Mini-glossaries
Ø Mini-Glossaries
Ø Medical
Terminology links
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