The aim of this study is to investigate ways in which interpreting practice in health care settings can be further developed to better facilitate communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Data used include 15 hours of transcribed audio recording from semi-structured interviews with interpreters and Aboriginal Liaison Officers who discuss their perceived experiences of interpreting in medical settings. They offer insights into how language is used to resolve communication differences that may confound the interpreting process and in doing so identify roles interpreters assume and discourse patterns that emerge in interpreting practice. As evidenced through the findings, provisions need to be made for cultural differences. Interpreters report they have to “unpack” medical terminology and explain such terminology and related concepts in tangible terms to ensure patient understanding. Other strategies include talking about taboo topics using culturally appropriate terms, avoiding certain question–answer routines, and being aware of nonverbal aspects of communication.

本研究的目的是研究如何进一步发展医疗保健环境中的口译实践，以更好地促进与土著和托雷斯海峡岛民患者的交流。使用的数据包括对口译员和土著联络官的半结构化访谈的 15 小时转录录音，他们讨论了他们在医疗环境中的口译经验。它们提供了关于如何使用语言来解决可能混淆口译过程的沟通差异的见解，并在这样做时确定口译员所承担的角色和口译实践中出现的话语模式。正如调查结果所证明的那样，需要为文化差异做出规定。口译员报告说，他们必须“拆开”医学术语，并用有形的术语解释这些术语和相关概念，以确保患者理解。其他策略包括使用适合文化的术语谈论禁忌话题，避免某些问答程序，以及了解交流的非语言方面。