This exploratory study analyses the functions of small talk in interpreter-mediated healthcare encounters. Drawing on a dataset of hospital visits with participation of five trained interpreters, analysis of particular excerpts reveals that small talk helps both patients and providers to fulfil functions similar to those reported in monolingual visits, thus (a) supporting interpersonal relationship building (e.g. establishing trust) and (b) goal achievement (e.g. minimising pain). Successful attainment of small talk functions relies heavily on healthcare interpreters, who are observed to co-construct and participate in small talk pursuing their own set of objectives, such as reassuring patients and facilitating the providers’ clinical work.

This article presents a pilot research project which examined the effectiveness of remote, formal support, provided by Colleagues Across Borders, for volunteer interpreters in an immigration detention support NGO. We consider the occupational stress and susceptibility to vicarious traumatization and burnout for interpreters working in sensitive (e.g., refugee) contexts. It is argued that it is an ethical responsibility to keep oneself fit and well-prepared to perform interpreting assignments to the highest standards. The project offered an intervention of remote support for non-professional interpreters in a detention center who needed professional advice and emotional relief. Analysis of pre- and post-intervention focus groups and questionnaires indicates an improvement in self-care, resilience, confidence, and effectiveness after three support sessions, suggesting that a remote yet personal support program can mitigate the effects of vicarious trauma and burnout for non-professional and professional interpreters working in ethically challenging refugee contexts.

Remote and telephone interpreting involve a number of skills that must be acquired. For instance, telephone interpreters cannot take into account their first impression of the situation before starting work as, because of reasons of practicality, briefing is rarely possible. Thus, it is typically quite challenging to select the appropriate context and, in turn, grasp the pragmatic meaning of the discourse being interpreted. Professional telephone interpreters have developed a set of strategies to cope with this difficulty – mostly based on their own skills and experience. This chapter presents the analysis of a case study consisting of a mediated telephone conversation between doctors/patient and interpreter in Spanish and Italian within the context of Hospital Emergency Department. Our main aim is to illustrate, with examples, the difficulties interpreters encounter and the strategic solutions they adopt in order to cope.

Remote interpreting, particularly telephone interpreting, was implemented in Spain less than 20 years ago and, since then, it has become increasingly common. Its use has even increased during the last months, due to COVID-19 circumstances and the subsequent growth of telecommuting. This paper aims at mapping remote interpreting services in Spain. With that purpose, structured qualitative interviews were conducted with representatives of the six main Spanish companies offering these services. The results show a diffusion of telephone interpreting across the country and an incipient presence of video-link interpreting. Nevertheless, more attention to quality performance and working conditions should be paid. Keywords: Telephone interpreting, Video-link interpreting, Mapping, Qualitative interviews, Spain