Sight Translation
Mayo Clinic Workshop VI
Presented by Nicki Ugalde
November, 2003
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Goals of Workshop VI
Sight translation
– What, when, where, why and how
– Practical applications
Pre-session introductions
– CIFE
– Practical applications
Post-workshop evaluation
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Sight Translation
 Definition: oral translation of a written text
Sight translation is just as difficult as
simultaneous interpretation and involves
some of the same mental processes. The
input is visual (written word) rather than oral
(spoken word), but the interpreter still has to
process a thought in the source language
and generate the target language version of
that thought while simultaneously
processing the next source language
thought, etc. Because the message is written
in black and white, some interpreters may
have more trouble focusing on meaning
rather than words.
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Elements of Sight Translation
1. Conservation: the interpreter should
conserve the register of the source
language text (complex vs. simple,
formal vs. informal)
2. Written language:
– Written material is more densely packed
with information than spoken language.
– Punctuation may serve the function of
intonation.
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Elements
3. Reading Comprehension: Interpreters must
be adept at grasping the meaning of written
texts and understanding the material explicitly
and implicitly (interrelationships of ideas)
4. Prediction: Interpreters should be able to
predict the outcome of an incomplete
message and also be versed in the various
writing styles—legal documents, personal
and business correspondence, technical
reports so they can be alert to common
constructions that may pose translation
problems.
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Skills required for sight translation
 Complete command of working languages
at all levels of usage
 Good public speaking: voice projection,
clear enunciation, good posture and
smooth pacing
 Mental agility and flexibility in order to work
on two channels at once (simultaneously
processing the source language while
speaking in the target language)
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Settings for Sight Translation
 List the types of forms and documents
that may need to be sight translated in
the following settings…….
 Hospitals/Clinics: medical reports,
waivers, consent forms
 Court documents: waivers, probation
and police reports, docs. of a case file,
affidavits
 Public/private schools: records
 Adoption agencies: birth/death/marriage
certificated
 Workforce: forms, reports
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Process of Sight Translation
1. 1. Scan the document to determine the
subject matter, context, style, and
country of origin.
2. Make a mental note of common pitfalls
unique to the source language.
3. Skim the passages quickly and identify
key features, commas, parentheses, etc.
4. Translate sentence by sentence,
focusing on one unit of meaning at a
time.
5. Maintain a steady pace, translating as
smoothly as possible.
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Strategies for Interpreting a Sight
Translation
READING COMPREHENSION: is an important element of
sight translation. Interpreters should read as much and as
widely as possible.
PACING: The interpreter must translate the document quickly
without omitting anything. Going too fast results in translation
error or in sudden stops and long pauses while the
interpreter figures out a difficult translation problem. That sort
of jerkiness can be distracting to the listener. But going too
slowly is disruptive for providers and patients alike. The
interpreter should be familiar with the terminology and
phrasing of medical/court documents so that the translation
sounds as if the interpreter were merely reading a document
written in the target language.
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Strategies
 Translate as smoothly as possible.
 Look up and keep a glossary of any difficult terms.
 Practice out loud always, with or without an
audience.
 Record yourself on audio (or videotape) so that you
know how you sound (and look) to your audience.
 Practice with a variety of type faces and formats:
patient information forms, consent forms, letters,
consumer education documents, court transcripts,
etc.
 Other strategies?
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Documentation
 Interpreters need to look carefully at
documents they are asked to sign.
Interpreters may be asked to sign on a
consent form that the patient
understands the procedure. Discuss why
this is not appropriate and the possible
ramifications. In some cases the hospital
may need documentation (a signature)
that the consent form was interpreted for
the patient. How could this be accomplished
appropriately?
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Sight Translation practice
 Pair up with a colleague who does not
speak your other language.
 1) Sight translate for your colleague from
English to your other language for 1- 2
minutes a portion of unfamiliar reading
material. Reader and observer comment
on difficulties noted (hesitation vs.
consistent flow, voice modulation, etc.)
 2) Do the same with familiar material or
study a portion of unfamiliar reading
material before interpreting.
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C. I. F. E.
Navigating the interpreter’s many
roles is even more challenging
when ground rules have not been
established through an effective
pre-session with both the provider
and patient. The Cross Cultural
Communication Systems, Inc.,
created the acronym CIFE as a presession checklist for interpreters.
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Progress
To be used prior to session
C onfidentiality
I use the first person
F low
E verything said will be interpreted
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Confidentiality
The interpreter explains to both the
provider and the patient that all
information shared will stay among
all parties. A session starts with the
first contact between the interpreter
and patient. This may even happen
in the waiting room of a clinic or
hospital.
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I use the first person
The interpreter uses the first
person at all times, except when
referring to him/herself.
– “The interpreter needs to ask for
clarification on . . . .”
– It may be necessary to remind either
party to address each other.
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Flow (interpreter manages the
flow of the session)
Accuracy is directly affected by the
flow of a session. The pre-session
may be used to negotiate the use of
a hand signal to indicate when
either party needs to slow down.
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Everything you say will be
interpreted
Everything shared in the waiting
room, in the session and after the
session will be interpreted.
Interpreters are not allowed to keep
secrets.
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Video: how to work with the
interpreter (from the health care
provider’s perspective)
– Vignette #1: Identify observed errors
with the introduction, the interview
process and the conclusion
– Vignette #2: Identify appropriate
interpreting techniques used: preinterview, introduction, interview
process, conclusion, post interview
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Activity: groups of 3-4
Based on the principles of CIFE,
write a brief pre-session statement
that can be used appropriately in
any medical setting.
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Additional Application Activity:
Role, ethics and protocol
– You will be assigned a role,
ethical or protocol situation by
number (#2 thru #8)
– State at least 2 options to deal
with the situation. Then explain
how you would respond and
why? Also please answer
question number 9.
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A Note of Appreciation
Please accept my gratitude for the
opportunity to learn from each
other as we shared our experiences
as interpreters. It has been a
pleasure to present this series of
workshops on memory techniques,
ethical issues and sight translation.
I am honored to have met such a
group of dedicated professional
interpreters. Thank you.
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