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Euphemism in Medical Interpreting and its Impact on the Interpreting Output Quality
Kofiah, Hanan
Kofiah, Hanan
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Abstract
The field of medicine is widely renowned for its intricate and technical language, with medical interpreting being one of the most critical areas where precise and accurate interpreting is paramount. One of this study’s objectives is to examine the impact of interpreters’ adherence to the interpreters' code of ethics in selected Saudi hospitals. The research endeavor takes a quantitative approach to investigate the extent of adherence to the accuracy principle outlined by the interpreters’ code of ethics and the deployment of euphemisms by medical interpreters. It also aims to uncover the ramifications of using euphemisms on the intended message of the Source Language speaker. The study employed survey questionnaires to solicit responses, and based on the analysis, over 80% of the respondents lacked a professional license to practice medical interpreting in Saudi hospitals, while 60% affirmed that they were not knowledgeable of any interpreters' code of ethics. The findings pointed towards the cautious use of euphemisms by medical interpreters. However, the absence of professional medical interpreters raises significant concerns regarding adequate training and ability to conduct professional interpreting sessions, while the unawareness of the interpreters' code of ethics implied that current interpreting services in Saudi hospitals lack professional standards. The research successfully attested to the first hypothesis, confirming that the current interpreting services in Saudi hospitals fall short of professional criteria due to the interpreters' lack of professional training and unfamiliarity with the interpreters' code of ethics.