Papers by Indira Sultanic
A survey-based study of healthcare interpreter attitudes toward theory and research, and their role in professional practice
Perspectives, 2025
Interpreting studies scholars have long called for better collaboration between theory, research,... more Interpreting studies scholars have long called for better collaboration between theory, research, pedagogy, and professional practice in different interpreting specialties. Although research contributions on healthcare interpreting (HCI) continue to grow, no recent studies have delved into healthcare interpreters' perceptions on the role of theory and research in interpreter education, much less examined whether and how they might employ these to make informed decisions in every-day encounters. This study presents the findings from a survey of 119 spoken and signed language professional healthcare interpreters (HCIs) in the United States and reports on their attitudes regarding the role and use of theory and research in practice. The findings show generally positive attitudes around the importance of theory and research and its role in education and practice among the participants. Moreover, the results shed light on the frequency of engagement with research for informed decision-making in practice. It further establishes that there could be greater practical implications for research when presented and made available in easily understandable, applicable, and accessible formats, with additional participant recommendations. This study contributes to the growing literature on the role of research in interpreting education and practice, and may offer suggestions for future directions and further scientific inquiry.
Teaching students to interpret (with) empathy during emotional interactions involving children
FITISPos international journal, May 30, 2024
Translation & Interpreting: The International Journal for Translation & Interpreting Research, 2025
Simultaneous interpreting in healthcare settings is typically reserved for emergency situations o... more Simultaneous interpreting in healthcare settings is typically reserved for emergency situations only. Nevertheless, this technique or mode of interpreting is employed in a variety of medical settings and situations outside of the emergency department. This study explores the frequency of simultaneous interpreting encounters in healthcare settings, and the nature of appointments or interpreted events during which this mode of interpreting might be called for, negotiated or chosen by the interpreter, and utilized. The findings are based on a survey of 662 practicing, professional healthcare interpreters in the United States who have used the simultaneous interpreting technique at least once, or during a series of clinical and non-clinical encounters.
FITISPos International Journal, 2023
Resumen: Basándose en la investigación existente sobre la interpretación en los servicios público... more Resumen: Basándose en la investigación existente sobre la interpretación en los servicios públicos, especialmente en lo que respecta a las situaciones emocionales y el impacto de las interacciones de los intérpretes en la comunicación empática, este artículo propone una serie de métodos para enseñar a los intérpretes principiantes a interpretar (con) empatía en los contextos donde hay niños. Para ello, se tiene en cuenta la preparación de los intérpretes y su capacidad de identificar posibles retos para garantizar una comunicación eficaz sin comprometer sus normas profesionales y éticas. Existen varios estudios sobre la interpretación para niños y enfoques para hacer frente a los traumas y responder a las emociones propias durante y después de un evento de interpretación, sin embargo, los estudios sobre la empatía y la comunicación empática en las interacciones mediadas por intérpretes son escasos. Este artículo tiene como objetivo contribuir a la literatura existente sobre los enfoques de la interpretación del estrés y las emociones, centrándose en la empatía como un aspecto importante de toda la pedagogía de la interpretación, y especialmente en los eventos interpretados en los que participan niños.
Interpreting for vulnerable populations
Routledge eBooks, Oct 10, 2022
FITISPos International Journal
With the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the United States, social, educational, ... more With the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the United States, social, educational, and health services, in addition to legal proceedings and conferences, became accessible primarily through various remote technologies. Language access was almost exclusively provided through remote telecommunication platforms, audio and/or video. Many of these platforms were not optimized nor designed for interpreting support. Service providers, interpreters, and their Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients, were faced with increased communication and logistical challenges and had to get creative in their endeavors in order to ensure minimal disruption and continuity of care and service provision. This study explores remote interpreting in pediatric therapy settings. More specifically, it examines both the benefits and the challenges of remote interpreting in speech, physical, and occupational therapy settings. It considers how different remote communication platforms may impact role...
FITISPos International Journal, 2022
With the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the United States, social, educational, ... more With the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the United States, social, educational, and health services, in addition to legal proceedings and conferences, became accessible primarily through various remote technologies. Language access was almost exclusively provided through remote telecommunication platforms, audio and/or video. Many of these platforms were not optimized nor designed for interpreting support. Service providers, interpreters, and their Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients, were faced with increased communication and logistical challenges and had to get creative in their endeavors in order to ensure minimal disruption and continuity of care and service provision. This study explores remote interpreting in pediatric therapy settings. More specifically, it examines both the benefits and the challenges of remote interpreting in speech, physical, and occupational therapy settings. It considers how different remote communication platforms may impact role boundaries and turn-taking from both the provider’s and the interpreter’s perspective.
Medical Interpreter Education and Training
The Oxford Handbook of Translation and Social Practices, 2020
This chapter gives an overview of medical interpreter training curricula in a fast-changing, tech... more This chapter gives an overview of medical interpreter training curricula in a fast-changing, technologized world. This chapter will discuss the training models, training components, challenges, the settings in which training is offered, professionalization, and continuing education. Medical interpreting, which is synonymous with healthcare interpreting, is a situated practice and takes place in various medical contexts. It is performed either in person or remotely. In order for medical interpreters to facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers who do not speak the same language, a high level of linguistic and cultural dexterity is required, similar to that of their peers in other settings, such as legal and conference interpreting. The number of academic and para-academic medical interpreter training programs is growing, and more research on the role, training, and technology used for medical interpreting is being published to meet these needs.
Linguistica Antverpiensia, New Series – Themes in Translation Studies, 2021
This research examines the challenges of interpreting for unaccompanied child migrants in the Uni... more This research examines the challenges of interpreting for unaccompanied child migrants in the United States and the effect of exposure to the traumatic narratives told by these children, as experienced by the interpreters involved. When a traumatic narrative is introduced, over time it has an effect on the emotional and psychological well-being of an interpreter. This study therefore focuses on the coping mechanisms interpreters employ to minimize the effects of long-term exposure to the traumatic content when they work in settings involving migrant children. During the past few decades, a number of studies have been conducted on the emotional and psychological effects of traumatic content on interpreters who work in various contexts, but very few have focused on interactions involving this vulnerable group of migrants. This study uses a qualitative approach in which data were collected through semi-structured interviews with both trained and ad hoc interpreters who work or have wor...
Linguistica Antverpiensia, New Series: Themes in Translation Studies, 2021
This research examines the challenges of interpreting for unaccompanied child migrants in the Uni... more This research examines the challenges of interpreting for unaccompanied child migrants in the United States and the effect of exposure to the traumatic narratives told by these children, as experienced by the interpreters involved. When a traumatic narrative is introduced, over time it has an effect on the emotional and psychological well-being of an interpreter. This study therefore focuses on the coping mechanisms interpreters employ to minimize the effects of long-term exposure to the traumatic content when they work in settings involving migrant children. During the past few decades, a number of studies have been conducted on the emotional and psychological effects of traumatic content on interpreters who work in various contexts, but very few have focused on interactions involving this vulnerable group of migrants. This study uses a qualitative approach in which data were collected through semi-structured interviews with both trained and ad hoc interpreters who work or have worked with unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the United States since the summer of 2014. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on public service interpreting. It does so by offering the interpreter's perspective on the specific challenges and difficulties of interpreting for unaccompanied child migrants in that country who face near-insurmountable systemic barriers and challenges. It sheds light on the delicate nature of interpreting for vulnerable groups, especially children, who are seeking asylum there. Furthermore, it brings into focus the applicable strategies that help interpreters prepare for interpreting traumatic experiences, and also for coping both during the act of interpreting and afterwards.
for your time, questions, and valuable feedback. To Kent State University, and the Department of ... more for your time, questions, and valuable feedback. To Kent State University, and the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies for giving me this opportunity to study under and to learn from the leading scholars in Translation Studies. Carine Graff, for you have led the way into the light with your positivity, encouragement, and unwavering Saturday morning dissertation-writing wake-up calls. Thank you for making this dissertation process less lonely. My friends and colleagues, near and far, my cheerleaders. You inspire me with the work that you do. The healthcare interpreters, and managers who participated in this study. You are the voice of and for the patient. Without you, there would be no quality language access. My American family, for your belief that my dreams are within reach. My parents, Bajro and Naila Sultanić, and my siblings, for your unwavering love and support of all of my dreams and endeavors. To you, I am forever indebted. Hvala vam. The late James Satterwhite, who taught me the value of persistence and without whom my version of the American Dream would not be possible. And finally, but most importantly, my favorite person, my best friend and husband, Andrew Ullman, for helping me see this through with your love, reassurance, countless cups of hot coffee, and your belief in me. Volim te najviše na svijetu.
Books by Indira Sultanic
Medical Interpreter Education and Training
The Oxford Handbook of Translation and Social Practices, 2020
This chapter gives an overview of medical interpreter training curricula in a fast-changing, tech... more This chapter gives an overview of medical interpreter training curricula in a fast-changing, technologized world. This chapter will discuss the training models, training components, challenges, the settings in which training is offered, professionalization, and continuing education. Medical interpreting, which is synonymous with healthcare interpreting, is a situated practice and takes place in various medical contexts. It is performed either in person or remotely. In order for medical interpreters to facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers who do not speak the same language, a high level of linguistic and cultural dexterity is required, similar to that of their peers in other settings, such as legal and conference interpreting. The number of academic and para-academic medical interpreter training programs is growing, and more research on the role, training, and technology used for medical interpreting is being published to meet these needs.
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Papers by Indira Sultanic
Books by Indira Sultanic