Viva Vitality: A Voice Between Worlds: The Role of the Interpreter

By Tina Meggison on August 23, 2025.

Have you ever had to navigate a situation that felt out of your depth? Like calling tech support and explaining what your computer is doing, filling out forms in legal jargon or trying to follow a fast-talking mechanic’s explanation about your car when you don’t even know what’s under the hood?

Now imagine doing that while someone you love is sick, you’re in a strange country and you’re expected to understand instructions that affect your health or the health of a loved one. That’s what many newcomers experience every day, and it’s why interpreters are so important.

As a Low German interpreter and community health representative, I’ve often been called into moments of deep stress: medical diagnoses, difficult parenting concerns, end of life conversations and complicated births, to name a few. The work that an interpreter does isn’t just about repeating words in another language, it’s about offering clarity, dignity and human connection during moments that matter to someone else.

Many newcomers will lean on their children or relatives to interpret and this may seem natural, but it can come with unintended consequences.

– Children should not carry adult conversations. I’ve been the young kid asked to translate scary medical news or fill out complicated government forms. That’s a heavy burden for a child to carry and they may not fully comprehend the information being shared.

– Family members may leave things out. Out of kindness, discomfort or a language barrier, they may soften, skip or adjust what’s being said. This can alter the meaning of the message, sometimes in critical ways.

– It puts relationships at risk. When a spouse is asked to interpret in a situation with emotional or legal weight, tension can grow and trust can be strained. Other family members may impose their own opinions or pressures on the patient or potentially not keep the information gleaned in the appointment confidential.

The value of a professional interpreter is accuracy, and receiving the full message, without filtering or changing it. An interpreter will follow ethical standards that protect the client’s privacy, have cultural understanding so as not to just translate, but know how to say something to be understood.

If you’re a health-care provider, teacher, or community worker, here are a few tips to help make interpretation smooth and respectful:

1. Keep your language simple and clear. Avoid slang, metaphors or complicated jokes.

2. Pause often. Give time for accurate interpretation.

3. Be mindful of tone, body language. They translate, too!

4. Never assume comprehension. Just because someone nods doesn’t mean they understand. Many are too polite or afraid to say they’re confused and ask for clarification.

Using a professional interpreter shows respect. It says, “Your story matters. You deserve to understand and be understood.” An interpreter is not just a language tool, they are a bridge. A small but powerful way to help someone feel seen and supported during some of the more vulnerable moments of their life, and this starts with some of life’s everyday moments as well.

One final thought! A smile is universal language. Even when words fail, a warm expression can say, “You’re welcome here.” When paired with an interpreter’s voice, that simple smile can help turn confusion into connection, and fear into trust.

The next time you meet someone who needs an interpreter, think about how you’d want to be treated in the same situation. Then, be part of the team that builds the bridge that makes understanding possible, dignity protected, and connection feel human.

Tina Meggison is a community health representative with Primary Care Alberta/Healthier Together. For Low German Interpretation services in southern Alberta, visit Help in Low German – SAKA LGM Community Resources, or email Tina at tina.meggison@primarycarealberta.ca

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