It is human nature: when we meet people, we want to socialize, make friends, and be helpful to others. However, interpreters are strictly mandated by their profession to remain impartiality and avoid bias or perceived bias at all times.
Bias can creep in when you make contact with people, develop a closer connection with someone, or make positive or negative determinations about another. Perceived bias may arise from friendly behaviors, side conversations, or simply joking with one party.
As a neutral party, interpreters are not there to be someone’s friends or advocates. Nor are they there to be anybody’s foes or antagonists. One of the greatest challenges interpreters face is to maintain professional boundaries and to avoid bias and perceived bias on the job.
Therefore, it is essential for interpreters to be mindful of their professional boundaries at all times.
1. Disclosure of conflict of interest
If interpreters are any party’s relatives, friends, associates, or acquaintances, the interpreters should disclose it up front and recuse themselves from the interpretation.
Interpreters should disclose it if they have any interests in the outcome of the meeting (such as the outcome of a legal case).
2. The Rule of Three
Interpreters’ role is that of a conduit. Interpreters should remember the Rule of Three: they only provide services when two (or more) parties are present and communicating with each other.
Interpreters should avoid situations where they spend time alone with one party. If the party confides in, seeks advice from, or makes private arrangements with interpreters, it can pose complex ethical dilemma and potentially jeopardize the interpreters’ impartiality.
Even if the private conversation is limited to casual chats, it can cause perceived bias.
3. Impartiality during interpretation
Interpreters should not offer any advice, opinions, or comments to any party. Nor should they provide answers to any questions that are beyond their scope of practice.
Interpreters should not have side conversations or engage in small talk with any party.
Interpreters should not omit from interpretation any information that appears to be an offhand remark. It is not for the interpreter to decide what dialogue, comments, and remarks are pertinent.
Interpreters should not filter out any offensive language. Interpretation should be faithful to the original messages, including any unpleasant remarks or foul language.
4. Professional boundaries when not interpreting
Interpreters should maintain professional boundaries when not interpreting. This includes, but is not limited to refraining from the following behaviors:
Accepting or offering conveniences
For the commute to and from the meeting venue, interpreters should not provide rides to or take rides from any party. This does not include third-party pick-up services arranged and paid by clients.
Interpreters should not offer their personal phones for use by any party.
Gifts
Interpreters should not offer or accept gifts from any party. This does not include gifts of nominal value offered to all attendees, including the interpreters.
Dining
Interpreters should not dine out with any party alone.
When lunch is provided on site, it is preferable that interpreters sit by themselves at a separate table.
Interpreters may join the parties for lunch or dinner as appropriate if hired to interpret at such mealtime events.
If all parties are invited to a reception, gala, or dinner during or after an assignment, interpreters may use their discretion to decline or accept such invitations. Interpreters should maintain professional behavior and boundaries when attending such social events.
Other assistance
Interpreters should not accompany any party to shopping, sightseeing, or other leisure activities unless they are hired to interpret at such activities.
5. Stringency of professional boundaries in different settings
In legal interpretation, the rules are the most stringent regarding professional boundaries.
In medical interpretation, interpreters may at times step in to bridge potential culture differences.
In conference interpretation, there may be more leeway as to how interpreters interact with parties.
Although the rules guiding professional boundaries may be more lax in some settings, it is always best practice to exercise good judgement and fully observe all rules.
