ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the unique characteristics of each interpreter type, including the latest findings and the corresponding challenges. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), the national association of signed language interpreters in the USA, offers specialized certification for legal and educational interpreters. A meaningful typology of interpreters is the foundation for research in bilingual health care. Our understanding and conceptualization of interpreters should move beyond ideological claims. Several recent reviews have concluded that professional interpreters can significantly improve a patient's quality of care. The professional interpreters can significantly improve provider-patient communication, resource utilization, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes. In-person professional interpreters are reported as the preferred choice for patients, providers, and interpreters. Family interpreters are patient's family members or friends who also serve as interpreters in healthcare settings. Although providers do share concerns about using family interpreters, including bilingual children, family interpreters continue to be one of the most common types of interpreters in healthcare settings.
