ABSTRACT
Research on video remote interpreting (VRI) has primarily investigated its suitability and effectiveness in comparison with telephone interpreting and interpreting on site. In healthcare settings, in particular, empirical studies of VRI, often by researchers in medical disciplines, have relied on quantitative data and clinical indicators, whereas discourse-based analyses of the impact of technology-mediated interpreting on the dynamics of the interaction are still scarce. The present study adopts a holistic functional perspective in analyzing a short clinical encounter mediated by a video remote interpreter. The goal is to offer a multi-level descriptive analysis of communicative behavior in the unique situational context of VRI. Based on non-participant observation, informal interviews and especially on the video recording of a ten-minute consultation transcribed using ELAN and annotated for gaze, gestures and body orientation, the analysis covers preparatory arrangements, key perceptual and epistemic factors of the situation as well as the use of verbal strategies and embodied resources (gaze, head movements, gestures and body orientation), showing how the healthcare provider assumes additional responsibility for ensuring understanding and achieving the goals of the interaction.
