|
Title
|
|
|
|
Bridging language barriers in psychiatry : the effect of lingua franca and interpreters on communication
| |
|
Author
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
| Language barriers in psychiatry can be problematic, since communication is an essential part of psychiatry: it is used during anamnesis, diagnosis and treatment. There are several options to bridge language gaps. Doctors can adjust their language to the language level of the patients, they can try to find a common foreign language (lingua franca), a friend or family member can accompany the patient and act as informal interpreter, or a professional interpreter can be engaged. The above types of language mediation are discussed in this PhD study, but the main focus is on professional interpreters and the use of a lingua franca. This study explores the effect of language mediation on communication in a psychiatric consultation. In this way, two research gaps and shortcomings that were revealed in the literature review are addressed: firstly, how different types of language mediation influence communication and secondly, the effect of a lingua franca. To achieve this aim, an exploratory case study design was chosen. The primary data set contains audio and video recordings of psychiatric consultations. A total of 11 consultations were selected, transcribed and thoroughly analyzed, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The analysis focused on turns and turn duration, question- and answer sequences and thematic development. The analysis showed that the type of language mediation certainly influences communication. In general, both professional interpreters and the use of a lingua franca are good ways of bridging the language gap, but in the lingua franca consultations, the language proficiency of both interlocutors is decisive, while in the interpreter-mediated consultations the many shifts in translation are an obstacle. This PhD thesis provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of language mediation. This may allow mental healthcare workers to make a more informed decision and to be more aware of the possibilities and consequences of the language mediation chosen. Some recommendations for psychiatrists who work with interpreters, for interpreter services and for doctor training are also formulated. The main strength of the study is that real-life data was used and a realistic picture is sketched of the problems that occur in language-mediated psychiatric consultations. The main limitation is closely related to the very fact that real-life data is used: every consultation is different, and it is difficult to control the research parameters. This makes a generalization of the results impossible, but some clear trends were revealed, which offer various possibilities for further research. |
| |
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
| |
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
Antwerp
:
University of Antwerp
,
2021
| |
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
374 p.
| |
|
Note
|
|
|
|
:
van Vaerenbergh, Leona [Supervisor]
:
Verschueren, Jef [Supervisor]
:
Vanaerschot, Greet [Supervisor]
| |
|
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
|
|
|
|
| |
|