How would you handle a term you don’t know if it comes up during the session?

• A. Wait until the term is explained by the provider, then interpret.
• B. Skip the term and move on, noting it for later discussion.
• C. Replace the unknown term with a guess in both languages.
• D. Intervene and ask for a clarification, interpret what was just said without changing the unknown term, then intervene, report the clarification to the other party, and resume interpreting.

Answer: (D)

When you don’t know a term, the right move is to intervene right away to get clarification. You should interpret the portion you understand without trying to replace or guess the unknown term, then pause to obtain the exact term or definition from the speaker and relay that clarification to the other party, before resuming interpretation. This approach keeps the message accurate and faithful to the speaker, avoids injecting invented meaning, and helps both parties share the same understanding. It also demonstrates professional responsibility by seeking and reporting the correct term or explanation so the conversation can continue smoothly.

If you skip the term or guess at it, you risk miscommunication or creating a misleading record. Waiting for the provider to explain can disrupt flow, and skipping or guessing undermines trust and accuracy.