If a provider keeps speaking in third person, what is the recommended action?

• A. The interpreter would remind the provider to speak in first person and resume translation.
• B. The interpreter paraphrases everything in the third person.
• C. The interpreter interrupts and stops translating completely.
• D. The interpreter waits for the client to respond before translating.

Answer: (A)

Using direct, first-person speech is essential for accurate, patient-centered medical interpreting. When the provider speaks in the third person, it obscures who is stating the message and can create confusion or misinterpretation about who is making the statement. The interpreter’s role is to convey the provider’s message as intended, clearly and transparently. By gently reminding the provider to speak in first person and then resuming translation, you preserve clarity, accountability, and the flow of the encounter.

Paraphrasing in the third person would distort who is speaking and risk altering meaning. Interrupting to stop translating disrupts communication, and waiting for the client to respond does not fix the issue and slows things down. So the best action is to prompt the provider to use first-person language and continue translating.