What is the goal of effective positioning for an interpreter?

• A. To support direct communication and enable communicative autonomy for participants.
• B. To take control of the conversation.
• C. To ensure the interpreter speaks for both parties.
• D. To minimize interactions by limiting questions.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to position yourself in a way that keeps the exchange between the participants direct and gives each person the opportunity to express themselves in their own words. Effective positioning means staying as unobtrusive as possible, faithfully conveying messages, and guiding turn-taking so that both sides can participate without the interpreter dominating the conversation. This supports communicative autonomy—the ability of participants to understand, respond, and steer the dialogue in their own terms.

Choosing to take control would shift the voice and flow away from the speakers, reducing their agency. Saying the interpreter speaks for both parties overrides each person’s own expression. Minimizing interactions by limiting questions would block clarity and hinder mutual understanding.