What is the purpose of interpreting?

• A. Communicative Autonomy - when each party can be capable and responsible for their own communication.
• B. Translating every word literally.
• C. Replacing human interpreters with machines.
• D. Limiting access to services to only those who speak the service language.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to support communicative autonomy—that each party can communicate in their own language and take responsibility for their own message, while the other person understands it. Interpreting exists to bridge language gaps so everyone can participate, understand, and make informed decisions. It’s not about translating every word literally or replacing humans with machines; it’s about faithfully conveying meaning, intent, tone, and cultural nuance so both sides can engage as equals. Limiting access to only those who share the service language defeats the purpose of interpretation, which is to provide equitable access.