Between connectivity and modality

Reported speech in interpreter-mediated doctor-patient communication

Thomas Johnen | University of Hamburg

Bernd Meyer | University of Hamburg

This paper analyzes data from doctor-patient interaction mediated by nonprofessional ad hoc-interpreters with a focus on the performance of ad hocinterpreters and their use of verba dicendi (“to say”, “to tell”, “to mean to say”). Our analysis of the Turkish and Portuguese language data shows that in both languages markers of reported speech are used both to establish ‘interactional coherence’ (Bührig 2002), and to express speaker stance. It seems that verba dicendi serve to especially emphasize the reliability of information provided by the doctor. In line with a general shift towards a more dynamic concept for the role of interpreters, our results also indicate that the different communicative functions of markers of reported speech should be part of interpreter training.

Published online: 05 June 2007
https://doi.org/10.1075/hsm.5.22joh

Cited by

Cited by other publications

Cheung, Andrew K. F

2014. The use of reported speech and the perceived neutrality of court interpreters. Interpreting. International Journal of Research and Practice in Interpreting 16:2 ► pp. 191 ff.

Rehbein, Jochen

2020. In Multilingual Healthcare [FOM-Edition, ], ► pp. 83 ff.

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