With more and more non-native English speakers living in Vermont, the need for interpreters and translators is on the rise. But it can be an unpredictable line of work.
The need was underscored earlier this summer when the Agency of Human Services put out a call for interpreters to assist those applying for benefits like food stamps or fuel assistance.
But that’s by no means the only place interpreting services are needed. Hospitals, schools, police and Vermont’s courts all rely on interpreters.
Non-English speakers coming to Vermont through the Refugee Resettlement Program have access to interpreting services through that organization.
"I am the voice of people." -Bidur Dahal, Nepali interpreter
Bidur Dahal is a Nepali interpreter and a medical case manager for that program. He says his work is mainly medical appointments, but with some police interviews and court interpreting as needed.
He’s trained to interpret complex medical terms, often in fast-paced situations.
And often, Dahal says he finds himself in the role of cultural broker. He remembers one experience at a pediatrician’s office:
“I was in a children’s appointment,” said Dahal. “And my client said ‘my child hasn’t eaten anything for five days.’ The doctor was very surprised. The child was, like, playing. It doesn’t look like he hasn’t eaten for five days.”
Dahal had to explain that what the parent meant was the child hadn’t been eating a full Nepali meal. But the child had been eating.
In those situations, mediation skills come into play. Dahal often asks clarifying questions to make sure both parties are understood.
And he says interpreting for people he knows can be tricky. He says he’s come across members of his local community, in some cases friends and relatives. Sometimes that means not taking a job.
“They expect sometimes to elaborate on their problems, which we cannot do as an interpreter,” said Dahal. “I cannot add, delete or change what they say. I should just interpret what they say.”
While Dahal has made interpreting a full-time job, that’s not typical of most interpreters in the state.
Jacqueline Rose is the Coordinator of Interpreting and Translating Services at the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program. She says part-time work is more typical.
"There's very little opportunity for full-time interpreting." - Jacqueline Rose, Vermont Refugee Resettlement Center
“There’s very little opportunity for full-time interpreting,” said Rose. “They have to have full-time work, they have to support their lives and families. So this is always secondary.”
She says because refugees have come to the state in waves, Vermont has more languages that fewer people speak.
Dinka, for example, is a language that’s spoken in Sudan and by a small number of people in Vermont. Rose says that while Dinka interpreters are needed, appointments don’t come up very often.
“You could imagine. If you were on call all the time, but you only got a call three or four times a year, it would be hard to suddenly adjust your whole life to make that possible,” said Rose.
Rose says her organization classifies even part-time interpreters as employees as opposed to contract workers. That includes health insurance coverage, which is atypical of the profession.
And Bidur Dahal says that even with the challenges, there are more positives aspects to his work than negative.
“I am the voice of people,” said Dahal. “Of course I don’t express my opinions when I’m interpreting, but definitely my voice comes out.”
He also questions what he calls a mentality that immigrants only bring challenges with them to their new home.
And he emphasizes that he thinks the challenges interpreters face can be met.
