Participatory Action Participatory Action Research Applied to Research Applied to

Community Interpreting in Community Interpreting in Hong KongHong Kong

Ester LeungEster Leung

Outline Outline

Research methods applied to the Research methods applied to the

study of Community interpreting (CI) study of Community interpreting (CI) Participatory Action Research (PAR) Participatory Action Research (PAR) A case study of PAR applied to CI in A case study of PAR applied to CI in

Hong KongHong Kong

Community Interpreting is:Community Interpreting is:

The scope of community interpreting The scope of community interpreting is itself a is itself a ““nebulous conceptnebulous concept”” (Roberts (Roberts : 1997 : 8) : 1997 : 8)

interpreting activities carried out in interpreting activities carried out in an institutional setting which is not an institutional setting which is not business or commercially oriented. business or commercially oriented.

ResearchesResearches

InterpreterInterpreter’’s Roles Role InterpreterInterpreter’’s Trainings Training InterpreterInterpreter’’s Performances Performance Provision of Interpreting ServicesProvision of Interpreting Services The Views of Service Providers / The Views of Service Providers /

ReceiversReceivers

the definition of community interpreting the definition of community interpreting (Alexieva 1997, Robert 1997) , (Alexieva 1997, Robert 1997) ,

the roles of community interpreters the roles of community interpreters (Angelelli 2004, Fenton 1997, Wadensj(Angelelli 2004, Fenton 1997, WadensjÖÖ 1997, Roy 1993, Tate & Turner 1997, 1997, Roy 1993, Tate & Turner 1997, Leung 2008) Leung 2008)

the professional training and education of the professional training and education of community interpreters (Morris 2003, community interpreters (Morris 2003, Mikkelson & Mintz 1997, Bell 1997), Mikkelson & Mintz 1997, Bell 1997),

the provision of community interpretation the provision of community interpretation services in different communities (Fortier services in different communities (Fortier 1997, Benmaman 1997, Leung 2003, 2008, 1997, Benmaman 1997, Leung 2003, 2008, Hale 2004). Hale 2004).

Participatory-Action Research

Father of PAR: "Paolo Freire (1970), one of the world's leading educationalists, in his classic text Pedagogy of the Oppressed broke away from the tradition of gathering data on oppressed people and instead carried out research with participants, placing capability in the hands of disenfranchised people so that they could transform their lives themselves." (Koch & Kralik 2006)

Research partners rather than objects of research

“People are treated as intelligible partners rather than mere respondents to inquiry instruments”  “Participatory methods, through the participation of community members, seek to bridge the power relations that exist between researchers and the researched, between practitioners and beneficiaries”

EmpowermentEmpowerment “Empowerment is, therefore, a key objective of

participatory research and policy approaches and, as a result of the shift in power, it is argued that participatory approaches enable such a process to occur, to the benefit of those engaged in the process. Specifically, the shift in power facilitates the amplification of the voices of marginalized people in such a way that they are able to articulate their needs and demands and make their contribution to the construction of knowledge.”

Alpaslan özerdem and Richard Bowd (Eds). 2010.

Major differences between traditional research methods and PAR

Issues of agency, representation and power

“practice of PAR raises personal, polictical and professional challenges that go beyond the bounds of the production of information”. (Cornwall & Jewkes 95:1667)

PAR is PAR is notnot about about methodmethod but but attitudeattitude

Exploring (local) participant’s knowledge Exploring (local) participant’s knowledge and perceptionand perception

An eclectic approach which may involves An eclectic approach which may involves both quantitative and qualitative both quantitative and qualitative researchresearch

Different degree of participation from Different degree of participation from different participants and different different participants and different allocation of power at different stages of allocation of power at different stages of the researchthe research

A case study of PAR applied A case study of PAR applied to CI in HK to CI in HK

Commissioner of the projectCommissioner of the projectFrom a Public Policy Research project to a From a Public Policy Research project to a

Knowledge Transfer project:Knowledge Transfer project:-To create / cause impact on policy -To create / cause impact on policy

changes or enhancementchanges or enhancement-To transfer knowledge to a broader, non--To transfer knowledge to a broader, non-

academic publicacademic public-To improve medical interpreting services -To improve medical interpreting services

in HKin HK

New Legislation 7/2008New Legislation 7/2008

Under existing legislation, the Hong Kong Bill Under existing legislation, the Hong Kong Bill of Rightsof Rights

Ordinance (Chapter 383) (HKBORO), prohibits Ordinance (Chapter 383) (HKBORO), prohibits the Government andthe Government and

all public authorities, and any person acting all public authorities, and any person acting on behalf of theon behalf of the

Government or a public authority, from Government or a public authority, from engaging in practices whichengaging in practices which

entail discrimination on any grounds, entail discrimination on any grounds, including race and colour.including race and colour.

However, HKBORO is not applicable to acts of However, HKBORO is not applicable to acts of discriminationdiscrimination

committed by private individuals and committed by private individuals and organisations.organisations.

Ethnic minorities: the 6% Ethnic minorities: the 6%

Census Report 2012 Feb* :Census Report 2012 Feb* : No. of people EthnicityNo. of people Ethnicity %% 133377133377 IndonesianIndonesian 1.9 1.9 133018133018 Filipino Filipino 1.91.9 2861628616 IndianIndian 0.40.4 1804218042 PakistaniPakistani 0.30.3 1651816518 NepalNepal eseese 0.20.2 1121311213 ThaiThai 0.20.2 1224712247 JapaneseJapanese 0.2 0.2 5523655236 “White”“White” 0.80.8 12247 12247 other Asian other Asian 0.2 0.2

(a survey conducted by the Home Affairs Bureau and the Census and Statistics Department),(a survey conducted by the Home Affairs Bureau and the Census and Statistics Department),

New Initiatives - Medical Interpreting New Initiatives - Medical Interpreting ServicesServices

The Hospital Authority (HA) began its The Hospital Authority (HA) began its Interpretation Service for Ethnic Minorities in Interpretation Service for Ethnic Minorities in 20092009

Service categories include onsite face-to-face Service categories include onsite face-to-face advanced booking cases and telephone advanced booking cases and telephone interpretation for emergency, or non-interpretation for emergency, or non-emergency advanced booking casesemergency advanced booking cases

Over 5000 cases provided with interpreting Over 5000 cases provided with interpreting services since July 2009 – March 2011, and services since July 2009 – March 2011, and 3905 for the period of Apr 1, 2011 – Mar 30, 3905 for the period of Apr 1, 2011 – Mar 30, 20122012

Community Interpreting in Community Interpreting in HKHK

The great divide between:The great divide between: Medical Interpreting Medical Interpreting

Legal Interpreting Legal Interpreting

Role PlayRole Play

Form yourself into group of 4Form yourself into group of 4 You can choose which role to play among yourselves: You can choose which role to play among yourselves: 1) An asylum seeker in HK, who need interpreting 1) An asylum seeker in HK, who need interpreting

services all the time for medical consultation, legal services all the time for medical consultation, legal advices, etc.advices, etc.

2) interpreter2) interpreter 3) Service agent, an involuntary organization who 3) Service agent, an involuntary organization who

provide social services to the ethnic minorities provide social services to the ethnic minorities 4) Public Hospital Authority who pays for the 4) Public Hospital Authority who pays for the

interpreting services interpreting services

The 1The 1stst medical interpreting medical interpreting training course in Hong training course in Hong

Kong Kong Partnership with the main service Partnership with the main service

providers of the medical interpreting providers of the medical interpreting servicesservices

Advices from ethnic minorities Advices from ethnic minorities organisations and representativesorganisations and representatives

Involving the interpreters in the Involving the interpreters in the research projectresearch project

The medical interpreting The medical interpreting training coursetraining course

130 hours of training, 20 hours of 130 hours of training, 20 hours of practices in hospital(s) practices in hospital(s)

Direct involvement of medical professionalsDirect involvement of medical professionals

Site visits:Site visits:introductions of public hospital introductions of public hospital services, common medical terminology services, common medical terminology and prescription proceduresand prescription procedures

Institutionalize the rights and the Institutionalize the rights and the Association of Interpreters’Association of Interpreters’

Questionnaires were sent out via emails to Questionnaires were sent out via emails to organizations / agents who work with interpreters; organizations / agents who work with interpreters; interviews, services meetinginterviews, services meeting

The formation of Multilingual Interpreters’ and The formation of Multilingual Interpreters’ and Translators’ Association (MITA)Translators’ Association (MITA)

www.mitahk.org The association has now got thirty-some The association has now got thirty-some

interpreters members, and 5 advisory committee interpreters members, and 5 advisory committee members (service users), 1 legal adviser (Bar members (service users), 1 legal adviser (Bar Association), 1 honorary adivser (Legislative Association), 1 honorary adivser (Legislative Councilor)Councilor)

The Constitution of MITAThe Constitution of MITA Multilingual Interpreters and Translators Association

(MITA) is a non-profit independent organization/ company formed by the multilingual interpreters/translators working in Hong Kong in various sectors primarily to voice for the better working condition for the professional interpreters, promote quality interpretation/translation service, advocate for professional development and recognition. MITA strives to serve people who need and care about interpreting/translation services irrespective of religious, political and social background. MITA will be a common forum for sharing information for the interpreters and the service providers in its network.

Code of PracticesCode of Practices

Cultural awareness Some organizations allow cultural bridging

in certain contexts or conditions, some never. Please refer to each service provider’s code of conduct to ensure you are in compliance.

Trainers’ TrainingTrainers’ Training

1) Interpreting1) Interpreting : modes of interpreting – how do we learn and how do we : modes of interpreting – how do we learn and how do we

teach interpreting skillsteach interpreting skills : the expected roles of an interpreter working in the legal : the expected roles of an interpreter working in the legal

and medical settingsand medical settings 2) Syllabus design of a medical / legal interpreting course2) Syllabus design of a medical / legal interpreting course 3) Evaluation 3) Evaluation :What makes a good / bad interpretation):What makes a good / bad interpretation) :Code of Practices:Code of Practices

Analyzing cases and examples from the medical Analyzing cases and examples from the medical and the legal settingsand the legal settings

Mixing authentic data with made-up Mixing authentic data with made-up examples to illustrate different issues:examples to illustrate different issues:

Linguistic differences between the Linguistic differences between the languageslanguages

Contextual influence on the interactionContextual influence on the interaction Different roles that interpreter can take Different roles that interpreter can take

and its consequencesand its consequences

01:D(octor): basically the check-up is normal. If you want to have further check-up we can arrange another scan. But I think if you would not like another you can just observe=

02:P(atient)= yes of course 03:I(nterpreter): observe now? It’s up to her? 04:P: toh haan iske ilaaj ka iske paas koi nai hai ….mere ko aisa jaane dega ? (Then, he does not have any treatment for it…will he let me go in this condition?) 05:I: toh aap kya chahti hain ? (Then what do you want?) 06:P: nai main to ilaaj karna chahti hoon ..Kyun, Kya masla hai mera andar ka? (No, I want to have treatment for this. Why, what is the problem inside me?) 07:I: She says that she wants to have treatment because she feels pain you have to

do something for her

In the CourtroomIn the Courtroom

W(itness): It’s too fast, I can’t follow.W(itness): It’s too fast, I can’t follow. B(arrister): What’s the matter? What B(arrister): What’s the matter? What

did he say?did he say? I(nterpreter): He said that its too fast, I(nterpreter): He said that its too fast,

he can’t follow.he can’t follow. B: You slow down then. B: You slow down then.

Limitations using PAR Limitations using PAR

What’s next? Who’s next?What’s next? Who’s next? Relinguishing power and controlRelinguishing power and control Participants’ living strugglesParticipants’ living struggles High turnover rate of interpreters and even High turnover rate of interpreters and even

representatives from different organizations –representatives from different organizations – Degree of participants’ participation is neither Degree of participants’ participation is neither

continuous nor predictablecontinuous nor predictable Researchers’ struggle to balance between the needs Researchers’ struggle to balance between the needs

of the local community and the funding body, to of the local community and the funding body, to produce research outputs that are more tangible and produce research outputs that are more tangible and conventional conventional

It is clear that the process is full of challenges which are not only obstacles to prevent the research from being conducted but often they are very much the integral aspects of that very research undertaking itself. They are not only contextual matters but also what would constitute as the main characteristics of the research

the relationship between the researcher and the ‘research partners’ “is influenced, managed or even controlled by a myriad of surrounding elements, but participatory research methods seem to provide a much greater level of response flexibility to such obstacles and characteristics than more conventional methods.”

özerdem and Bowd (Eds). 2010.

Future Development of Interpreting Services Future Development of Interpreting Services for the Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kongfor the Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong

A top-down approach:A top-down approach: Establishing the network with NGOs, Universities, Establishing the network with NGOs, Universities,

Service providers to advocate long-term planning Service providers to advocate long-term planning and policy on interpretation serviceand policy on interpretation service

Petitioning the Judiciary and the Hospital Authority Petitioning the Judiciary and the Hospital Authority to use only trained interpretersto use only trained interpreters

Lining up with overseas institutions and Lining up with overseas institutions and organizations experienced in foreign languages organizations experienced in foreign languages interpretations and translations to promote interpretations and translations to promote exchange and sharing of service experiencesexchange and sharing of service experiences

Organize accredited training courses Organize accredited training courses