-
Humanities and the arts
- German language
- Discourse studies
- Sociolinguistics
This project uses methods from Discourse analysis (DA) and Conversation Analysis (CA) to investigate interpreter-mediated communication (IMC) in neuropsychological assessments (tests of cognitive performance) and doctor-patient consultations targeting neurological and cognitive disorders (dementia, epilepsy, sleeping disorders). While research shows that migrants benefit considerably from the presence of an interpreter, our understanding of how IMC may help the growing number of migrants receive adequate health care in our linguistically diverse societies is still largely in its infancy. The project addresses this research gap and investigates the impact of IMC on the process and outcome of assessments of cognitive functioning. The project will examine video-recorded material of interpreter-mediated interactions to investigate (1) how interpreters deal with differences in knowledge (e.g. institutional, cultural, health related) between doctor and patient and to which extent this negotiation of knowledge affects interactive trajectories; (2) how the process and outcome of interpretation may affect the validity of neuropsychological tests and which measures would be suitable to counter such effects; 3) the interpreter’s role in managing the patient's face, in a situation where various face threats seem imminent. (4) how communication develops as patients move through the institution (e.g., first visit to follow-up visits) and how knowledge is accumulated and negotiated.