Interpreting Glossary

A complete, natural language expressed through hand movements, facial expressions, and body posture. Used primarily in the United States and parts of Canada by Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

A mode of interpreting where the interpreter listens to a segment of speech, then renders it in the target language after the speaker pauses. Common in medical appointments, legal depositions, and meetings.

A U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Interpreters working in educational settings must comply with FERPA requirements.

A U.S. federal law that establishes standards for protecting sensitive patient health information. Interpreters in healthcare settings handle protected health information (PHI) and must be HIPAA-compliant.

A medical evaluation performed by a physician who has not previously treated the patient, typically requested by insurance companies or in legal disputes to assess injury or disability claims.

A written plan developed for each public school child eligible for special education. IEP meetings often require interpreters when parents or guardians have limited English proficiency.

A term used to describe individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English.

A form of remote interpreting conducted via telephone. The interpreter joins a phone call and interprets between two parties who speak different languages. Also called telephonic interpreting.

Any individually identifiable health information held or transmitted by a covered entity, including demographic data, medical history, test results, and insurance information.

A method where one interpreter works from the source language into a common language, and a second interpreter works from that common language into the target language. Used when a direct interpreter is unavailable for a specific language pair.

A database security feature that restricts which rows a user can access based on their identity. In IMP, RLS ensures each agency can only access its own data at the Postgres level.

The oral rendering of a written document into a spoken language. The interpreter reads a document in one language and speaks its content in another. Common in medical and legal settings for consent forms and discharge instructions.

A mode of interpreting where the interpreter renders the message in the target language at the same time the speaker is talking. Commonly used in conferences, large meetings, and courtrooms.

A form of remote interpreting conducted via video call. The interpreter can see and be seen by the parties, making it suitable for sign language interpreting and situations where visual cues are important.