Community-based interpreting in South African health services

Abstract

English: This study deals with the dire need for professional (community-based) interpreters (CBIs) in the South African health services. Attention is focused on the costing of such services, since economics seems to be one of the most important factors affecting (language) policy decisions. It is expected that the proposed National Languages Act for South Africa will encourage the allocation of funding for language services by institutions at all levels of government, including the health sector. The latest developments in the training and utilisation of CBIs in South Africa are discussed in the context of this promising new legislation.

Afrikaans: Hierdie bydrae handel oor die dringende behoefte aan professionele (gemeenskapsgebaseerde) tolke binne die Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsdiens. Spesiale aandag word gewy aan die berekening van die koste van sodanige tolkdienste, aangesien dit blyk dat die ekonomiese aspek altyd as een van die belangrikste faktore beskou word wanneer (taal-) beleidsbesluite geneem moet word. Die verwagting is dat die voorgestelde nasionale talewet vir Suid-Afrika die toewysing van fondse deur instellings op alle regeringsvlakke, insluitend die gesondheidsektor, sal aanmoedig. Resente ontwikkeling rakende die opleiding en gebruik van gemeenskapsgebaseerde tolke in Suid- Afrika word teen die agtergrond van hierdie belowende nuwe wetgewing bespreek.

Sesotho: Lehlahlello lena le hlahlobisisa tlhokahalo ya ditoloko tsa setjhaba tse kwetlisitsweng (di-CBI), ditshebeletsong tsa bophelo bo botle kahara Afrika Borwa. Ho shebilwe haholoholo ditefello tsa ditshebeletso tse jwalo, kaha ntlha ya ditshenyehelo e atisa ho nkwa ele ele e nngwe ya dintlha tsa bohlokwahadi, ha ho nkwa diqeto ka leano la tshebediso ya puo. Ho lebeletswe hore Molao wa Dipuo o ntseng o ralwa o tla kgothaletsa kabo ya ditjhelete bakeng sa ditshebeletso tsa puo mafapheng ohle a puso, ho kenyeletswa le tsa bophelo bo botle. Diphetoho tsa moraorao malebana le kwetliso ya di-CBI, Afrika Borwa di tla tshohlwa ho shebilwe molao ona o motjha o tshepisang.