Comparing verbal interpretations of professional materials between certified translators/interpreters and self-defined bilingual speech-language pathologists

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association does not award certification for bilingual proficiency nor test bilingual capacity of speech-language pathologists (SLP). Speech-language pathologists may self-define themselves as bilingual and be listed as being bilingual in national membership directories. This study compared the verbal interpretations of professional level materials between ten self-defined bilingual SLPs and five certified translators/interpreters. The two groups verbally interpreted a speech-language evaluation and a modified barium swallow report. Three independent judges rated the interpretations from both bilingual groups. Prior research suggested self-defined bilingual SLPs were significantly weaker than medical translators in literacy tasks, i.e., writing, spelling, vocabulary, inflectional markings and grammar (Isassi, 2002). If self-defined bilingual SLPs demonstrated the same weaknesses in verbal interactions as was suggested in literacy interactions, the self-definition of bilingualism should be called into question.