An Analysis Of Interpreter’s Role In Communication Between Traditional Chinese Medicine And Western Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)is a label that covers a broad range of traditional medicine practices spreading throughout Asia,including various forms of herbal medicine,acupuncture,cupping,massage therapy and dietary therapy.It is a discipline that studies people’s physiology,pathology,disease diagnosis and prevention.With the transition of health values and medical model,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has gradually gained acceptance and recognition in the international world in treating and preventing chronic and severe diseases instead of just being substitution therapy.Currently,traditional medicines taking TCM as its representative have been listed in the international classification of diseases(ICD-11)by WHO.For doctors and patients with different languages and medical backgrounds,TCM interpreters play an important role in medical activities for promoting TCM abroad.Therefore,TCM interpreter’s roles have a great social significance in affecting the quality of medical service and medical communication.This report is based on the interpreting service provided for the director of Beijing Taijitang TCM Hospital,Zhang Kezhen,who was invited to visit the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota,America in October 2018.The visit aimed at attending the Minnesota Neuromodulation Symposium held by the University of Minnesota while strengthening the communication between western medicine and TCM.The author was assigned to offer escort interpreting service for director,Zhang Kezhen during the visit.The director delivered a keynote speech with a presentation during this symposium to introduce his own original TCM theory,physiological spaces,to western experts and visited Mayo Clinic for meeting several experts in department of hepatology and department of gastroenterology.The author also provided dialogue interpreting service while several western patients were experiencing director Zhang’s pulse-taking,consultation and acupuncture therapy.During medical communications,the interpreter manifests various roles through visibility.This thesis explores in depth the roles of TCM interpreters through visibility in the communication between TCM and western medicine,examining the interpreter’s role as a cultural mediator,facilitator and co-therapist.Manifestations of TCM interpreter’s roles can be shown through expounding TCM principles and terminologies,educating the patient,omitting redundant information,adjusting turns and providing emotional care for the patient.Through this interpreting practice,the author discovers that TCM interpreters should adapt to various roles for guaranteeing successful and smooth medical activities and try their best to achieve best results for both doctors and patients.