Ibrahim Hassan, University of Graz
The present study compares the stress-coping strategies used by natural and professional interpreters in hospital interpreting. Based on Harris conceptualization of natural interpreters, that is, bilingual persons who possess the ability to interpret without ever having received any specific instructions for interpretation, it is hypothesized that both natural and professional interpreters apply stress-coping strategies, even though the former have no formal interpreting training on the issue. To test this hypothesis, a model for the evaluation of the success of coping strategies is devised based on the advances in the areas of psychology and interpreting studies. This model is applied to the analysis of qualitative interviews conducted with six natural and professional interpreters working with Spanish and Arabic in Spain. Bilingual participants were selected. Based on self-reported reactions and habits, results suggest that both natural and professional interpreters apply successful stress-coping strategies. Both achieve effective problem-solution matches as well as ineffective matches and mismatches. Further research is needed to take into account how language combinations or especially social environment may influence the ability to interpret naturally and to cope with the different possible stressors.
Keywords: interpreting; stress; coping; natural interpreters; professional interpreters; bilingualism