修士論文要旨

JAITS＜修士論文要旨＞

論文題目： The Fuzzy Status of Healthcare Interpreters in Japan: Lost in
Multicultural Policy
提出者： 松本 菜美
提出機関： RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
指導教授： Dr. Caroline Norma
提出年月： 2012 年 5 月（本文 30 ページ）
Abstract:
This thesis explores why, and how, volunteers are dispatched to interpreting assignments inhealthcare settings such as hospitals and clinics in Japan. The grounds for this question lies in myconcern in relation to the following two aspects: firstly, whether non-Japanese residents withlimited Japanese proficiency can enjoy equal rights to access healthcare services through theassistance of volunteers, rather than trained professionals; and, secondly, whether the current
widespread system of volunteer interpreters affects the status of professional interpreters who havecompleted specialised studies designed for professional interpreters at universities or schools. I
pursue answers to these concerns out of a desire to advocate for both migrants’ right to accesshealthcare services, and also out of a desire to improve the standing of the interpreting profession
in Japan.
Language services in the community are increasingly recognised in a large part of the world as an
indispensable service for migrants who do not speak the dominant language of the country. As
Downing and Tillery claim, access to public services is a ‘fundamental human right’ (1992, p.8). I
believe that such a fundamental human right for migrants is not any less important in Japan. Jacobs
et al (2004) note that those with limited English proficiency in the US tend to have less access toprimary healthcare services and more likely to face health-related problems and experience medicalerrors (p.866). Despite such evidence, as Pinkerton (2001), Yamamoto (2010) and Iwamoto (2004)
indicate, publicly mandated community language services are not firmly established in Japan. As aresult, the status of interpreters who provide such services remain fuzzy, and volunteers mainly
provide them through local non-profit organisations (Iwamoto, 2004).
I believe it is important to ensure that non-Japanese patients comprehend their clinical interactions
with healthcare providers because ‘successful communication between practitioner and patient isessential to effective health care provision’ (Berner, 2010, p.7). As Yoshitomi and Ohashi found intheir research, it is highly desirable that there are a large number of people with passion for
MATSUMOTO Nami, “The Fuzzy Status of Healthcare Interpreters in Japan: Lost in MulticulturalPolicy,” Interpreting and Translation Studies, No.12, 2012. pages 323-326. © by the Japan Association forInterpreting and Translation Studies323

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healthcare interpreting despite the current trend that healthcare interpreters receive almost noremuneration (2010). However, the fact that there are a large number of people who are proactive
in providing interpreting support in healthcare settings does not necessarily mean that the quality ofinterpreting will remain high.
Migrants’ right to equal access to healthcare services are legally enshrined in several countries,
such as the Australian Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. The role of healthcare interpreters is essential
in facilitating communication between patients with limited proficiency in the dominant language
and medical providers (Flores, G. et al 2003, p. 6). However, as Iida points out, Japan has no
established ‘community interpreting’ system in terms of accreditation, training and regulatedcompensation (2008, p.2). ‘Community interpreting’ refers to interpreting services which aredesigned to be provided to people who are ‘unable to communicate in [the country’s dominantlanguage]’ (Downing & Tillery, 1992, p.1) when attempting to access public services such as healthhealthcare services (Downing & Tillery, loc. cit.). Although some research shows that the use offamily members as interpreters has advantages (Rosenberg, E, Leanza, Y, & Seller, R., 2007, p.
291), it is important to understand that professional interpreters are not equivalent to bilingual
people, whose interpreting ability is limited (Queensland Health 2000, p.3).
At present, people in the spirit of voluntarism are providing language support as volunteers for
non-Japanese residents with limited Japanese proficiency when they see medical professionals inJapan. This thesis examines, using survey questionnaires, underlying factors that have led to thewidespread use of ‘volunteer interpreters’ in healthcare settings in Japan.
My underlying theoretical perspective in this thesis follows Jayasuriya‘s understanding ofmulticulturalism which aims for ‘political as well as social equality, incorporating civil, political,and social rights’ (Jayasuriya 2008, p.30). The term ‘multiculturalism’ is referred to as ‘Tabunka
Kyousei’ (Miyajima 2009, p.11) in Japanese. According to Miyajima, ‘Tabunka Kyousei’ refers to aconcept of accepting people with different cultures and backgrounds and respecting their rights invarious settings such as education (2009, p.11). Japanese society now has a growing non-Japanese
population, and there are accordingly increasing issues emerging that relate to multiculturalism.
It is a conspicuous characteristic, as well as a concern of current Japanese language services, thatan increasing number of ‘volunteer interpreters’ are dispatched to community interpreting
assignments in Japan (Pinkerton 2001, p.123). Such ‘volunteer interpreters’ are mainly dispatchedby local governments and non-profit organisations. The term ‘volunteer’ is defined, according tothe Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as referring to activities performedby people who provide their labour, skills and time to the community without seeking reward orcompensation for the purpose of improving the welfare of the community, individuals andorganisations (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications 2000, para.1). However, as324

修士論文要旨

Yoshitomi and Ohashi state, healthcare interpreting is a professional occupation, and it is necessary
for those who use healthcare interpreters to understand that this job requires highly advanced
knowledge of the area and heavy responsibilities; therefore, it is not desirable that volunteers work
as healthcare interpreters (2009, p.28). On the other hand, in Australia, there is a national
accreditation authority, namely the National Accreditation Authority for Translators andInterpreters (NAATI), which reviews and certifies interpreters’ skills. ‘Interpreters’ are language
professionals who ‘provide spoken or signed versions that convey, in another language, the contentand intentions of the statements by the original speaker’ (AUSIT 2012, para.1). The term
‘healthcare interpreters’ refer to interpreters who are committed to the provision of interpreting
services to patients and healthcare professionals in order to achieve the provision of the best
possible treatment (Committee to Review Standards for Medical Interpreters 2010, p.3). The ‘status’of healthcare interpreters is envisaged by the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators(AUSIT) as ‘just as high as [those professionals] at the 'big end' of town’ (AUSIT 2012, para.2.2)
and these interpreters ‘need to be remunerated accordingly’ (AUSIT 2012, para.2.2). AUSIT also
states that ‘there is a false perception that community interpreting is somehow less difficult or
important, and thus should be paid at a lower rate’ (AUSIT 2012, para.2.2). Such ‘false perceptions’might lead people to assume that volunteer interpreters are adequate for healthcare interpreting.
Data for this thesis was collected through the distribution of survey questionnaires via email inMarch 2012 to 30 Japan-based non-profit organisations that recruit, train and dispatch volunteer
healthcare interpreters to hospitals and clinics. The questions were designed to collect data on thefollowing aspects: firstly, whether interpreters who are usually called for healthcare assignments
are volunteer interpreters; secondly, whether non-profit organisations involved in providing
healthcare interpreting services use volunteer interpreters due to financial reasons, stemming fromdifficulties such as in obtaining sufficient subsidies from the government to pay remuneration to
healthcare interpreters; and thirdly, whether people who are involved in dispatching healthcareinterpreters recognise the difference between bilingual people and professional interpreters. It is
widely believed in Japan that anyone with a strong command of English language can beinterpreters and that volunteer interpreters are capable of working in any settings such as police
interviews. (Pinkerton, 2001, p.123).
It is a notable fact that the survey result shows that there are bilingual people who are proactive inworking as interpreters in healthcare settings in Japan even if they are only recognised asvolunteers. It would be ideal if such people can work as professional healthcare interpreters inJapan with national accreditation, receiving professional remuneration. In contrast to such ideals,
as a result of Japan not having comprehensive language service policies, volunteers have beenworking in healthcare interpreting settings, and are expected to meet high standards asprofessionals. What makes the situation worse is that these volunteer healthcare interpreters are325

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occasionally treated as intruders in the hospital, asked to provide support to non-Japanese speaking
inpatients during meal times, sent for shopping or requested to sign a patient consent form as aguarantor (Iwamoto 2004, p.198). Additionally, there is a problem that some healthcare institutions
do not trust healthcare interpreters who are dispatched by non-profit organisations despite that factthat they undergo training both on interpreting skills and professional ethics. This is a reallyregrettable situation.
It is expected that the number of non-Japanese residents in Japan will further increase due tovarious factors such as recently signed Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications 2006). I believe that professionalisation ofhealthcare interpreting through the establishment of a national accreditation system and healthcare
language service policies will contribute to more satisfactory outcomes for interpreters,
non-Japanese patients and medical providers in Japan.
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【著者紹介】
松本菜美（MATSUMOTO, Nami）2002 年国際基督教大学教養学部卒業。2012 年オーストラリア
RMIT 大学社会学修士号（翻訳・通訳）修了。現在はオーストラリアにて通訳・翻訳業に従事。通訳案
内士（日本）、National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters （豪）認定プロフェッショ
ナル通訳・翻訳者。専門分野は医療。

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