The linguistic mediator under the magnifying glass: analysis of a Spanish-Italian interaction in the medical setting

This paper analyses from a linguistic and pragmatic perspective a three-way interaction conducted in an Italian hospital between a nurse, the father of a South American minor patient, and an Italian linguistic mediator. The case study is structured in three main sections: a) the footing of the mediator as a factor revealing his attitude and position in the interaction; b) the most strictly translation-related dimension and, in particular, the renditions of the mediator according to Wadensjo's classification (1998); c) the linguistic dimension, with an examination of the translation solutions adopted by the mediator in terms of errors and/or adequate choices.

This paper analyses from a linguistic and pragmatic perspective a three-way interaction conducted in an Italian hospital between a nurse, the father of a South American minor patient, and an Italian linguistic mediator. The case study is structured in three main sections: a) the footing of the mediator as a factor revealing his attitude and position in the interaction; b) the most strictly translation-related dimension and, in particular, the renditions of the mediator according to Wadensjö's classification (1998); c) the linguistic dimension, with an examination of the translation solutions adopted by the mediator in terms of errors and/or adequate choices.