What is an Auslan interpreter?
The role of the Auslan interpreter is to facilitate effective communication between Deaf and hearing clients.

What is tandem interpreting?
This is also called team interpreting or teaming and means working with an interpreting partner or partners.

When should tandem interpreting be used?
Two interpreters are required for assignments that are either in excess of two hours duration or are particularly demanding. In these instances, interpreters will alternate every twenty to thirty minutes.

This is necessary to:

• Ensure continual flow of accurate information
• Reduce interpreter fatigue
• Reduce the likelihood of Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)
  

OOS is a risk for sign language interpreters who spend extensive periods of time interpreting from English into Auslan. This occurs mostly in educational, conference or meeting settings and can lead to mental and physical stress.

The two interpreters support each other to ensure the communication is facilitated effectively on assignment. Both interpreters are engaged in the process during the assignment. Usually while one interpreter is actively interpreting the team interpreter assumes a supporting role. This support includes prompting their co- interpreter when needed, ensuring transitions occur smoothly and monitoring everything that is occurring in the setting which may impact on interpreting.

Team interpreting is sometimes referred to when interpreters are working in teams at a conference or working with a Deaf (Relay) Interpreter. It is common practice for three or more interpreters to be assigned to a conference, particularly when there are multiple streams and multiple Deaf people. For more information on Deaf (Relay) Interpreters, click here.

Tandem interpreting is an opportunity for interpreters to provide each other with feedback, support and to learn from each other. This is not available when working independently.

What are the issues which should be considered when tandem interpreting is used?

• Division of work. Interpreters may decide that in a particular situation, it is most effective to have one interpreter working from English to Auslan and the other interpreter working with the Auslan to English.
• Use of note-taking where the passive interpreter writes down any difficult terminology or numbers that are difficult to remember and may assist the active interpreter during their interpreting processing.
• Monitoring each other’s use of signs and referent locations in space to allow as much consistency as possible, irrespective of which person is actively interpreting.
• Agreement regarding how interpreters will change over, where to sit/stand, how best to give prompts can all occur prior to the assignment commencing.

References:
www.rid.org/UserFiles/File/pdfs/Standard_Practice_Papers/Drafts_June_2006/Team_Interpreting_SPP.pdf
Napier, McKee & Goswell, 2006, Sign Language Interpreting theory and practice in Australia and New Zealand, The Federation Press