This chapter is aimed at exploring and discussing the role and responsibility of the interpreter,
both liaison and simultaneous, at encounters where English is the main channel
of communication and the interpreter is called to translate English for Special Purposes
(ESP) between non-native English interlocutors.
Discussion will be based on the analysis of several scenarios taken from the medical, technical
and financial world where peer relations between the interlocutors involved as well
as knowledge of ESP and/or standard language usage vary and affect communication
accordingly.
The analysis is aimed at discussing the interpreter’s intervention in the scenarios studied
and how s/he can effectively facilitate communication, not only by providing a linguistically
accurate translation, but also by understanding the parties involved and preventing
disappointment in the clients’ expectations.
The paper will also show how the form of interpreting used can largely influence the
translation and, thus, comprehension among the parties.
