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Article published In:
Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 36:1 (2023) ► pp.87–119

Functions and transmission of humour in interpreter-mediated healthcare consultations

An exploratory study

ORCID logo | University of Alcalá | FITISPos-UAH Research group

This paper presents an exploratory study of humour in multilingual, multicultural healthcare interactions with an interpreter. Data are part of a dataset of healthcare encounters observed in a hospital in Madrid (Spain) for a period of five months, which included the participation of six interpreters. Four aspects were analysed: (1) who initiates humour, (2) who receives humour, (3) what the functions of humour are, and (4) how interpreters behave vis-à-vis humour occurrences. Preliminary findings indicate that humour allows patients, healthcare providers and interpreters to pursue relational and transactional goals similar to those present in monolingual healthcare interactions, such as handling negative emotions. Interpreters are active co-constructors of humour, and all participants in the triad work together towards the establishment and recognition of a humorous frame, where hierarchical relationships seem to exist. Together with linguistic and cultural differences between participants, interpreters must appropriately render background and contextual knowledge to ensure humour maintains its intended function, which emphasises the healthcare interpreter’s active role in interaction. These findings call for greater attention to research on humour, as well as specific training for interpreters to highlight its relational power and, thus, ensure successful communication in multicultural, multilingual (healthcare) settings.

Keywords: humour, healthcare interpreting, language-discordant consultations, healthcare settings, foreign patients, doctor–patient communication
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.An overview of research on humour
    • 2.1Relevance of humour in healthcare provider–patient encounters
  • 3.An overview of healthcare interpreting
    • 3.1Rendering humour in intercultural and interlinguistic interpreter-mediated (healthcare) interactions
  • 4.Method
    • 4.1Data
    • 4.2Participants
    • 4.3Analysis
  • 5.Results
    • 5.1Humour dynamics in interpreter-mediated healthcare interactions
    • 5.2Functions of humour in interpreter-mediated healthcare interactions
      • 5.2.1 Creating a relaxed atmosphere: You’re not pregnant
      • 5.2.2 Handing negative emotions: Blood? I’ll need to fast and then I’m hungry
      • 5.2.3 Helping another participant to handle negative emotions: Even my soul would hurt!
      • 5.2.4 Communicating criticism, rejection or disagreement: We’re under the control of law and authority here
      • 5.2.5 Managing power asymmetry: This is a medical consultation, not a supermarket
      • 5.2.6 Saving face: But I need to ask anyway
    • 5.3Interpreter behaviours vis-à-vis humour in interpreter-mediated healthcare interactions
      • 5.3.1Complete transmission of humour
      • 5.3.2Partial transmission of humour
      • 5.3.3Omission of humour
      • 5.3.4Initiation of humour
  • 6.Discussion
  • 7.Final remarks
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 6 December 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.20041.cri
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