Russian Medical Interpreter Certification

Boston is home to a diverse population in terms of culture, and especially when it comes to language usage. As of 2015 Russian was the eighth most spoken language, other than English, in the Boston area. The need for trained professionals in the Russian language is quite evident, and one of the main areas in need of such services is the medical field. People holding a Russian medical interpreter certification are in high demand to help ensure that Russian speakers with limited English proficiency are able to receive the healthcare services they are entitled to.

However, just because you hold a Russian medical interpreter certification doesn’t mean that you are qualified to interpret for all Russian speakers. Like many other languages, Russian has a variety of dialects that share a common origin, but have evolved to be quite different from each other. Therefore, although you might be a native speaker of standard
Russian, and you might hold a Russian medical interpreter certification, it does not necessarily mean you would be able to provide interpreting services for an individual who spoke a Northern Russian dialect without prior notice or preparation.

While you might not think there are that many differences between the various dialects, there are in how each is pronounced and in vocabulary. This is especially important for Russian medical interpreters to understand, as any slight error in communication could have potentially disastrous results.

The Many Dialects of the Russian Language

Within Russia, there are three common dialect groupings broken up based on geography: the Northern, Central and Southern dialects. Standard Russian, also known as the “Moscow Dialect” would fall within the central region, and thus would be considered a central dialect. Between the three, there are a variety of differences that could result in miscommunication if not fully understood.

There are also differences in the words used between certain dialects – such as between the Moscow Dialect (considered central) and the St. Petersburg dialect (considered northern). In the chart below you will find 3 every day words and how they differ depending on which dialect you are using.

While these words may not necessarily come up in a medical setting, there are many other differences in vocabulary between all the Russian dialects that could impact how a doctor’s appointment or other healthcare session is understood, if not interpreted correctly.

The Russian language has also influenced dialects elsewhere, such as in countries which made up the former USSR where Russian is still widely spoken. Examples include the Ukraine where the Slobozhan dialect of the South East (and the Voronezh and Belgorod regions in Russia) formed due to a mixture of Russian and Ukrainian over time. Ties can also be found between the Belarusian language and Russian due to past historical influences.

The Importance of Obtaining a Russian Medical Interpreter Certification from Qualified Instructors

As shown above, Russian medical interpreters need to be aware of the dialect their client speaks before they begin interpreting for them. When looking for interpreter training programs in order to obtain a Russian medical interpreter certification, it is important to ensure that your Russian instructors also pay attention to the differences in dialects, and that they can teach you accordingly. At Russian Interpreter Training Programs, our Russian instructors are familiar with the differences between the main Russian dialects, and are able to explain to students why they exist, the different meanings of the words in different dialects, and in what context it is appropriate to use them.

Along with being familiar with the many dialects of the Russian language, our instructors also have professional experience as professional Russian interpreters – allowing them to share their real life experiences with you, and helping you gain a greater understanding of the many situations you may encounter as a Russian medical interpreter.

The best way to obtain a Russian Medical interpreter Certificate is through training that allows you to be exposed to the dialects and vocabulary that you may encounter as a medical interpreter, and one which provides you in-person and individualized teaching that allows you to develop the skillset you need to be successful. Before that however, you must do your research to find a program that covers all the language and industry needs, so when it comes time to it, you can fully concentrate on achieving your interpreter certification!

Get the necessary, in person training in order to become a competent professional interpreter.

Register now for our upcoming Russian Medical Interpreter Certificate Training session.

See the course schedule here:  Schedule >>>

Contact us for more information:
Phone:(617) 277-1990
Email: support@languageconnections.com