The worldwide, special operations community is pretty small and over the years, I’ve been priviledged to work with and learn from, units from all over the world. The job attracts a certain kind of person, so, the personalities are very similar despite, the different equipment, tactics, and languages.
When it comes to language barriers, the right interpreter is worth their weight in gold, because they don’t just directly translate the words, but also the idioms, cultural cues, and even subtle nuances of body language and gestures. As you might imagine, this is vitally important when interacting with someone whose language you don’t speak, but maybe it’s just as important when conversing in a language thought to be common to both parties.
For example, my native language is English but back in Afghanistan in 2006, I learned that when among troops from the UK, we might all be talking in English, but we weren’t speaking the same language.
I didn’t know then, but I know now, that when a British officer slaps his knees, says, “Right!”, and stands up, that means the meeting is over and the annoying young American medic, (“Who the devil invited him to this briefing anyway?”), needs to stop asking questions and “what iffing” everything to death.
Later, his Sergeant Major had a “quiet” word with me outside the briefing room. He was of Scottish descent and though his body language was unmistakable, there were parts of his spoken English that were a little less clear.
When he began, he used many of the same words I had often heard in my own Army (universal, I guess) and I had no doubt that he was very put out with me. Then, in two separate sentences, he called me a “weapon”, so I began to relax, knowing all was well and that he obviously thought I was sharp, keen, and maybe even a bit dangerous.
I later learned that he did not, in fact, think that I was sharp, or keen. He did probably think that I was dangerous, but only to myself if I should ever be left alone and unsupervised…….. with string.
There was something lost in translation.
Remember when I talked about your healthcare team? You know, the one that I think you should be the head of? You might all be talking in English (or your native language), but you are probably not speaking the same language. I’m not suggesting that you go take a course in medical terminology, Greek, or Latin, but I am suggesting that it is very…..very important that you and your healthcare provider(s) understand each other completely.
The burden is on all parties involved, but it’s your health, so maybe it should be even more important that you understand fully and are understood fully. Like I’ve said before, both my neurologists are wonderful and know more about multiple sclerosis than I ever will, but they don’t have MS. As much as I wish it wasn’t, my MS is mine. It is unique to me and I’m (unfortunately) the expert on it. If you are not already and are capable of it, you should be the expert on yours. This includes communicating clearly about medications (including the cost and availability), pain levels, emotional changes, cognitive changes, quality of life issues, mobility problems, sensations and the lack thereof, etc, etc, etc.
Speaking the same language is even more important when communicating with your non-neuro providers. My wheelchair makes my multiple sclerosis “visible”, or at least quickly “discoverable”, but yours may not be. Your family doctor may need to be reminded that your MS related choking/aspiration risk is why you’re concerned about getting a pneumonia vaccine. Your orthopedic doctor may need to be reminded that your weak grip or inability to raise that arm on your more affected side is probably just MS and not because of a torn anything. Your optometrist needs to know that you’re seeing double, or having eye pain most likely because of your MS. Your physical terrorist……..I mean therapist needs to know when you have MS fatigue and that it’s not the same as being tired, weak, or having a bad attitude. (Mine does, I’m just giving him a hard time).
The list of examples goes on and on. Don’t let anything related to your health and well being get lost in translation. Please be clear with your providers and ask for clarity when you need it.
For the record, several of my providers think I’m a “weapon”, but they’re clear about it.