Cultural and Linguistic Informants

There is a huge range of cultural and linguistic diversity in the caseloads of Speech–Language pathologists. Clinicians who are proficient in the culture and language of their clients are in a unique position to provide services. Those whose culture and language backgrounds are different from their clients can provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services by combining their knowledge of communication sciences and disorders with the knowledge contributed by cultural and linguistic informants.

[Page 532]Unlike professionally trained, certified, or accredited translators and interpreters, cultural and linguistic informants may have varying degrees of academic or professional preparation for contributing their language and cultural expertise to the clinical context. They may provide translation services (transmission of information from one language to another in written form) or interpretation services (transmission ...