The Interpreter, the Monitor and the Language Arbiter

The trustworthiness of translators and interpreters has long been an issue in the profession. In some cases, a set of procedures are established to ensure the trust of clients and end-users. In the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (1946-1948), such procedures took on remarkable form. During the trial, three ethnically and socially different groups of language personnel engaged in three different functions within the overall interpreting process: Japanese nationals as interpreters, Japanese Americans as monitors, and U.S. military officers as language arbiters who ruled on the disputed interpretations. Sociopolitical aspects such as trust, power and control are evident in this hierarchical structure. In such political settings, and in others seen today, the trustworthiness of the interpreter may override the quality of interpreting.La question de la confiance à accorder aux traducteurs et aux interprètes est débattue depuis longtemps dans la profession. Dans certains cas, un ensemble de procédures sont établies afin de susciter la confiance des clients et des utilisateurs. Au sein du Tribunal militaire pour l’Extrême-Orient (1946-1948), ces procédures ont pris une forme particulière. Pendant le procès, trois groupes différents sur les plans social et ethnique assumaient trois fonctions différentes dans le cadre du processus global d’interprétation : les Japonais interprétaient, les Américains d’origine japonaise contrôlaient, et les officiers militaires américains jouaient le rôle d’« arbitres » linguistiques qui tranchaient en cas de controverse. Les aspects sociopolitiques tels que la confiance, le pouvoir et le contrôle sont évidents dans cette structure hiérarchique. Dans de tels environnements politiques ainsi que dans d’autres que nous connaissons aujourd’hui, le besoin de faire confiance à l’interprète peut prendre le pas sur la qualité de l’interprétation

Sociopolitical aspects of interpreting at the international military tribunal for the far east (1946-1948)

Este estudio se basa en la premisa de que la interpretación es una actividad social y que por tanto necesita describirse y explicarse en referencia al contexto cultural, político y social del escenario en que el intérprete opera. Se estudian los aspectos sociopolíticos de la interpretación en el Tribunal Militar Internacional para el Lejano Oriente (TMILO, 1946-1948) mediante una investigación archivística e histórica de la organización de la interpretación y un estudio de caso del comportamiento de los lingüistas (especialistas del idioma) que trabajaron en el proceso de interpretación. Tras exponer resumidamente la organización de la interpretación, este estudio analiza las características propias de interpretar en el TMILO. En primer lugar, investiga por qué el tribunal organizó la interpretación de forma que tres grupos diferentes social y étnicamente se encargaban de tres funciones diferentes: los ciudadanos japoneses actuaban de intérpretes en el procedimiento, los nisei (Japoneses- americanos de segunda generación) monitorizaban la actuación de los intérpretes, y oficiales militares caucasianos, en calidad de peritos lingüísticos, decidían las discrepancias en las traducciones e interpretaciones. Este estudio desvela que la carencia de lingüistas americanos competentes condujo al uso de ciudadanos japoneses como intérpretes; y que dicha estructura jerárquica funcionaba como una muestra de autoridad y para impedir la "mala fe" que, supuestamente, albergaban los intérpretes japoneses y los monitores nisei. En segundo lugar, se aplica el concepto de "normas negociadas" para examinar cómo se desarrollaron los procesos de interpretación durante el primer año del TMILO en que ninguno de los lingüistas había recibido formación como intérprete profesional y los usuarios de la interpretación no estaban familiarizados con su funcionamiento. Este examen subraya el aspecto interactivo de la creación de normas y las limitaciones cognitivas del intérprete como un factor de dicho proceso. Por último, se examina la ambigua y compleja posición de los monitores nisei. Fueron contratados por un gobierno que les había tratado injustamente como "enemigos ajenos", en un juicio contra los antiguos líderes de la patria de sus padres; y usaban habilidades arraigadas en su herencia para trabajar como monitores.Se estudia el comportamiento de los lingüistas durante los testimonios de Hideki Tojo y otros testigos japoneses centrándonos en la naturaleza de las interjecciones de los monitores y de los intérpretes y las interacciones entre los lingüistas y otros participantes del juicio. Algunos de los resultados apoyan la hipótesis que conecta el comportamiento de los lingüistas con su posición provisional en la constelación de poder de este escenario.En último lugar de la jerarquía, los intérpretes japoneses hablan en contadas ocasiones por cuenta propia y casi nunca ponen objeciones a las interjecciones aparentemente innecesarias o incluso erróneas de los monitores. Dada la situación intermedia de los monitores en el sistema de interpretación, sus aparentemente excesivas interjecciones en japonés pueden explicarse como una muestra de autoridad hacia los intérpretes japoneses y como un mensaje al tribunal (que no entendía japonés) de que estaban trabajando con eficacia corrigiendo errores de interpretación. La menor frecuencia de interjecciones en inglés por parte de estos monitores puede ser debida a la consideración por la preocupación de sus patrones por la falta de tiempo. El perito lingüístico no se involucraba en ninguna actividad espontánea, pero su presencia al lado de la fiscalía y sus anuncios de resoluciones de disputas lingüísticas en el tribunal debe haber reforzado la imagen de que el ejército estadounidense estaba al mando.Los resultados de este estudio refuerzan la idea de que la interpretación es una práctica social. La influencia de los aspectos sociopolíticos del escenario se hace evidente en la organización de la interpretación. Además, la información disponible sugiere que el comportamiento de los lingüistas era consecuente con su posición relativa en la jerarquía. El autor espera que algunos de los temas tratados en este estudio, como la confianza, la ética, las relaciones de poder y las normas negociadas, sean revisados para una mayor comprensión de los temas relacionados con el idioma en nuestra sociedad actual.This study is based on the premise that interpreting is a social activity, which therefore needs to be described and explained with reference to the social, political and cultural context of the setting in which the interpreter operates. Sociopolitical aspects of interpreting at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE, 1946-1948) are studied through historical and archival research of the interpreting arrangements and a case study on the behavior of linguists (language specialists) who worked in the interpreting process during the testimonies of Hideki Tojo and other Japanese witnesses. Three sets of concepts are applied to analyze three salient features of interpreting at the IMTFE. Based on the notions of "trust, power and control", the historical and political context of the IMTFE and the social and cultural backgrounds of each linguist group are examined to explore why the tribunal devised the interpreting arrangements in which three ethnically and socially different groups of linguists engaged in three different functions: interpreter, monitor and language arbiter. The concept of "negotiated norms" is applied to discuss the interactional aspect of how the interpreting procedures developed over the initial stage of the trial, with the interpreters' cognitive constraints as a factor in that process. Cronin's notion (2002) of "autonomous and heteronomous interpreters" is drawn on to discuss the complex position of the Japanese American linguists who worked as monitors. The nature of interjections by the monitors and interpreters and the interactions between the court and each linguist group during the interpreted testimonies of Japanese witnesses are examined. Findings of this analysis support the hypothesis which links interpreters' choices, strategies and behavior to their awareness of where they stand in the power constellation of the interpreted event

A Comparative Exploration of Quality Assurance Results by the Third-Party Pharmaceutical Education Evaluation in Japan

Background: The Standards for the Establishment of Universities in Japan were revised; subsequently, the number of schools or universities of pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences increased from 46 in 2002 to 74 in 2016.The pharmacy education programme was also changed from four to six years, which was implemented in 2006. In this study, we provide the comparative results of the first cycle of the third-party accrediting organization, the Japan Accreditation Board for Pharmaceutical Education (JABPE); Methods: The results of the first cycle of all universities or schools of pharmacy assessed by the JABPE from JABPE website were etrieved, and we collated and compared the results based on the 13 areas of the assessment standards; Results: In “improvements”, the number of public universities or schools was less than that of private universities or schools, and the number of old private universities or schools was also less than the number of new private universities or schools inall assessment areas. Conclusions: These results suggest that new universities or schools established since 2003 have not yet established their own quality assurance mechanism within the institutions. We need to review the Japanese pharmacy education system or the assessment criteria for it to bring about essential change

Research Report on the Kikaijima Dialects : General Study for Research and Conservation of Endangered Dialects in Japan

National Institute for Japanese Language and LinguisticsNational Institute for Japanese Language and LinguisticsOkinawa International UniversityUniversity of AucklandNational Institute for Japanese Language and LinguisticsFirst Published: August 15, 2011 (in Japanese

Intensive care unit versus high-dependency care unit admission on mortality in patients with septic shock: a retrospective cohort study using Japanese claims data

[Background] Septic shock is a common and life-threatening condition that requires intensive care. Intensive care units (ICUs) in Japan are classified into ICUs and high-dependency care units (HDUs), depending on presence of full-time certified intensivists and the number of assigned nurses. Compared with other developed countries, there are fewer intensive care beds and certified intensivists in Japan; therefore, non-intensivists often treat patients with septic shock in HDUs. It is unknown where we should treat patients with septic shock because no studies have compared the clinical outcomes between ICU and HDU treatment. This study aimed to elucidate which units should admit patients with septic shock by comparing mortality data and resource use between ICU and HDU admissions. [Methods] In this retrospective cohort study, we used a nationwide Japanese administrative database to identify adult patients with septic shock who were admitted to ICUs or HDUs between January 2010 and February 2021. The patients were divided into two groups, based on admittance to ICU or HDU on the day of hospitalization. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality adjusted for covariates using Cox regression analyses; the secondary outcomes were the length of ICU or HDU stay and length of hospital stay. [Results] Of the 10, 818 eligible hospitalizations for septic shock, 6584 were in the ICU group, and 4234 were in the HDU group. Cox regression analyses revealed that patients admitted to the ICUs had lower 30-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.89; 95% confidence interval: 0.83–0.96; P = 0.005). Linear regression analyses showed no significant difference in hospital length of stay or ICU or HDU length of stay. [Conclusions] An association was observed between ICU admission and lower 30-day mortality in patients with septic shock. These findings could provide essential insights for building a more appropriate treatment system

Viewing Targets in Infantile Nystagmus

The aim of this study was to propose a new pathophysiological hypothesis for involuntary eye oscillation in infantile nystagmus (IN): patients with IN exhibit impaired gaze fixation, horizontal smooth pursuit and optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and use saccadic eye movements for these underlying impairments. In order to induce saccades, they make enough angle between gaze and target by precedent exponential slow eye movements. IN consists of the alternate appearance of the saccade and the slow eye movements. Unlike most previous theories, IN is therefore considered a necessary strategy allowing for better vision and not an obstacle to clear vision. In five patients with IN, eye movements were analyzed during the smooth pursuit test, saccadic eye movement test, OKN test and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) test. Their gaze fixation, horizontal smooth pursuit, OKN and the last half of the slow phase of VOR were impaired. The lines obtained by connection of the end eye positions of fast phase of nystagmus coincided with the trajectories of targets. The findings indicate that patients followed the target by the fast but not the slow phase of nystagmus, which supports our hypothesis. By setting the direction of slow phase of nystagmus opposite to the direction of the OKN stimulation, enough angle can be effectively made between the gaze and target for the induction of saccade. This is the mechanism of reversed OKN response. In darkness and when eyes are closed, IN weakens because there is no visual target and neither the saccade for catching up the target or slow phase for induction of the saccade is needed

An experiential observational study of graduates from the Japanese six year programme

OBJECTIVE: To provide an initial experiential competency assessment of the first wave of graduates from the reformed Japanese six-year pharmacy initial education programme. METHODS: The authors evaluated observed competencies of recently qualified pharmacists who graduated from the pharmacy six-year programme (6-YP pharmacists) from the perspective of experienced pharmacists from the previous national four-year initial education and training programme. A web-based survey of working pharmacists who had graduated from the previous pharmacy four-year programme (4-YP) was conducted, targeting 200 pharmacists (100 hospital pharmacists and 100 community pharmacists). Inclusion criteria specified working with, and having experience of, qualified 6-YP pharmacists. These recruits provided an observational evaluation of itemised competencies for the first wave of 6-YP pharmacists in workplace environments. This methodology was designed to overcome the logistical challenges of objective structured performance-related evaluation of practice competency. RESULTS: The 4-YP community pharmacists gave a significantly higher overall perceived competency assessment of the 6-YP pharmacists than did hospital pharmacists (p<0.05 U-test). In the competency assessment analysis, the improvements of competencies considered to be a priority for 6-YP community-based pharmacists were “medication therapy management” and “education and training competencies”, while the priority improvement competencies of 6- YP hospital-based pharmacists were considered to be “professionalism”, “inter-professional collaboration”, “medication therapy management”, “community health and medical care”, and “lifelong learning”. CONCLUSION: This research suggests that curriculum improvement should continue to be reviewed together with efforts to better foster these competencies in initial education and training. Methods to continuously evaluate and improve the lower assessed competencies need to be introduced together with post-registration continued training, preferably using validated competency development frameworks in the near future

Comparison of the efficacy of the Epley maneuver and repeated Dix–Hallpike tests for eliminating positional nystagmus: A multicenter randomized study

Background and objectivesPatients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior canal (pc-BPPV) exhibit BPPV fatigue, where the positional nystagmus diminishes with the repeated performance of the Dix–Hallpike test (DHt). BPPV fatigue is thought to be caused by the disintegration of lumps of otoconial debris into smaller parts and can eliminate positional nystagmus within a few minutes [similar to the immediate effect of the Epley maneuver (EM)]. In this study, we aimed to show the non-inferiority of the repeated DHt to the EM for eliminating positional nystagmus after 1 week.MethodsThis multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial was designed based on the CONSORT 2010 guidelines. Patients who had pc-BPPV were recruited and randomly allocated to Group A or Group B. Patients in Group A were treated using the EM, and patients in Group B were treated using repeated DHt. For both groups, head movements were repeated until the positional nystagmus had been eliminated (a maximum of three repetitions). After 1 week, the patients were examined to determine whether the positional nystagmus was still present. The groups were compared in terms of the percentage of patients whose positional nystagmus had been eliminated, with the non-inferiority margin set at 15%.ResultsData for a total of 180 patients were analyzed (90 patients per group). Positional nystagmus had been eliminated in 50.0% of the patients in Group A compared with 47.8% in Group B. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the difference was 14.5%, which was lower than the non-inferiority margin.DiscussionThis study showed the non-inferiority of repeated DHt to the EM for eliminating positional nystagmus after 1 week in patients with pc-BPPV and that even the disintegration of otoconial debris alone has a therapeutic effect for pc-BPPV. Disintegrated otoconial debris disappears from the posterior canal because it can be dissolved in the endolymph or returned to the vestibule via activities of daily living.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class II evidence of the non-inferiority of repeated DHt to the EM for eliminating positional nystagmus after 1 week.Registration numberUMIN000016421