Interpreter of Maladies 4

"This job wasn't always easy -- and maybe I wasn't always qualified -- but it was an important part of family life in my immigrant family. Banning this interaction between child and parent -- especially when the family has no other choice -- seems wrong to me. When I was interpreting for my family, I felt I was fulfilling my filial duty. I was contributing to the family.

I hope that the state could get to a point where every non-English speaking person can have access to a professional translator when they need one as they seek health care. If that happened, children like me wouldn't have to learn a third language -- medical talk -- that they may or may not fully understand."

- from Translation Trouble - Children May Be Barred From Interpreting for Their Parents, New America Media