Interpreter Anonymity: A Vital Safeguard in All Settings

At Give Me Your Word, interpreter safety is non-negotiable. Whether working remotely or in person, interpreters often step into high-risk, emotionally charged, or unpredictable environments. In such settings, anonymity is not a formality — it’s a fundamental safeguard.

One of our interpreters recently shared a distressing experience:

"A Psychiatric patient made multiple death threats toward me during an assignment. I remained calm and continued interpreting, but it was a frightening experience. The medical team did not acknowledge the threats or offer support. They had asked me to state my name in front of the patient, who then spelt it aloud and made personal associations. It made me feel exposed and unsafe."

This is not just a reminder — it’s a warning. Revealing an interpreter’s identity, even inadvertently, can make them vulnerable long after the session ends.

Interpreters Are a Voice — Not a Character in the Story

Interpreters are there to facilitate communication, not to become involved or remembered. Their neutrality and personal safety depend on remaining anonymous to the individuals they are interpreting for.

To protect interpreters across all types of assignments, Give Me Your Word requires and recommends the following:

For Remote Assignments

• Use only “Interpreter” as a display name on platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

• Do not introduce interpreters by name or ask them to introduce themselves by name to clients or service users. They need only be introduced as 'the interpreter'

• Allow video to be turned off after professional identity has been verified at the start of the session.

• No profile photos or identifying details should be visible at any time.

For Face-to-Face Assignments

• Never ask interpreters to share their name in front of service users.

• Introduce them simply as “the interpreter.”

• Avoid visible name badges or paperwork with personal details in sight of clients or patients.

• Take all threats seriously. If an interpreter is verbally threatened, pause the session, acknowledge the risk, and report the incident appropriately.

Shared Responsibility, Safer Practice

Interpreters are not accessories to the appointment — they are qualified professionals whose safety is a shared responsibility between agencies and service providers.

Anonymity is a simple but powerful step. It helps preserve the interpreter’s neutrality, protects their personal safety, and enables them to do their job without fear of exposure or retaliation.

To all professionals working with interpreters: please follow these safeguarding practices and speak with us if you're unsure how to implement them. Interpreter safety isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Let’s protect the people who make communication possible.