(no subject)

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Hi, everyone. I have a translation request. I'm tutoring a couple of Russians who want to be able to visit US doctors without interpreters. It's a big ambition, but I'm here to help, so...

What's the closest approximation to the questions:
"Is the pain sharp or dull?"
and
"Where does it hurt?"

Thanks! ~Eavan

Comments

[oryx_and_crake]

- Острая боль или тупая?
- Где болит?

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[geish-a.livejournal.com]

I am a professional interpreter for doctors and hospitals. It's very nice of you to try to help these people, but it's unrealistic: they will be able to answer and ask simple questions, but they will not understand medical terminology and they might get into trouble if they rely too much on their own resources. Medical advice should be understood in detail and very precisely, otherwise it's dangerous.

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Good point. To be honest, I don't think they'll ever feel confident enough to do away with the interpreter. They started learning only in their 50s/60s, so even more common vocabulary words are a struggle. But I don't want to tell them that. What I'm hoping is that in an emergency where there's no interpreter, they'll not be entirely lost. Do you think that's acceptable?

[sofa-m.livejournal.com]

where do you live - maybe there are Russian-speaking doctors, that would be more helpful :) I'm pretty sure they can find someone in Portland

[pzrk.livejournal.com]

Какая боль - острая или тупая?
Где болит?

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

In the areas with significant Russian population (and Portland, OR defnitely has more than just a couple of Russian inhabitabts) hospitals normally have somebody who speaks Russian, so, if they do not travel extensively to places like rural Idaho or Utah, they won't be really lost.

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

True, it sounds like finding an interpreter hasn't been a problem so far.

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Thank you!