Demonstrates that the ideal of a sign language interpreter as a nonpartisan language conduit does not exist in reality, and offers evidence of this disparity by analyzing two videotaped ASL-English interpreted medical interviews. Looks at how interpreters influence discourse, expectations of participants and interpreters in discussions, and the ways in which interpreters affect exchanges, and addresses potential implications of these findings regarding language interpretation in medical, educational, and other contexts. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)