One job too many?
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Jules Dickinson
Abstract
Significant changes in the employment profile of deaf people over the last 30 years have led to their increased presence within the white-collar, non-industrialized workplace. As a result, signed language interpreters (SLIs) have also moved into this new domain. As deaf consumers begin to assume positions of status and power, SLIs are by necessity re-evaluating their relationships with deaf clients in order to mirror the changing dynamics (Napier et al. 2008). Evidence suggests that SLIs in the workplace are frequently expected to switch between the roles of confidant, co-worker, interpreter, assistant and advocate within a single interpreted interaction (Dickinson and Turner 2008). Drawing upon ethnographic data from a PhD research study this paper will demonstrate the complex multiplicity of the SLI’s workplace role.
Abstract
Significant changes in the employment profile of deaf people over the last 30 years have led to their increased presence within the white-collar, non-industrialized workplace. As a result, signed language interpreters (SLIs) have also moved into this new domain. As deaf consumers begin to assume positions of status and power, SLIs are by necessity re-evaluating their relationships with deaf clients in order to mirror the changing dynamics (Napier et al. 2008). Evidence suggests that SLIs in the workplace are frequently expected to switch between the roles of confidant, co-worker, interpreter, assistant and advocate within a single interpreted interaction (Dickinson and Turner 2008). Drawing upon ethnographic data from a PhD research study this paper will demonstrate the complex multiplicity of the SLI’s workplace role.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Interpreting in a changing landscape 1
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Part I. Political and economic changes
- Court interpreter ethics and the role of professional organizations 15
- Role playing “Pumpkin” 31
- A description of interpreting in prisons 45
- From chaos to cultural competence 61
- The UNCRPD and “professional” sign language interpreter provision 83
- From invisible machines to visible experts 101
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Part II. Interpreting vs. mediating/culture brokering
- Role issues in the Low Countries 117
- One job too many? 133
- Exploring institutional perceptions of child language brokering 149
- Natural interpreters’ performance in the medical setting 165
- The interpreter – a cultural broker? 187
- The role of the interpreter in educational settings 203
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Part III. Interpreting strategies in different interactional contexts
- Business as usual? 225
- Who is speaking? 249
- Changing perspectives 267
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Part IV. A changing landscape
- Training interpreters in rare and emerging languages 287
- From role-playing to role-taking 305
- Public service interpreter education 321
- Index 339
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Interpreting in a changing landscape 1
-
Part I. Political and economic changes
- Court interpreter ethics and the role of professional organizations 15
- Role playing “Pumpkin” 31
- A description of interpreting in prisons 45
- From chaos to cultural competence 61
- The UNCRPD and “professional” sign language interpreter provision 83
- From invisible machines to visible experts 101
-
Part II. Interpreting vs. mediating/culture brokering
- Role issues in the Low Countries 117
- One job too many? 133
- Exploring institutional perceptions of child language brokering 149
- Natural interpreters’ performance in the medical setting 165
- The interpreter – a cultural broker? 187
- The role of the interpreter in educational settings 203
-
Part III. Interpreting strategies in different interactional contexts
- Business as usual? 225
- Who is speaking? 249
- Changing perspectives 267
-
Part IV. A changing landscape
- Training interpreters in rare and emerging languages 287
- From role-playing to role-taking 305
- Public service interpreter education 321
- Index 339
