14. Perceptions of a profession
-
Heidi Salaets
Abstract
This research paper is meant as an exploratory empirical research project. The objective was to query a small sample of active community interpreters on a limited set of key dimensions concerning their own perception of the profession.
Sixty anonymous self-report questionnaires were sent out via 12 interpreting agencies, generating nineteen responses.
Because of its exploratory nature, the questionnaire was mainly made up of openended questions. These were subsequently conceptualized through content analysis by post-categorization. Three main themes were explored: the perception of the professional image and role of community interpreters, their views on quality and their views on a professional code of conduct and, specifically, on impartiality.
The interpreters perceive themselves as having an important role in society and also as being perceived as such by others. But as yet that reality is not translated into due respect and appreciation, proper remuneration and legal recognition of the profession. Training of community interpreters, as well as of social workers, is seen as the most important and effective factor of a quality label for community interpreting, more so than the more formal elements of certification and registration. Formal education at Master’s level was deemed less important by our respondents. Supervision is seen as a valuable means of in-service training and general quality improvement.
The respondents who already had some form of (basic or introductory) training were convinced that above all training and external assessment are necessary for quality improvement.
The Flemish community interpreters seem to perceive of a professional code of conduct as mainly externally motivated: it is imposed and assessed by the interpreting agencies, through the evaluations of the other parties in the triad. On the specific topic of impartiality, a majority of respondents profess to a strict adherence to the professional code of conduct.
Abstract
This research paper is meant as an exploratory empirical research project. The objective was to query a small sample of active community interpreters on a limited set of key dimensions concerning their own perception of the profession.
Sixty anonymous self-report questionnaires were sent out via 12 interpreting agencies, generating nineteen responses.
Because of its exploratory nature, the questionnaire was mainly made up of openended questions. These were subsequently conceptualized through content analysis by post-categorization. Three main themes were explored: the perception of the professional image and role of community interpreters, their views on quality and their views on a professional code of conduct and, specifically, on impartiality.
The interpreters perceive themselves as having an important role in society and also as being perceived as such by others. But as yet that reality is not translated into due respect and appreciation, proper remuneration and legal recognition of the profession. Training of community interpreters, as well as of social workers, is seen as the most important and effective factor of a quality label for community interpreting, more so than the more formal elements of certification and registration. Formal education at Master’s level was deemed less important by our respondents. Supervision is seen as a valuable means of in-service training and general quality improvement.
The respondents who already had some form of (basic or introductory) training were convinced that above all training and external assessment are necessary for quality improvement.
The Flemish community interpreters seem to perceive of a professional code of conduct as mainly externally motivated: it is imposed and assessed by the interpreting agencies, through the evaluations of the other parties in the triad. On the specific topic of impartiality, a majority of respondents profess to a strict adherence to the professional code of conduct.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- 1. Introduction 1
- 2. Interpreting as mediation 9
- 3. The role of the interpreter in the governance of sixteenth and seventeenth century Spanish colonies in the "New World": Lessons from the past for the present 27
- 4. Role definition: A perspective on forty years of professionalism in Sign Language interpreting 51
- 5. Evolving views of the court interpreter´s role: Between Scylla and Charybdis 81
- 6. Controversies over the role of the court interpreter 99
- 7. Interpreting in police settings in Spain: Service providers' and interpreters' perspectives 123
- 8. The role of the interpreter in the healthcare setting: A plea for a dialogue between research and practice 147
- 9. Hospital interpreting practice in the classroom and the workplace 165
- 10. Intercultural mediation: An answer to healthcare disparities? 187
- 11. Community interpreter self-perception: A Spanish case study 203
- 12. Sign Language interpreters and role conflict in the workplace 231
- 13. Migration, ideology and the interpreter-mediator: The role of the language mediator in education and medical settings in Italy 245
- 14. Perceptions of a profession 267
- Index 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- 1. Introduction 1
- 2. Interpreting as mediation 9
- 3. The role of the interpreter in the governance of sixteenth and seventeenth century Spanish colonies in the "New World": Lessons from the past for the present 27
- 4. Role definition: A perspective on forty years of professionalism in Sign Language interpreting 51
- 5. Evolving views of the court interpreter´s role: Between Scylla and Charybdis 81
- 6. Controversies over the role of the court interpreter 99
- 7. Interpreting in police settings in Spain: Service providers' and interpreters' perspectives 123
- 8. The role of the interpreter in the healthcare setting: A plea for a dialogue between research and practice 147
- 9. Hospital interpreting practice in the classroom and the workplace 165
- 10. Intercultural mediation: An answer to healthcare disparities? 187
- 11. Community interpreter self-perception: A Spanish case study 203
- 12. Sign Language interpreters and role conflict in the workplace 231
- 13. Migration, ideology and the interpreter-mediator: The role of the language mediator in education and medical settings in Italy 245
- 14. Perceptions of a profession 267
- Index 289
