American Sign Language Interpreting
Sign Language/spoken English interpreters are highly skilled professionals. They must be able to listen to another person's words, inflections and intent and simultaneously render them into the visual language of signs using the mode of communication preferred by the deaf consumer. The interpreter must also be able to comprehend the signs, inflections and intent of the deaf consumer and simultaneously speak them in articulate, appropriate English. They must understand the cultures in which they work and apply that knowledge to promote effective cross-cultural communications. Unlike interpreters of spoken languages, where the speaker stops and waits for the interpreter to translate, Sign Language interpreters must be able to listen ahead and sign at the same time, because the hearing speaker does not pause and let them catch up.
Sign language interpreting is a rapidly expanding field. Schools, government agencies, and private businesses employ interpreters. Interpreters work in a variety of settings including medical, legal, religious, mental health, rehabilitation, performing arts, and business. Part-time, full-time, freelance and salaried positions are available in most metropolitan areas across the country.
There is a strong need for qualified interpreters with credentials. A majority of new interpreter training program graduates get jobs in the school systems, where they receive a full-time salary and benefits. Others work with interpreter referral agencies as freelance interpreters. This offers them flexibility in hours and job settings, but may not provide 40 hours per week in assignments. In general, the demand for interpreters is in medium-to-large cities. The more mobile you are, the more likely you are to find an interpreting job.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires the provision of qualified interpreters in a variety of settings. It states that "To satisfy this requirement, the interpreter must have the proven ability to effectively communicate..." One important measure of an interpreter's proven ability is professional credentials. Credentials are obtained by taking and passing an assessment of your skills. The National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) provides testing for national certification. Assessments by the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) and other state agencies may also be accepted by employers.
While you are not required to have a college degree in order to take an assessment (at this time...but the rules will change in the next couple of years), the background, skills development and theory learned in a recognized interpreter training program are extremely beneficial in getting your national certification. Upon completion of a good program, most graduates are able to pass the RID written exam. If you are active in the field and continue to upgrade your knowledge and skills, you should be able to pass the RID skills certification within three to five years.
You do not need to go through the RID and become nationally certified (the test is much more difficult). Each state has an evaluation process to be state certified. Click here to read about Michigan's Board of Evaluation of Interpreters (MI BEI) process and requirements.
Salaries will vary depending on many factors. These include a) geographical area (rural areas tend to pay less than urban areas), b) education, c) amount of experience, and d) credentials. Some interpreters work freelance and earn anywhere from $30/hour, but they may not be able to schedule a full forty hours per week. They do not get employee benefits. Other interpreters work for an agency, business, government organization or school system. Depending on many factors, these staff employees may earn anywhere between $20,000 - $60,000+ per year. You may want to call interpreter referral agencies and school systems to get specific information about the area of interpreting that interests you. Some highly skilled and credentialed interpreters, usually in metropolitan cities, can earn up to 72,000 a year; this includes nationally certified interpreters.
There are college and university programs around the country. A majority offers associate degrees in interpreting through their Interpreter Training Program (ITP), but the number of bachelor programs is growing. A handful of schools offer master degrees in interpreting. A list of programs is available at -- http://multilingualbooks.com/aslschools.html -- for a listing of programs by state. And don't forget, if you're just starting out, Deaf Expressions offers classes and tutoring. Can't forget that!!
That depends. To be a successful interpreter, you need a wide range of general knowledge. A degree is an important way to gain that knowledge. The higher the degree, the more diverse and complete your general knowledge will be. In many interpreting jobs in school systems, your salary is partly based on your degree. Interpreting is a very complex task and requires a high degree of fluency in two languages. Will you be able to master the language and the interpreting task during the length of the program you are considering?
In general, the more education a person can get, the better they will do. But, the quality of the education is important as well. Is the program up to date and well respected by the Deaf and interpreting communities? Are its faculty members affiliated with and actively involved in professional organizations? What kind of credentials do they have? Are the program graduates working in the field and getting their credentials? What kinds of resources are available to students and faculty? Answers to these questions may help you choose the right program for you.
NO! In this field, if someone is "certified" that means they have passed the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf written and performance tests. We want to stress that finishing a program does not guarantee that you will be able to get your certification. Most programs provide you with the knowledge and skills to begin pursuing an interpreting career. Completion of a program is more like a driver's permit that lets you operate in certain protected situations. Continued practice, participation in workshops and training experiences, and work with mentors will help prepare you to earn your certification.
The Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) is an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to proficient communication skill and general interpreter training, the CDI has specialized training and/or experience in the use of gesture, mime, props, drawings and other tools to enhance communication. The CDI has knowledge and understanding of deafness, the Deaf community, and Deaf culture. The CDI possesses native or near-native fluency in American Sign Language.
It is usually accepted that hearing persons who master Sign Language are children of Deaf adults (CODAs), also acronymed KODAs (Kids of Deaf Adults). Such persons are often employed as Sign Language interpreters. Since they interpreted for their parents at childhood, they usually do a good job of it. However, it is not necessary nor sufficient to be CODA in order to be a good Sign Language interpreter.
Great attitude and acceptance toward Deaf Culture are a big plus.
However, it's not just the attitude and acceptance that are important but also the hard work and dedication that an interpreter from a hearing family puts forth in learning about the language, culture, and the code of ethics of interpreters.
In one way it's more difficult for a hearing interpreter to learn about the language and culture and become involved because they have to create their own ties to the deaf people and become accepted by them; whereas, a CODA interpreter was born within the culture and already has been accepted. On the other hand, in many cases (not all, by no means), it's more difficult for a CODA interpreter to learn and adhere to the Code of Ethics since for many years growing up in the Deaf culture, they've had to interpret for their parents as a child without any Code of Ethics taught to them.
Interpreters of hearing families find the Code of Ethics easier to adopt. These are just some obstacles. Either of these obstacles by both interpreters can be overcome with the hard work, dedication, attitude and acceptance.
Some Deaf persons, who utilize the services of interpreters, noticed that:
Some interpreters totally ignore this kind of information.
At any case, those problems won't go away even if people (Deaf, deaf, HOH or hearing) pretend that they don't exist. Deaf persons can’t always monitor the quality of the interpretive service they receive. What can be done about this situation is another question.
When relying upon the services of interpreters, it is difficult for deaf people to gauge the quality of interpreting they receive. There are several cases of carelessness, laziness, misinterpreting, or omitting important information.
Those cases are found out, if at all, by one or more of the following means:
It can also be determined whether the interpreter asks the lecturer to slow down or repeat when the lecturer speaks too fast for the interpreter to keep up. Those interpreters who are modest, and don’t feel comfortable doing so, have suspect quality.
In the book, “Interpreting: An Introduction,” Nancy Fishberg explains that when the decision is made to involve an interpreter, the clients enter into an act of trust. They trust that the interpreter will be accurate and that the interpreter will admit or acknowledge when the situation requires skills, background, or preparation that he or she does not have. They trust that the interpreter will not become emotionally involved in the issues to the detriment of the interpretation. They trust that the interpreter will be discreet about the knowledge acquired during the interpretation or as a result of the interpreting situation.
People who perform interpretation and who violate the trust placed in them do a disservice not only to themselves, but to the whole of this growing profession. Since the profession is relatively young, and most of the occasions for people meeting an interpreter on the job are not in the public eye, a single interpreting assignment is an opportunity for enhancing the layperson's view of interpreters and interpretation.
The Code of Ethics drawn up by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) simply serves as a reminder of this trust, and as an encouragement for professional treatment of professional behavior. The following principles of ethical behavior protect and guide the interpreter/transliterator, the consumers (hearing and deaf/HOH), and the profession as well as ensures for all the right to communicate.
1. Confidentiality - Interpreters shall not reveal information about any assignment, including the fact that the service is being performed. Even seemingly unimportant information could be damaging in the wrong hands. Therefore, to avoid this possibility, interpreters must not say anything about any assignment. In cases where meetings or information becomes a matter of public record, the interpreter shall use discretion in discussing such meetings or information. This includes information about name, gender, age, etc of the consumer, day of week, time of day, time of year the situation took place, location (including city state or agency), other people involved, and basically unnecessary specifics about the situation.
2. Accuracy - The interpreter shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content and the spirit of the speaker, using language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they serve. Interpreters are not editors and must transmit everything that is said in exactly the same way it was intended. This is especially difficult when the interpreter disagrees with what is being said or feels uncomfortable when profanity is being used. Interpreters must remember that they are not at all responsible for what is said, only for conveying it accurately. If the interpreter's own feelings interfere with rendering the message accurately, he or she shall withdrawal from the situation.
3. Impartiality - The interpreter shall not counsel, advise, or interject personal opinions. Just as interpreters may not omit anything that is said, they may not add anything to the situation, even when they are asked to do so by other parties involved. An interpreter is only present in a given situation because two or more people have difficulty communicating, and thus the interpreter's only function is to facilitate communication. He/she shall not become personally involved, because in doing so, he/she accepts some responsibility for the outcome, which does not rightly belong to the interpreter.
4. Proficiency - The interpreter shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and the consumers involved. Interpreters shall only accept assignments for which they are qualified. However, when an interpreter shortage exists and the only available interpreter does not possess the necessary skill for a particular assignment, this situation should be explained to the consumer. If the consumers agree that services are needed regardless of their skill level, then the available interpreter will have to use his/her judgment about accepting or rejecting the assignment. Certain situations may prove uncomfortable for some interpreters and clients. Religious, political, racial or sexual differences, etc., can adversely affect the facilitating task. Therefore, an interpreter shall not accept assignments that he/she knows will involve such situations.
Interpreters shall generally refrain from providing services in situations where family members, close personal relationships, or professional relationships may affect impartiality, since it is difficult to mask inner feelings. Under these circumstances, especially in legal and medical situations, the ability to prove oneself unbiased when challenged is lessened.
5. Compensation for services - Interpreters shall request compensation for services in a professional and judicious manner. They shall be knowledgeable about fees that are appropriate to the profession, and be informed about the current suggested fee schedule of the national organization. A sliding scale of hourly and daily rates has been established for interpreters in many areas. To determine the appropriate fee, interpreters should know their own level of skill, level of certification, length of experience, nature of the assignment, and the local cost of living index.
6. Discreetness - Interpreters shall function in a manner appropriate to the situation. They shall conduct themselves in such a manner that brings respect to themselves, the consumers, and the national organization. The term 'appropriate manner' refers to: (a) dressing in a manner that is appropriate for skin tone and is not distracting and (b) conducting oneself in all phases of an assignment in a manner befitting a professional.
7. Continuing Education - Interpreters shall strive to further knowledge and skills through participation in workshops, professional meetings, interaction with professional colleagues, and reading current literature in the field.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that interpreting for a culturally Deaf person is different from interpreting for a late deafened adult. Interpreting for a hard of hearing individual is not the same as interpreting for profoundly deaf person. Each interpreting situation will present its own set of challenges and differences. Older Deaf tend to do subtler signing and more fingerspelling than younger Deaf. Each interpreting job will be a learning experience.