Interpreters who use American Sign Language (ASL) are essential in bridging the communication gaps between the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community and non-sign language users. Their work guarantees that Deaf people have equal access to opportunities, services, and information. However, heavy ethical obligations are associated with this important role and the requirement to maintain strict professional standards. ASL interpreters have many ethical responsibilities, including maintaining confidentiality, accuracy, impartiality, and professionalism. The integrity of the field, as well as the confidence and welfare of the Deaf community, depend on upholding these standards. This article explores the moral issues that ASL interpreters should be aware of and offers advice on upholding standards of professionalism in a variety of interpreting situations.
Confidentiality
A fundamental aspect of the interpreting profession is confidentiality. Whether in a courtroom, a medical setting, an educational setting, or during personal conversations, ASL interpreters frequently deal with private and sensitive information. Interpreters have an ethical obligation to maintain confidentiality, which requires them to refrain from sharing any information they learn from their assignments with outside parties.
This duty includes refraining from discussing specifics of the interpreting session with friends, family, or even coworkers unless doing so is required for professional mentoring or supervision.
Interpreters should adhere to the rules established by professional associations like the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) to protect confidentiality. The significance of safeguarding the privacy of all parties concerned is emphasized by these guidelines. In healthcare settings, interpreters are required to adhere to pertinent laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Confidentiality is further guaranteed by using best practices, such as avoiding needless note-taking or document-related retention when interpreting assignments.
Accuracy and Completeness
For ASL interpreters, accuracy and completeness of the interpreted messages are basic ethical requirements. Their main objective is to accurately communicate the message without adding, subtracting, or changing any of the content. This entails interpreting the text while also maintaining the original message’s subtleties, tone, and intent. The source and target languages, as well as the cultural contexts in which they are used, must be thoroughly understood by interpreters.
To attain precision, one must pursue ongoing professional growth. To improve their language abilities, stay current on terminology, and become familiar with specialized vocabulary in various fields like technology, law, and medicine, interpreters should pursue continual education. To find areas for improvement, interpreters should also ask mentors and peers for feedback. When working on assignments, interpreters can maintain high standards of accuracy and thoroughness by using self-monitoring techniques.
Impartiality
Another crucial ethical factor for ASL interpreters to consider is impartiality. They must avoid adding their own opinions or otherwise influencing the conversation, and they must maintain their objectivity and neutrality. This is especially crucial in circumstances where the parties may have competing interests, like in a political or legal context. Non-verbal indicators such as body language and facial expressions should also be avoided by interpreters as they may be interpreted as taking sides.
Interpreters should follow a code of conduct that prioritizes neutrality to maintain impartiality. In addition, before taking on an assignment, they ought to be aware of any possible conflicts of interest and notify the proper parties of them. For example, an interpreter ought to decline a job offer if they are personally close to one of the participants or if they have strong beliefs regarding the subject. Maintaining professional boundaries and focusing solely on the task of interpreting helps ensure that all parties receive fair and unbiased communication.
Professionalism
Photo by Mikhail Nilov
An interpreter’s commitment to upholding moral principles and providing high-quality service is reflected in a variety of behaviors and attitudes that make up professionalism. This entails being on time, being organized, dressing appropriately, and acting politely around clients and coworkers. ASL interpreters need to project an image of themselves as trustworthy, knowledgeable individuals who can be relied upon to carry out their jobs efficiently.
An essential component of professionalism is preparation. Interpreters should obtain comprehensive information about the assignment in advance, such as the subjects to be covered, the Deaf client’s preferences, and any specialized terminology that may be employed. This enables them to provide an interpretation that is precise and fluid. Furthermore, keeping oneself presentable and acting professionally cultivates respect and trust from clients and coworkers.
Maintaining professionalism also requires ongoing professional development. ASL interpreters ought to look for training and educational opportunities, take part in conferences and workshops, and keep up with developments in the industry. Acquiring membership in professional associations like RID grants access to networks and resources that facilitate continuous learning and development.
Reflective practice, in which interpreters seek out constructive criticism and assess their work regularly, is another way that interpreters advance their careers.
Cultural Competence
For ASL interpreters, cultural competency is a crucial ethical consideration. The cultural norms and values of the Deaf community, as well as the cultural backgrounds of the hearing people they assist, require interpreters to exercise sensitivity. This calls for acknowledging and valuing variations in social mores, cultural customs, and communication etiquette.
Interpreters who want to become culturally competent should immerse themselves in the Deaf community by attending events and interacting with Deaf people.
This first-hand experience offers insightful information about the subtle cultural differences that affect communication. Furthermore, interpreters ought to familiarize themselves with the various cultural backgrounds of their clients, acknowledging that cultural nuances can impact the interpretation and comprehension of messages.
Additionally, interpreters ought to be conscious of and take steps to lessen their cultural prejudices. Their self-awareness enables them to offer interpretations that are more accurate and suitable for the target culture. Interpreters can create a courteous and inclusive communication environment by showing respect for all cultural viewpoints.
Ethical Decision-Making
Making ethical decisions is a dynamic process that calls on interpreters to navigate challenging circumstances and reach decisions that are consistent with their professional ethics. Interpreters frequently have to weigh conflicting moral principles in morally difficult situations. An interpreter may have to choose, for example, whether to violate confidentiality to protect others or how to respond when their objectivity is questioned.
Interpreters can use established frameworks, like the RID Code of Professional Conduct, to help them make moral decisions. This code offers direction on fundamental ideals and concepts, assisting interpreters in weighing their options and selecting morally righteous courses of action. Seeking advice from peers, mentors, or ethics committees can offer invaluable insights and assistance when faced with challenging choices.
Interpreters should record the considerations they took into account and the reasoning behind their decisions in their decision-making process. This openness shows a dedication to moral behavior and fosters accountability. Through consistent practice and learning from previous encounters, interpreters can gradually improve their ability to make moral decisions.
Conclusion
ASL interpreting is a profession that requires ethical considerations to ensure that interpreters offer the Deaf and hearing communities fair, courteous, and high-quality services. It takes constant work and dedication to uphold professional standards in confidentiality, accuracy, impartiality, professionalism, cultural competence, and moral decision-making. ASL interpreters can promote trust, respect, and efficient communication by abiding by these moral guidelines. In the end, this will help Deaf people become more empowered and integrated into society on all fronts.
For those who are looking for additional support, Unspoken Language Services offers interpreting services to help bridge the communication gap between the deaf and hearing communities.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Moose Photos
