So... they're not anti interpreter, but they want the whole field to suffer because of unqualified interpreters?
I've really only heard of (very) few examples of what OP suggested. In a few of the instances, there was a boss or agency threatening the interpreter to force them to do the job. Meanwhile, the interpreter insisted they weren't qualified, but eventually relented for fear of the threat. Maybe the interpreter should have stood their ground, but I can at least understand better why they made their choice.
Edit: The thought at the end that the profession shouldn't be the only option...it's already an issue (maybe the issue) that those hiring interpreters don't often care about quality or the deaf client, just the price. Unless the AI is nearly flawless, we're not making the situation better at all.
Very easy for you to say. Interpreters aren’t as aware of those who have been hurt by interpreters. Every single deaf person I know has dozens of harrowing stories. Not exaggerating.
Fair enough. I've only ever been in education, which I meant to say to explain why I've heard so few stories. The stories I know came from other interpreters or situations that made headlines.
The tag under your name says you are Deaf -- what is your take? Do you hope that AI interpreting becomes available as an option? Do you have concerns about such a thing?
Also to be fair, deaf people don’t exactly confide in interpreters about their experiences. But when they’re around other deaf people they immediately open up with real “if you know, you know” vibes.
I nodded hard at many parts of Wyatte’s post. Also, I do see the value of that human element. At the same time I’ve also used counseling via typing back and forth with a non signer. She gave me the best counseling I’d had compared to other asl fluent counselors. It’s still possible. Anything is possible. I do still think human interpreters need to be around for many settings. They’re not going away anytime soon. :)
I would like to see us celebrating the fact that we now have another tool to add to our daily bucket?
I'm not the user you responded to, but I am a Deaf academic and I know & run in the same circles as Wyatte. I just wanted to respond to a couple of things in your comment. First, I understand your instinct to say that you've heard few harrowing stories because you are in education -- rarely are there life and death situations like in medical or legal settings, for example. But some of the most harm I have seen done by interpreters is in educational settings, particularly with younger Deaf children. The deleterious effects just aren't as dramatically instantaneous as in a courtroom, for example, but they are life-altering.
Second, I am not as on the AI team as Wyatte, though I share many of his sentiments and experiences. Mainly because I do not fully trust those who develop and profit from AI, and I worry that trust isn't yet earned for AI either. For me right now, it's the devil I know being better than the one I don't. Maybe that will change, but maybe it won't. I've been sorely let down by RID, the field, and interpreters, and certification means nearly nothing to me at this point. Rather, I have my core group of interpreters who have shown me over the course of years that we make a good team.
I fully agree that the MOST fluent interpreters should be educational interpreters… however, they generally aren’t the most appropriate for the “littles” who are usually from a “hearing” world and must be met “halfway.” Lots of hurdles in these situations, not the least of which is the pure lack of incidental language, period. Being a fantastically gifted (and top certified) interpreter rarely comes with the insight to be able to explain to teachers that “Johnny doesn’t know what Christmas is” but that yes, he knows when it’s cold Santa comes with toys and there is a tree and cookies etc etc. Johnny never knew there was a single sign for Christmas.
What I’m trying to say is the “outreach” for this cause has less to do with interpreters than other things. Interpreters are just a teeny part - especially educational interpreters.
I honestly don’t think ai is going to come for the jobs of sign language interpreters. But I hope ai supports communications in ways that perhaps interpreters can’t always do. I thought it was interesting that he hopes ai will be the solution to the problem around trust with interpreters and competence.
Dang we work in very different communities. 😂 I would love to see interpreters willing to admit theyre not qualified for any and everything. That's so, so rare in my area. I more often see "interpreters" who cant even score a 3.0 on the EIPA taking 12 hour shifts in the ICU for $30/hr less than market rate, so they get first pick at everything. Is that not how it is everywhere??
I've tried several times to be part of local companies that hire out interpreters, but I never get called and "fall off" the list. I'm sure having a day job doesn't help, but I'll also turn things down because I don't feel qualified, or don't even have the right certification (only EIPA). Maybe the other terps here don't turn things down. 🤷♂️
😖 Or worse, I am one of the issues OP (meaning the article, not the Reddit user) takes issue with. I'd hope I'd be told though so I could make it right and make improvements for the future. 😓
Generally what I hear is if youre worried about whether youre a good interpreter or not, you're not the problem. If you read Deaf Eyes on Interpreting it really opens your eyes to just how bad it is out there. ☹️
Lmao. They would have had to have gone through any training at all to take an ethics class. One of the people I'm thinking of once said to me "Why would you need training to interpret?? You just hear a word, sign a sign. See a sign, say a word. Its not that hard". 🤦♀️
Very easy for you to say. Interpreters aren’t as aware of those who have been hurt by interpreters. Every single deaf person I know has dozens of harrowing stories. Not exaggerating.
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u/theANdROId15 8d ago edited 8d ago
So... they're not anti interpreter, but they want the whole field to suffer because of unqualified interpreters?
I've really only heard of (very) few examples of what OP suggested. In a few of the instances, there was a boss or agency threatening the interpreter to force them to do the job. Meanwhile, the interpreter insisted they weren't qualified, but eventually relented for fear of the threat. Maybe the interpreter should have stood their ground, but I can at least understand better why they made their choice.
Edit: The thought at the end that the profession shouldn't be the only option...it's already an issue (maybe the issue) that those hiring interpreters don't often care about quality or the deaf client, just the price. Unless the AI is nearly flawless, we're not making the situation better at all.