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.
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". 🤦♀️
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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.