TerpTopics: HOW TO BECOME An Introduction to ASL and Sign Language Interpreting

The profession of sign language interpreting is relatively new and there is a serious shortage of qualified interpreters.

Sign language interpreting can be a very rewarding career. Interpreters facilitate communication between people who hear and people who do not hear or do not hear well and use sign language.

Interpreters have opportunities to meet people from all walks of life, and experience a vast array of work settings, including schools, medical care facilities, corporate board rooms and offices, theaters, and places of worship.

Interpreters might be self-employed or might be employed by a business or public agency, and so on.

Interpreters might be generalists - working in a variety of settings on a regular basis, or might be specialists - working in a single type of setting, such as education, the courts (judicial), or might work exclusively with one deaf professional (actor or business executive, perhaps), or group limited to a few specific professionals (attorney's or doctor's office, perhaps) - such interpreters are called designated interpreters (DI).

A career in interpreting is not for everyone. It requires a great deal of knowledge, an appreciation of cultural and other diversity, and tremendous language abilities. Interpreters must have excellent decision-making skills, in addition to well developed interpersonal skills and the ability to focus and maintain concentration. Perhaps one of the most important qualities of successful interpreters is the ability to adapt to change quickly, easily, and without a great deal of ado - practitioners must be flexible.

Check the resources at the bottom of this page, and throughout this site, for more information.
Be especially sure to check BOOKS, DVDs, MOVIES, and VOCABULARY.

ASL/English interpreters must be fluent in both languages. Fluency in a third language, such as Spanish, is especially marketable, but the minimum is two languages. Interpreters must have a very good vocabulary (including idiomatic expressions) with high-level language facility that encompasses the five registers of speech. Knowledge and use of correct grammar for both languages is essential, as is knowledge of various colloquialisms.

Prejudice, particularly audism, is not amenable to successful and satisfying relationships. Pity has no place in an interpreter's approach to the job. If you feel that you are better than, more capable than, or in any way to be preferred over someone who happens to be deaf, please look elsewhere for career.

To become a sign language interpreter is to become part of the deaf community. Obviously, interpreters are not deaf* and are not welcomed as Deaf into the community; however, as a frequently appearing fixture in deaf life, the interpreter's role within the community includes those of ally, advocate, and service provider. Interpreters must have a broad knowledge of deaf history and Deaf culture, including the history of American Sign Language.

There is a shortage of secondary schools offering certificates or degrees in sign language interpreting. Pathways to the profession are generally flexible. Here are some of the options:

Interpreter Training Program (ITP)
An ITP is a formal program of study ending with a certificate or a degree in interpreting.

* The exception to this is the Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI). For information about deaf interpreters, click here.

This page was edited: 09/23/2009
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