AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

What Defines a Professional? Entry to professional practice of the interpreting profession, compared to different professions

Abstract

From the resources read, I found the following pattern in the three professions that I researched. Each study had a different method; quantitative for (Branch, W. 2010) and (Merithew and Johnson, 2005) and more qualitative for (MacNeil and Way, 2007) and (Napier, 2004). Even though, the methods were different, there was a clear message across all of the studies completed. That it is imperative to bridge the gap from graduation to a practicing professional. The track currently set up for Doctors, Nurses and Interpreters vary tremendously. Doctors and nurses require years of intense training and on-the-job practice and evaluation before they can achieve their license. The role of the Interpreter does not come across in the research as vital as the other professions. The opinion of the consumer is that the Interpreter is just that of a communication bridge, not an important of the pieces of the puzzle to communicate effectively and in a professional setting. Why is there a difference in the entry-to-professional for Interpreters compared to different professions? I hope to answer that question in my following research paper.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Literature Review5

Method6

Result7

Discussion8

References10

Appendix11

What Defines a Professional? Entry to professional practice of the interpreting profession, compared to different professions

Introduction

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-gestural language that used by most of the deaf community in the United States and in Canada. ASL is a natural language with a structure quite different from spoken English. It is not a manual-gestural representation of spoken English, nor is it pantomime. Instead, ASL is a rich language, with all of the properties of spoken natural languages, but one that has developed independently of and differently from English. Embraced by both reformers and dissenters in deaf education, the role of ASL in the education of deaf students characterized by conflict and controversy. This situation has existed throughout the history of deaf education in America (Napier, 2004).

The present research paper provides a discussion of the different expectations of the Interpreting field to other professions such as doctors and nurses. Specifically, what are the entry-to-professional practices? The core of this paper is to represent the different qualifications and expectations dependent on the field of study. What exactly is a professional? Who decides the qualifications of a professional? What is the track required for a graduate to become a professional? All of these questions will become clear and left to your opinion based on the study. I hope to open mind to additional resources for the Interpreting/Consumer community based on this research. The differences should be clear that the Interpreting profession needs more standardized requirements for employment based on unfavorable risk to high-risk situations. A church interpreter that has taken a few classes to learn American Sign Language should not be in the operating room helping a friend communicate through surgery. They do not know what they do not know (Branch, 2010).

Literature Review

The goal of educators throughout the history of ...