An exploration of culture among professional sign language interpreters

Abstract

This secondary data analysis was an ethnographic study to explore culture among five professional sign language interpreters. Subjects were recruited based on the following criteria, greater than five years as a sign language interpreter, currently involved in sign language interpreting and have the time and interest to participate in the study. King's general systems framework was modified to provide the organizing conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected using ethnographic interviews and analyzed using the ethnoscience method outlined in the development research sequence by Spradley. Findings from the ethnographic analysis identified five significant domains: kinds of interpreting, native terms, kinds of attitudes about interpreters, stages of interpreters, qualities of a good interpreter. The overall cultural theme of professional sign language interpreters was staying hearing while being in the deaf world.