- Tytuł:
- A professional paradox : the (un)equal balance of the rights and duties of signed language interpreters in Poland
- Autorzy:
-
Kalata-Zawłocka, Aleksandra
Koziol, Michał - Opis:
- The practice of signed language interpreting in Poland is still subject to ongoing professionalisation processes. The place and status of signed language interpreters are poorly defined both in the national legal regulations and in the common awareness of the hearing as well as Deaf people. It starts with education - interpreters are needed in increasingly demanding situations and settings, yet they have very few opportunities for professional development. They are expected to provide professional services of the highest quality, but with no certification system in place, no quality control is possible. With accessibility being an important issue in Poland, many online events are interpreted into signed language, yet Deaf people struggle to book an interpreter for an in-person medical appointment. In order to work in legal settings, spoken language interpreters must possess highly specialised knowledge and extraordinary language skills which have been confirmed by a state exam, whereas signed language interpreters are appointed to work as expert witnesses based on their experience and recommendations. Throughout our article, we would like to reflect on the current positionality and status of signed language interpreters in Poland from legal, social, and professional perspectives. We will focus on specific paradoxes of the profession consisting of the ambiguous definition of the role of signed language interpreters, and inequalities in terms of their rights and duties, expectations, and benefits.
- Dostawca treści:
- Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Inne