Ethics of spoken and signed language conference interpreters. A synchronic and diachronic perspective

This paper explores the attitudes of both spoken and signed language interpreters towards professional ethics from a synchronic and diachronic perspective. A synchronic perspective will enable a comparison of the ethical principles imposed by the codes of ethics with actual views presented by the examined interpreters, meanwhile a diachronic perspective will show a progressive perception of particular ethical principles by these interpreters in epidemiological circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. In other words, the study is expected to show, first, whether the professionals apply the ethical obligations and prohibitions literally or loosely depending on the interactional context, and secondly, whether the professionals’ reading of the ethical principles has been subject to any shifts resulting from a transition from on-site to remote working during the pandemic. The study will be based on a mixed, quantitative and qualitative approach. By means of an online survey we will examine the interpreters’ perception of adequacy and applicability of the existing ethical rules of quality, confidentiality, team-work and accessibility, they have been familiar with prior to the advent of COVID-19, in situations of remote as opposed to on-site interpreting. The survey will be followed by five focus groups structured around the same issues but discussed (either on-site or virtually) on a more in-depth level. Three experimental focus groups will involve: (1) spoken language interpreters, (2) hearing interpreters of Polish Sign Language, and (3) deaf interpreters of Polish Sign Language, and two control groups will include (4) students of the interpreting section at the Institute of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw and (5) students of PJM philology, University of Warsaw. A professional experience will be a variable in these five groups. Taking this basic variable into account, further comparison of the above-mentioned groups is planned on three levels: (1) language differences: spoken language interpreters vs. hearing and deaf signed language interpreters, (2) cultural and social differences: spoken and signed language hearing interpreters vs. deaf interpreters, and (3) differences deriving from experience: professional vs. novice interpreters. Based on our previous experiments in the field, this analysis is expected to show both similarities and differences between the two modes of interpreting.