Ethics and Best Practices: Essential Elements of the Interpreting Profession

Ethics are essential in every profession. Whether we realize it or not, we incorporate them into our daily routine. Without ethics in our profession, there would be no order nor consistency nor quality of service. Interpreting involves more than knowing the principles of a code of ethics. The interpreter must understand the speaker’s intent so that it is not misrepresented to the target audience. Therefore, incorporating best practices and having clear guidelines to adhere to ethical principles will prevent ambiguity and promote sustainability.

Understanding the importance of a code of ethics and its principles is just the beginning. Interpreters must adhere to protocols and guidelines, but sometimes more is needed for a successful rendition. Having and demonstrating emotional intelligence, also known as soft skills, will enhance the interpreted encounter. This is the human element portrayed with linguistics, which will make the encounter authentic. This presentation will focus on the interconnectedness of ethics and best practices and demonstrate how employing emotional intelligence is necessary for the success of the interpreting encounter.

Key takeaways:

• Demonstrate how interpreting is a principle-centered profession.
• Discuss the correlation and execution between best practices and ethics.
• Explore how emotional intelligence facilitates the implementation of ethics and best practices in the interpreted encounter.