Ethics in Public Service Interpreting

Ethics is a moral, philosophical, cultural and professional issue and it is an issue that specifically impacts on interpreting. The challenge and complexity of Public Service Interpreting (PSI) lies in the fact that the professions where public services interpreting is employed- the health sector, law, education and social services, have their own ethical guidelines and objectives which interpreters must navigate and which may not coincide with the interpreting profession.

This ground-breaking text offers a comprehensive discussion in issues surrounding PSI. Scenarios are discussed in the light of the various background variables and various options are suggested that might be taken, discussing each option in the light of its consequences for the communicative event and for clients and service providers. This volume is highly innovative in that it provides the reader with not just a theoretical basis to explain why underlying ethical dilemmas are so common in the field, but provides the reader with guidelines that are explained and discussed at length and illustrated with examples.

The book serves as both an explanatory and informative core text for students and as a guide or reference book for interpreter trainees as well as for professional interpreters.