Date of Award

5-2022

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies and Communication Equity

Department

ASL & Interpreting

First Advisor

Justin Small

Department/School

ASL and Interpreting

Abstract

Much of the standard interpreting practice is dependent on an interpreter’s certification level. As a result, many interpreters find themselves at assignments for which they are not qualified. This study aimed to identify what differences in error rates - if any - were present between interpreting samples from certified and non-certified interpreters of similar experience levels. In a sample of ten interpreters with less than five years of professional interpreting experience, split evenly between certified and non-certified, each provided an unrehearsed interpretation of the same stimulus to be analyzed. The sample was rated against a rubric measuring knowledge-lean interpreting skills as identified by Taylor (2002) (2018). The study found only a slight difference in mean error rate, but certified interpreters produced less variance in their interpreting scores indicating that certification may be a way to identify interpreters whose accuracy remains consistent. Due to the small sample size of this study and limited scope, further research is highly recommended to learn more about sign language interpreter certification.

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