Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate what interpreters for the Deaf perceive as self-care and how much time they engage in self-care per week. This study takes a holistic approach to looking at interpreters for the Deaf who work in the field and what their practices of self-care are. Self-care was examined within the context of the physical and emotional impacts of interpreting.
I approached this study from inside the profession by asking a sample of nineteen interpreters to participate. Other published works make recommendations for interpreters; however, this study looks at activities interpreters participate in that focus on self-care to sustain balance between their career and personal lives.
This study reveals that interpreters identify self-care as the physical need to exercise, stretch, or receive bodywork. When interpreters were asked about self-care, only one mentioned the moral support of colleagues, debriefing, or peer review. Many who participated stated that they would like to take part in more identified acts of self-care and believe that doing so would be beneficial in avoiding injury and promote longevity in the field.
The findings that emerged from this study exposed the fact that many interpreters benefit from debriefing with colleagues. Further investigation could uncover why interpreters do not consider speaking with their colleagues as a form of self-care. The main reason they do not consider debriefing self-care could be because of the Code of Professional Conduct set forth by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), and professional practices around confidentiality (NAD RID, 2005).
Exit Requirement
Thesis
Date of Award
4-11-2013
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies
Committee Chair
Elisa Maroney
Committee Member
Amanda R. Smith
Committee Member
Cindy Volk
Keywords
Self-Care, Interpreting for the Deaf, Compassion Fatigue, Injury while interpreting
Language
eng
Type (DCMI Terms)
Text
Subject Categories
Special Education and Teaching
Recommended Citation
Zenizo, A. L. (2013). Self-care in the field of interpreting (master's thesis). Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/theses/3
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