Interpreter's Professionalism and Identity Work in Agencies: A Discursive Perspective

Abstract

The present article explores how professionalism is redefined by agency managers through a set of corporate rules and protocols, which ultimately affect interpreters’ understanding of their professional identity. It draws upon the body of literature on identity work and the concept of professionalism in sociological studies. Findings based on ethnographic fieldwork show that while management can have an influence on work practices, it does not necessarily undermine the discretion of interpreters or conflict with their professional activities. The majority of the managerial procedures are formulated in order to clarify role boundaries and increase inter-professional recognition, thus having the potential to enhance the professional status of public service interpreting (PSI) by building the very institutional infrastructure that this profession genuinely needs.