Attitudes of American Deaf Leaders toward Sign Language Interpreters

Sign language interpreting is one of the primary
support services for deaf people. This study
presentation is based on American deaf leaders
cumulative response to Forestal s national attitude
survey in 2000. Approximately 400 deaf leaders
completed a demographic questionnaire including
items related to their experiences with
interpreters.

Older leaders were inclined to show gratitude and
appreciation for interpreters, whereas younger
leaders possessed a strong tendency to criticize or
complain about interpreters. Age, education and
frequency of use of interpreters were personal
characteristics of deaf leaders in relation to
attitudes, whereas negative experiences and
satisfaction with interpreters were experiential
characteristics based on their direct relation to
the interpreting interaction. Relevant questions may
be as follows: Is mainstream education a factor for
the shift of attitudes? Why is interpreter
competency important? How can the quality of
interpreting improve for the dual benefit of
American deaf people and the interpreting profession?