So You Want to Be an Interpreter?

So You Want to Be an Interpreter? serves as a comprehensive guide for aspiring sign language interpreters, covering both technical skills and professional development. The book outlines the path to becoming a certified interpreter while addressing the cultural and ethical responsibilities of working between Deaf and hearing communities. The text includes sections on ASL linguistics, translation theory, and strategies for managing real-world interpreting scenarios. Humphries draws from decades of experience to present case studies and practical exercises that demonstrate key concepts and techniques. The work goes beyond mere skill instruction to examine the interpreter's role as a cultural mediator and advocate. Through this lens, the book explores themes of identity, power dynamics, and cross-cultural communication within the field of sign language interpretation.

Most readers report using this as a required textbook in ASL interpreter training programs. Students appreciate the practical information about the field, ethics scenarios, and clear explanations of interpreter roles. Several reviewers noted the book helped them understand the business aspects of interpreting careers. Liked: - Real-world examples and case studies - Coverage of both signed and spoken language interpreting - Professional development guidance - Accessible writing style Disliked: - High price for a paperback ($80-100) - Some outdated content in older editions - Limited coverage of modern technology/remote interpreting - Not enough practice exercises Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (34 ratings) One student reviewer noted: "This book prepared me for situations I later encountered as a working interpreter." Multiple readers mentioned the ethics chapter as particularly valuable, though some wanted more in-depth discussion of complex scenarios.

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The Professional Interpreter by Holly Mikkelson The book covers interpreting techniques, consecutive and simultaneous methods, and professional standards for court and conference interpreters.

Note-Taking for Consecutive Interpreting by Andrew Gillies This guide demonstrates note-taking systems and memory techniques used by professional interpreters in real-world settings.

Conference Interpreting: A Student's Practice Book by Andrew Gillies The text provides exercises and practice scenarios for developing simultaneous and consecutive interpreting skills.

Ethics and Standards for The Community Interpreter by Marjory Bancroft This resource examines ethical decision-making frameworks and professional boundaries for interpreters working in community settings.

🔹 Tom Humphries is a deaf scholar who co-authored several influential books on Deaf culture and American Sign Language, bringing important perspectives from within the Deaf community. 🔹 The first edition of this book was published in 1980, making it one of the earliest comprehensive guides for aspiring sign language interpreters. 🔹 The book addresses not just technical skills but also the complex ethical considerations interpreters face when serving as a bridge between Deaf and hearing cultures. 🔹 Sign language interpretation requires processing information in two languages simultaneously while also managing cultural mediation, making it one of the most cognitively demanding forms of translation. 🔹 The title became a standard text in many interpreter training programs and helped establish professional standards in the field of sign language interpretation.