Standards Of Practice

Question 1

Standard 1:
The community interpreter should use professional discretion to avoid sharing personal information disclosed by participants, even when that information was disclosed at a public event.

Answer 1

Confidentiality

Question 2

Standard 2:

The community interpreter should honor confidentiality indefinitely.

Answer 2

Confidentiality

Question 3

Standard 3:
The community interpreter should take additional steps to maintain confidentiality when information pertaining to an interpreter session is shared with other parties through the use of computers, electronic mail, fax machines, telephones, voicemail, and other technology.

Answer 3

Confidentiality

Question 4

Standard 4:
The community interpreter should not disclose private information, unless one of four conditions pertain:
a) The service user has given explicit permission (preferably in writing) for disclosure of that information;
b) A law, statute, legal requirement, or workplace requirement compels the interpreter to disclose otherwise confidential information;
c) The interpreter has signed an agency or inter-agency confidentiality agreement permitting the interpreter and a group of service providers to communicate information with one another about the service user; and/or
d) The information disclosed is relevant for the service being provided and/or the service user’s health, well-being, or safety; it follows institutional regulations for the service being provided; and the interpreter discloses it only to a member of the treatment team or service team working with the same service user.

Answer 4

Confidentiality

Question 5

Standard 5:
The community interpreter should take the necessary steps to be informed about the terms and conditions for mandatory disclosure in his/her country and within the organizations where he/she interprets

Answer 5

Confidentiality

Question 6

Standard 6:

The community interpreter should interpret everything, including vulgar language and nonsensical statements.

Answer 6

Accuracy

Question 7

Standard 7:

The community interpreter should make every effort to maintain the style, tone, and register of the speaker.

Answer 7

Accuracy

Question 8

Standard 8:
The community interpreter should correct interpreting errors during or after the interpreted session, whether orally or in writing.

Answer 8

Accuracy

Question 9

Standard 9:
The community interpreter should interpret in the mode that enables the greatest clarity and accuracy with the least distraction.

Answer 9

Accuracy

Question 10

Standard 10:

The community interpreter should refrain from taking sides during the interpreted session.

Answer 10

Impartiality

Question 11

Standard 11:

The community interpreter should avoid offering opinions or advice, even when requested to do so.

Answer 11

Impartiality

Question 12

Standard 12:
The community interpreter should, when interpreting, let his or her tone of voice, body language, and demeanor reflect the speaker’s feelings, not the interpreter’s.

Answer 12

Impartiality

Question 13

Standard 13:
The community interpreter should consider declining or withdrawing from an assignment if her or his faith, ethnic group, tribal, political, or other affiliation may be perceived as unduly influencing her or his impartiality.

Answer 13

Impartiality

Question 14

Standard 14:

The community interpreter should declare all actual and potential conflicts of interest.

Answer 14

Impartiality

Question 15

Standard 15:
The community interpreter, while avoiding taking sides during the interpretive session, may consider reporting a service provider who is breaking the law or violating his or her professional ethics to an appropriate supervisor or an institution of justice.

Answer 15

Impartiality

Question 16

Standard 16:
The community interpreter should interpret everything that is stated during the interpreted session whenever possible, including his or her own utterances.

Answer 16

Transparency

Question 17

Standard 17:

The community interpreter should make sure all parties know that everything that is stated will be interpreted.

Answer 17

Transparency

Question 18

Standard 18:

The community interpreter should inform the parties whenever he or she has had to summarize or omit part of the session.

Answer 18

Transparency

Question 19

Standard 19:

The community interpreter, when intervening, should inform all parties that he or she is speaking as the interpreter.

Answer 19

Transparency

Question 20

Standard 20:
The community interpreter should refrain from becoming an active participant in the communication and should intervene only when a major barrier to communication emerges.

Answer 20

Direct communication

Question 21

Standard 21:
The community interpreter should make every effort to ensure that all parties communicate directly with each other and not the interpreter.

Answer 21

Direct communication

Question 22

Standard 22:
The community interpreter should remain attentive to possible misunderstandings, including his or her own potential misunderstandings arising from misconceptions, biases, or prejudices.

Answer 22

Direct communication

Question 23

Standard 23:
The community interpreter should, whenever necessary, offer professional guidance on how to support direct communication.

Answer 23

Direct communication

Question 24

Standard 24:
The community interpreter should limit his or her assistance to facilitating communication and refrain from engaging in other types of assistance or support, even when requested to do so by the service users or provider.

Answer 24

Professional boundaries

Question 25

Standard 25:
The community interpreter, who simultaneously holds other professional or voluntary responsibilities should, during the interpretive session, limit his or her role to interpreting, even when requested to perform additional duties.

Answer 25

Professional boundaries

Question 26

Standard 26:
The community interpreter should, wherever feasible, avoid personal, business, or romantic entanglements with the service user.

Answer 26

Professional boundaries

Question 27

Standard 27:
The community interpreter should point out cultural differences that service users or service providers have not identified themselves when they appear to be barriers to meaningful communication.

Answer 27

Intercultural communication

Question 28

Standard 28:
The community interpreter should refrain from providing cultural explanations and instead direct parties to seek relevant cultural information from each other.

Answer 28

Intercultural communication

Question 29

Standard 29:
The community interpreter should show respect for all parties while interpreting and when identifying and pointing out cultural differences and misunderstandings.

Answer 29

Intercultural communication

Question 30

Standard 30:
The community interpreter should never make statements about the service user or the service provider’s cultural beliefs or intentions.

Answer 30

Intercultural communication

Question 31

Standard 31:
The community interpreter should provide his or her explanation of a cultural difference or cultural misunderstanding only when such misunderstanding does not appear to be resolvable by the parties themselves and is likely to jeopardize a service user’s health or safety, or to jeopardize public safety.

Answer 31

Intercultural communication

Question 32

Standard 32:

The community interpreter should arrive at the interpreting assignment prepared and on time.

Answer 32

Professional conduct

Question 33

Standard 33:
The community interpreter should adopt a dress code appropriate for both professional interpreters and the setting where the assignment takes place.

Answer 33

Professional conduct

Question 34

Standard 34:
The community interpreter should display a respectful demeanor that balances professionalism and warmth for all parties present.

Answer 34

Professional conduct

Question 35

Standard 35:
The community interpreter should make sure that the conditions of the working environment support quality interpreting and should politely request any necessary adaptations.

Answer 35

Professional conduct

Question 36

Standard 36:

The community interpreter should not be involved with personal matters during an assignment.

Answer 36

Professional conduct

Question 37

Standard 37:
The community interpreter should accept only assignments for which he or she is qualified and should disclose all professional limitations when appropriate.

Answer 37

Professional conduct

Question 38

Standard 38:

The community interpreter should typically refrain from accepting gifts from service users or providers.

Answer 38

Professional conduct

Question 39

Standard 39:

The community interpreter should not seek new business opportunities for his or her own benefit while on assignment.

Answer 39

Professional conduct

Question 40

Standard 40:
The community interpreter may accept a new business opportunity offered during an assignment only with formal approval from the first assigning organization.

Answer 40

Professional conduct

Question 41

Standard 41:

The community interpreter should engage in activities and initiatives that advance his or her professional development.

Answer 41

Professional conduct