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Working conditions of community interpreters in Sweden Opportunities and shortcomings

Norström, Eva LU ; Fioretos, Ingrid LU and Gustafsson, Kristina LU (2012) In Interpreting 14(2). p.242-260
Abstract
The aim of this article is to describe and analyse the working conditions of interpreters and interpreting services in Sweden. An understanding of interpreters' working conditions is a key to such factors as the management of resources, the reading and implementation of legislation, the organisation of interpreting services and the performance of interpreters in different situations. An understanding of interpreters' working conditions is also important in understanding how multiculturalism and multilingualism are viewed on a national scale in Sweden. This review of the working conditions of interpreters is based on material from two joint research projects, which appear to indicate that interpreters as a group have much to say and often... (More)
The aim of this article is to describe and analyse the working conditions of interpreters and interpreting services in Sweden. An understanding of interpreters' working conditions is a key to such factors as the management of resources, the reading and implementation of legislation, the organisation of interpreting services and the performance of interpreters in different situations. An understanding of interpreters' working conditions is also important in understanding how multiculturalism and multilingualism are viewed on a national scale in Sweden. This review of the working conditions of interpreters is based on material from two joint research projects, which appear to indicate that interpreters as a group have much to say and often reflect on their work and working conditions. The interpreters participating in this study often demonstrated a strong commitment to professionalism. At the same time, however, many of the reflections recorded for this study were about things that undermine professionalism: bad working conditions, low pay, the feeling of being "as replaceable as potatoes", and the feeling that the social status of interpreters is low. In analysing the consequences of working conditions we have found a tension between professionalism and deprofessionalisation. This tension has consequences for the rule of law and integration. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
working conditions, interpreting services, interpreter training, authorisation, procurement
in
Interpreting
volume
14
issue
2
pages
242 - 260
publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
external identifiers
  • wos:000308208600006
  • scopus:84865855368
ISSN
1384-6647
DOI
10.1075/intp.14.2.06nor
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f5f656af-8bb4-449b-90db-c40cd0607d33 (old id 3147417)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:13:49
date last changed
2022-04-22 02:07:08
@article{f5f656af-8bb4-449b-90db-c40cd0607d33,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this article is to describe and analyse the working conditions of interpreters and interpreting services in Sweden. An understanding of interpreters' working conditions is a key to such factors as the management of resources, the reading and implementation of legislation, the organisation of interpreting services and the performance of interpreters in different situations. An understanding of interpreters' working conditions is also important in understanding how multiculturalism and multilingualism are viewed on a national scale in Sweden. This review of the working conditions of interpreters is based on material from two joint research projects, which appear to indicate that interpreters as a group have much to say and often reflect on their work and working conditions. The interpreters participating in this study often demonstrated a strong commitment to professionalism. At the same time, however, many of the reflections recorded for this study were about things that undermine professionalism: bad working conditions, low pay, the feeling of being "as replaceable as potatoes", and the feeling that the social status of interpreters is low. In analysing the consequences of working conditions we have found a tension between professionalism and deprofessionalisation. This tension has consequences for the rule of law and integration.}},
  author       = {{Norström, Eva and Fioretos, Ingrid and Gustafsson, Kristina}},
  issn         = {{1384-6647}},
  keywords     = {{working conditions; interpreting services; interpreter training; authorisation; procurement}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{242--260}},
  publisher    = {{John Benjamins Publishing Company}},
  series       = {{Interpreting}},
  title        = {{Working conditions of community interpreters in Sweden Opportunities and shortcomings}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/intp.14.2.06nor}},
  doi          = {{10.1075/intp.14.2.06nor}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}