This qualitative study examined how sign language interpreters make decisions regarding whether to accept or decline an interpreting assignment. This ethical decision holds the potential for a successful or unsuccessful interpreted interaction which can harm deaf consumers. This study is the first to examine this topic. Thus, the Literature Review…

Co-speech gesture in monolinguals has been linked to several cognitive processes: prompting memory stores, conveying spatial concepts, searching for lexical equivalents, and supporting rhythm and cohesion. The production of co-speech gesture also occurs in spoken language bilinguals. Studies have demonstrated that bilinguals fluent in American…

Drawn on the theoretical principles of sociocultural theory and constructivism, the aim of this multiple case study was to explore and understand the experiences of interpreting students, interpreter graduates, and pre-certified working interpreters after receiving ASL mentoring for at least 3 months to a year and to learn about the roles and…

In undergraduate sign language interpreter education in the United States, scholars have observed a lack of standardization among programs of the same academic level and called for greater definition of the differences between academic levels. This study sought to quantify programs' degree of standardization within and differentiation between…

This dissertation explores the field of deaf interpreting and discusses essential issues, including career barriers, mentorship, and certification. It looks at the tenacity and willpower of deaf interpreters, emphasizing the reasons and networks of support that have allowed them to work for a long time. Studies demonstrate the valuable role deaf…

Deficits in the systems inherent to the field of ASL-English interpreting have resulted in gaps and barriers that impact novice interpreter practitioners. As a potential mitigating factor, research has shown the importance of developing confidence and self-efficacy in novice interpreters. Due to time and curricular restraints, the current system…

The experience of Deaf tenure track or tenured faculty in post-secondary education is largely unknown. This qualitative phenomenological examination afforded six Deaf tenure track or tenured faculty to share their experiences. The purpose of this study is to share the day-to-day lived experience of Deaf tenure track or tenured faculty in…

Self-assessment skills are emphasized in signed language Interpreter Education Programs (IEPs), and it is well-established that self-assessment is an essential element of a sign language interpreter's professional development, yet anecdotal evidence suggests that practicing interpreters frequently do not engage in self-assessment. This study aimed…

Storytelling is a feature of communication that provides a platform for sharing ideas, knowledge, emotions, and experiences. Deaf students who do not have access to fluent signers outside of the school setting have difficulty mastering the art of storytelling unless they are provided with opportunities to tell their stories at school. A multiple…

Research about the sign language interpreting field has noted that burnout and attrition of interpreters is a serious issue of the profession. There is also a lack of research about interpreters who work in medical, legal, and educational fields. One gap is the unique work of higher education interpreters. The varied contexts, the complexity of…

The primary goal of this study was to explore how educational interpreter supervisors defined, experienced and approached their work in K-12 schools in the United States of America. A secondary goal was to examine how they interpreted, navigated and enacted educational and interpreting policy in their jobs as supervisors. A comparative case study…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between K-12 interpreters' training in relation to the Model Standards (1993), their perceptions of preparation, and their evaluation scores on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) of current and recently working K-12 educational interpreters. A questionnaire was…

In this dissertation, I examine both formerly K-12 mainstreamed Deaf students' and sign language interpreters' perspectives on how interpreting services impact deaf students' experiences in mainstream classrooms. I conducted this qualitative study in two cities with large and active Deaf communities and interviewed a group of Deaf individuals and…

Research on the role space of educational interpreters has historically focused on descriptions of tasks educational interpreters are engaged in during their work day. This case study uses role theory to examine the perceptions of administrators and teachers on the role space of educational interpreters. Through a series of qualitative interviews…

Self-assessment is an emerging topic in ASL/English interpreter education that is being recognized as critical for students completing the degree-to-certification process and needs to be thoroughly explored. Using Scaffolding Theory and self-assessment drawn from Self-Directed Learning Theory, this exploratory, qualitative interview study…