Interpreting in Teams: A Pilot Study on Requesting and Offering Support

2003 RID Journal of Interpretation
Dennis Cokely and Jennifer (Hawkins) McLean

This article is a pilot study that I created when I was in my BS program at Northeastern University under the teachings of Dennis Cokely.

After having been in the recent workshop by Ari-Asha and Ric Owen, I find it a good opportunity to bring this article to your attention for your reading pleasure.

There has been a lot of talk about teaming lately.  What is it, why do we do it, how do we do it, when do we do it?  The topic was brought up during the workshop “Recommitting to the Journey” by Ari-Asha Castallia and Ric Owen.  Strengthening the relationship with your team … talk about how you work, what you need when you team, and how you request support when teaming.  The only way you can “talk” about your work … is if you “know” how you work.

This pilot study examines the functioning of teams of interpreters and analyzes those behaviors that team members use to request support.  The study not only presents a taxonomy of behaviors actually used by interpreters to request support but also demonstrates that there is a discrepancy between those behaviors that interpreters state they will use when asking for support and those behaviors that they actually use.

It is an interesting read.  Pictures help to illustrate what people “say” they will do (lean, tilt their head, gaze of the eyes) when they need a feed from their team while working.  But, the discrepancy lies in the “what they DO do” when needing support.  Was the eye gaze seen by the team?  How can the team see your eyes, if you are sitting next to each other?  Was the lean from the shoulders or from the hips?  Is the team sitting close enough to feel / see the “lean”?  A tap on the knee … is your team ticklish?  Sensitive to being touched?  Sitting in a comfortable position to tap you?

I hope you have the 2003 Journal of Interpretation available to you.  If you do not, you can go to the following website and purchase the JOI. (https://www.rid.org/acct-app/index.cfm?action=store.main)

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