ABSTRACT
In this part of the book, the aim is to explore ethics and the activity of public service interpreting (PSI) in light of the process of professionalisation. How well does the interpreter’s societal function fulfil the criteria of being a profession? What is the link between ethics and profession? In exploring these topics, we observe the activity of interpreting through the lenses of concepts such as profession, the exercise of discretion, trust, virtue and quality in performance. Hence, we examine interpreting in terms of a general model of professionalisation that divides the process into a performative aspect and an organisational aspect, as outlined in the sociology of professions (Molander and Terum 2008; Grimen 2008a; 2008b; Grimen and Molander 2008; Molander and Grimen 2010; Molander 2016, Skaaden 2013; 2016; 2018a; 2018b). The analysis shows that the interpreter function fulfils the criteria of a profession’s performative aspect, while the organisational aspect – pertaining to society’s licence and mandate for professional practice – is less developed, mainly due to the lack of educational options for interpreters.
