Module 4 Three Axes Explained

Role-Space Axes

Participant Alignment

This is the extent to which the interpreter engages with any of the participants in the interaction. This engagement is not about expressing the interpreter’s opinion. Rather it is about simple things such as introducing themselves, checking in with eye-gaze and using facial expression or sounds to indicate that communication is happening, as well as positioning themselves in the space in ways that show a connection to a participant.

Interaction Management

This includes control of the turn-taking process. An interpreter is constantly choosing to work more “simultaneously” (even though simultaneous is a misnomer, as we always have some processing time) or more consecutively to allow more time to get the message before beginning the interpretation. The axis of interaction management graphs how much or how little the interpreter intervenes to manage that process. This includes managing overlapping speech and using overt/covert management strategies.

Presentation of Self

This axis is the degree to which the interpreter speaks, signs, or communicates nonverbally (also called "authoring") their own thoughts instead of the content of the interpretation. Most of our field’s discussion of “role” seems to be about this axis. Our history and some previous codes of conduct make it seem as though we should never speak for ourselves in our work. In reality, we do so all the time. We introduce ourselves, we indicate errors, we ask for clarification and, in many cases, we engage in direct conversation with participants because if we did not, the relationships in the interaction would be damaged.