CASLI Ethical & Professional Decision-Making 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An interpreter in a job interview setting realizes the Deaf candidate signed something that could be misunderstood in English. What is the ethical response?
- Improve the phrasing to make the candidate sound more professional
- Render an accurate equivalent in English that preserves the candidate's meaning (Correct answer)
- Warn the interviewer that a rephrasing was used
- Ask the candidate to rephrase before interpreting
Correct answer: Render an accurate equivalent in English that preserves the candidate's meaning
Interpreters must render accurate, equivalent messages without editing to favor or disadvantage either party.
Question 2: A Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) and a hearing interpreter are working as a team. Who typically takes the primary role with the Deaf consumer?
- The hearing interpreter always leads
- The CDI typically takes the primary role with the Deaf consumer (Correct answer)
- Both interpreters share equal airtime throughout
- The role is determined by whichever interpreter arrived first
Correct answer: The CDI typically takes the primary role with the Deaf consumer
In CDI-hearing teams, the CDI typically works directly with the Deaf consumer using their shared cultural and linguistic framework.
Question 3: An interpreter notices a conflict between what the RID Code of Professional Conduct requires and what a state law mandates. What is the recommended approach?
- Follow only the RID code as it is the higher professional standard
- Follow the law and consult with a professional ethics advisor about the conflict (Correct answer)
- Follow whichever standard is most convenient in context
- Ask the consumer which standard they prefer
Correct answer: Follow the law and consult with a professional ethics advisor about the conflict
Legal requirements cannot be overridden by professional codes; the interpreter must comply with the law and seek guidance on the ethical tension.
Question 4: An interpreter finishes an assignment and receives a social media message from the Deaf consumer asking to connect. What is the most appropriate response?
- Accept immediately to be accessible
- Consider the professional boundary implications and generally decline or maintain a clear professional boundary (Correct answer)
- Block the consumer to avoid ambiguity
- Accept only if the assignment is fully concluded
Correct answer: Consider the professional boundary implications and generally decline or maintain a clear professional boundary
Social media connections can blur professional boundaries and create dual relationships that compromise future assignments.
Question 5: During a religious ceremony, the interpreter is asked to convey the congregation's prayer in a way that reflects their personal faith. What should the interpreter do?
- Incorporate their faith perspective since religion is communal
- Interpret the prayer as delivered without adding personal religious interpretation (Correct answer)
- Decline the assignment due to religious content
- Ask the clergy to modify the content for easier interpretation
Correct answer: Interpret the prayer as delivered without adding personal religious interpretation
Interpreters convey the source message faithfully regardless of their own beliefs or the setting's religious nature.
Question 6: An interpreter is mid-assignment when they realize they are experiencing significant cognitive fatigue affecting accuracy. What is the correct action?
- Continue without comment to avoid disrupting the session
- Signal the team interpreter to switch and take a brief rest period (Correct answer)
- Ask consumers to speak less so there is less to interpret
- Summarize rather than interpret to reduce cognitive load
Correct answer: Signal the team interpreter to switch and take a brief rest period
Using team interpreting protocols to rotate when fatigued preserves accuracy and upholds the interpreter's duty to the consumers.
Question 7: An interpreter is asked to work in a setting where the Deaf consumer uses a regional sign dialect the interpreter is unfamiliar with. What is the ethical decision?
- Accept and use standard ASL throughout
- Disclose the limitation and determine whether a more qualified interpreter is available (Correct answer)
- Accept and ask the consumer to use standard ASL
- Decline without explanation to protect professional reputation
Correct answer: Disclose the limitation and determine whether a more qualified interpreter is available
Transparency about linguistic limitations allows consumers and agencies to make informed decisions about interpreter assignment.
CASLI Ethical & Professional Decision-Making 5
An interpreter in a job interview setting realizes the Deaf candidate signed something that could be misunderstood in English.
What is the ethical response?