Professionalising in a freelance eco-system

Abstract

This study takes a Classic Grounded Theory (CGT) approach to identifying the key concern of Irish Sign Language interpreters with respect to their professional practice and how they resolve the main concern.

The rationale behind this study was multi-faceted. I currently work at Bridge Interpreting Ltd, a company providing ISL/English interpreters, where I am Sign Language Support Service Coordinator. Bridge Interpreting Ltd. identified a gap in the services available to support interpreters as they enter the field and progress. With co-funding from Bridge Interpreting Ltd. and the Irish Research Council?s (IRC) Employment Based-Programme Scholarship, I undertook this study at the Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS), Trinity College Dublin.

Primary data was collected by interviewing a total of eleven ISL/English interpreters and one focus group of five students attending their last year in CDS. Based on the analysis of the data within this study, the main concern of this substantive population is UNREGULATED CAREER TRAJECTORY. The main concern is associated with the TRANSITIONING from college to the real world with very limited experience and knowledge in particular when starting to work as a freelancer. Once they enter the interpreting community, NAVIGATING is the next step while PEERING with their cohort in order to explore this new and unfamiliar context.

The three main stages participants go through during their journey are explained within the theoretical framework developed in this study: STARTING-UP, GEARING-UP, BRANCHING-OUT (SGB model). The first stage is STARTING-UP which is the stage where participants embark on their new professional journey. The second stage is GEARING-UP in which the participants aim at EQUIPPING their profession so as to PROGRESS and CLIMB-UP the WINDING STAIR. The final stage is BRANCHING-OUT which is when they feel comfortable and have more stability in relation to their professional life-long career. The theory developed from this study is PROFESSIONALIZING IN A FREELANCE ECO-SYSTEM which is the main contribution of this study. The theory explores how interpreters NAVIGATE their career trajectory and how they resolve their main concern as they try to develop their future career. This study also contributes to the development and implementation of a Peer Support Service within Bridge Interpreting Ltd. as the main goal of this research. The lack of literature review in relation to the professional career of sign language interpreters, identified gaps within the literature review and also within the FREELANCE ECO-SYSTEM where interpreters practise their profession.

Finally, this study and therefore the emergent theory may have applications in other research areas where connections have been discovered. This research study explored the work of sign language interpreters paying particular attention to FREELANCING careers, an area under-explored in other fields. By saying this, PROFESSIONALIZING IN A FREELANCE ECO-SYSTEM could be helpful for graduates in other FREELANCING professional areas.