The conflict between the interpreter’s role and professional status: a sociological perspective

The interpreter’s role has been analysed so far in terms of positioning negotiations during single interactions (Wadensjö 1998), but little discussion has been brought to the fore about the connections between role and professional status. Several authors (Valero Garcés and Martin 2008) have pointed out that most interpreters experience role conflict due to their crucial position during the interaction. However, several sociological studies show that there is a strong connection between unclear perceptions of the professional status of semi-professional groups and role conflict experienced by the persons belonging to these groups (Kumar Lal and Khanna 1988). This article seeks to merge perspectives from sociological role theory and the Sociology of the Professions, with the objective of gaining critical insights into interpreters’ social and professional role.