Saudi Sign Language Interpreters: Their Attitudes Towards Professional Sign Language Interpretatio

The current quantitative study was designed to identify the attitudes of Saudi sign language (SL) interpreters towards professional sign language interpretation (SLI) in terms of becoming professional SL interpreters. The project includes their experiences, their attitudes towards SL interpreter preparation (interpreter education), and their ideas about SL interpreter certifications (interpreter accreditation). This study also attempted to determine the important factors, which influenced Saudi interpreters to become SL interpreters. The participants were 82 Saudi SL interpreters, who worked either part-time, full-time, or as volunteers in either government or non-government agencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Quantitative data was collected from an online questionnaire using Survey Monkey. The research findings showed that all Saudi SL interpreters have positive attitudes about progressing toward professional SLI and establishing interpreter education program (IEP) as four-year degrees in the KSA. Positive outlooks are also found among Saudi interpreters in regards to the accreditation of SL interpreters. Findings also emphasized the importance of establishing an independent organization for standardizing the certification of professional Saudi SL interpreters. However, participants believe that current SL interpreter accrediting and licensing in the KSA does not require performance or written testing. Finally, results showed a set of important factors which led the participants to become SL interpreters, including interacting with the Deaf community and using sign language at an early age. This study will provide an overall picture of the state of SLI in the KSA, which will help to improve the field in both the KSA and other Arab countries. Before this study there has been limited research on SLI in the KSA. Thus, this study will help educators, decision makers, Deaf and interpreter committees among others to better understand the profession of SLI in the KSA so that the country can see the importance of moving toward professional interpretation. This can happen by establishing IEPs and an SL interpreter association to properly accredit SL interpreters. These developments, in turn, will improve lives in both the Deaf and interpreter communities in the KSA and other Arab countries as well.