The Role and Ethics of the Interpreter

An ASL-English interpreter facilitates communication between Deaf and hearing individuals by conveying messages accurately and completely in both directions. The interpreter is not a helper, advocate, or decision-maker for the Deaf person. The interpreter does not add personal opinions, simplify content without cause, or make decisions about what the Deaf person should or should not know. This distinction is critical: the interpreter is a linguistic and cultural bridge, transferring meaning—not just words—between two languages while maintaining the autonomy and agency of all parties. When a doctor explains a diagnosis, the interpreter conveys the full explanation with the same complexity and nuance.