The role of emotional intelligence in signed language interpreting

The focus of this research is on the role of emotional intelligence in the profession of signed language interpreting The impact of Goleman’s (1995) five attributes of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills and how those attributes impact the way interpreters reflect on and discuss their work will be explored. An online survey was administered and two focus groups were convened. A total of 177 participants met the criteria and completed the online survey. The results showed evidence that interpreters with higher emotional intelligence levels tended to reflect on their work more frequently when compared to those with lower emotional intelligence levels. A total of five interpreters participated in the focus groups. The findings of the focus groups indicated that interpreters who were more emotionally intelligent demonstrated through discussion of their work Goleman’s (1995) five attributes of emotional intelligence. These attributes were less evident in individuals who had lower levels of emotional intelligence. Reflection and discussion of interpreting work allows professionals to be more aware of additional options that can be employed in their work and better prepare them for their future work (Dean & Pollard, 2001, 2013)