Sign language interpreter to interpreter
A sign language interpreter already meets 36% of what the interpreter role asks for. The move turns on 13 required skills not yet in the profile.
70.2/ 100
1 How much of what an interpreter is expected to do is already part of a sign language interpreter’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the interpreter role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An interpreter role treats 6 of its required skills as things a sign language interpreter already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- grammar
- interpret spoken language between two parties
- speak different languages
- translate language concepts
- translate spoken language consecutively
- translate spoken language simultaneously
What stands in the way is 13 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 21 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An interpreter role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a sign language interpreter background worth leading with.
- already held interpret languages in conferences communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held interpret spoken language between two parties communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held translate spoken language consecutively communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held translate spoken language simultaneously communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held translate spoken language communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held court interpreting arts and humanities
All 21 carried skills, including the 6 the interpreter role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 33 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn perceive context when interpreting required
- still to learn follow an ethical code of conduct for translation activities required
- still to learn manage a good diction required
- still to learn perform bilateral interpretation required
- still to learn preserve meaning of original speech required
- still to learn master language rules required
- still to learn update language skills required
- optional, not held interpret languages in live broadcasting shows optional
- optional, not held perform sworn interpretations optional
- optional, not held provide interpreting services in tours optional
- optional, not held create subtitles optional
- optional, not held perform sight translation optional
- optional, not held provide advocacy interpreting services optional
- optional, not held communicate by telephone optional
- optional, not held communicate with target community optional
- optional, not held liaise with government officials optional
- optional, not held type texts from audio sources optional
- optional, not held use consulting techniques optional
- still to learn interpreting modes required
- still to learn spelling required
- optional, not held chuchotage interpreting optional
- optional, not held tape transcription optional
- optional, not held unseen translation optional
- optional, not held phonetics optional
- optional, not held technical terminology optional
- still to learn memorise large amounts of information required
- still to learn develop a translation strategy required
- optional, not held develop technical glossaries optional
- still to learn observe confidentiality required
- optional, not held answer incoming calls optional
- still to learn follow interpreting quality standards required
- optional, not held medical terminology optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an interpreter role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 follow interpreting quality standards practise this
- 02 memorise large amounts of information practise this
- 03 perceive context when interpreting practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 21 skills that carry over
- already held grammar knowledge
- already held interpret spoken language between two parties skill
- already held speak different languages skill
- already held translate language concepts skill
- already held translate spoken language consecutively skill
- already held translate spoken language simultaneously skill
- already held body language knowledge
- already held conduct scholarly research skill
- already held consult information sources skill
- already held court interpreting knowledge
- already held interpret languages in conferences skill
- already held linguistics knowledge
- already held preserve original text skill
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held semantics knowledge
- already held show intercultural awareness skill
- already held translate spoken language skill
- already held translate texts skill
- already held use word processing software skill
- already held write research proposals skill
- already held write scientific publications skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held operate audio equipment optional
20 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held interpret languages in live broadcasting shows optional
- optional, not held perform sworn interpretations optional
- optional, not held provide interpreting services in tours optional
- optional, not held chuchotage interpreting optional
- optional, not held create subtitles optional
- optional, not held operate audio equipment optional
- optional, not held perform sight translation optional
- optional, not held provide advocacy interpreting services optional
- optional, not held tape transcription optional
- optional, not held unseen translation optional
- optional, not held answer incoming calls optional
- optional, not held communicate by telephone optional
- optional, not held communicate with target community optional
- optional, not held develop technical glossaries optional
- optional, not held liaise with government officials optional
- optional, not held medical terminology optional
- optional, not held phonetics optional
- optional, not held technical terminology optional
- optional, not held type texts from audio sources optional
- optional, not held use consulting techniques optional
10 held skills the interpreter role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role analyse text before translation skill
- not needed by the target role communicate using non-verbal language skill
- not needed by the target role communication related to hearing impairment knowledge
- not needed by the target role fingerspelling knowledge
- not needed by the target role hearing disability knowledge
- not needed by the target role lipspeaking knowledge
- not needed by the target role screen reader knowledge
- not needed by the target role sign language knowledge
- not needed by the target role support people with hearing impairment skill
- not needed by the target role voice interpreting knowledge
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn interpreting modes required
- still to learn spelling required
- optional, not held chuchotage interpreting optional
- optional, not held tape transcription optional
- optional, not held unseen translation optional
- optional, not held medical terminology optional
- optional, not held phonetics optional
- optional, not held technical terminology optional
Other moves recorded from sign language interpreter
Common questions about this move
Can a sign language interpreter become an interpreter?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A sign language interpreter already covers 36% of what an interpreter is expected to do: 21 skills carry over, 6 of which the interpreter role treats as required.
What skills does a sign language interpreter need to become an interpreter?
13 required skills are missing, plus 20 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is follow interpreting quality standards.
How hard is the move from sign language interpreter to interpreter?
Its learning distance is 70.2 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.