Date of Award

4-15-2025

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Kirk VanGilder

Second Advisor

Danielle Hunt

Third Advisor

Teresa Blankmeyer Burke

Abstract

This research project explores connections between a moral injury framework and the recognition and mitigation of ethical stress and trauma experienced by ASL-English interpreters. I have employed strategies such as thick description, textual analysis, and a narrative synthesis of existing literature on moral injury and ethical stress in interpreting to arrive at my findings. The study explains Demand Control Schema (DCS) and the Code of Professional Conduct (CPC) as valuable tools for interpreters to discuss and address ethical stresses that arise in their work. Additionally, I examine the concept of role space and its relevance to the experience of ethical/moral stress and the critical theme of trust within interpreting contexts. My analysis found that moral injury risks create significant dilemmas for interpreters by eroding both trust in the systems of training and guidelines for conduct for protecting interpreters and their clients and trust in one’s personal skills and abilities. By highlighting existing gaps in the literature on moral injury as it pertains to the profession. I address these gaps by fostering discussions about ethical decision-making frameworks in interpreting through the lens of trauma, moral injury, and trust while identifying potential issues within these frameworks. These new conversations can enhance awareness of trauma and moral injury in the interpreting field, ultimately leading to strategies for mitigation and improved well-being for interpreters. This capstone aims to initiate essential dialogues in interpreting, focusing on the critical and often overlooked area of trust and ethical considerations.

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