THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS FOR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
1. paragraph
In term with common social norms and principles. The sign language interpreter is come of age person, who has the certificate in accordance with regulations which manage the national professional qualification and who is signed in register of sign language interpreters.
The sign language interpreters have to consider the code of professional ethics for interpreters.
The sign language interpreters have to be emotionally mature personalities and have moral qualities, as honesty, conscientiousness, self critical view, objectivity and similar characteristics and they have to be trustworthy.
2. paragraph
The sign language interpreters are obligated to work in accordance to common social norms and principles by their professional work.
3. paragraph
The sign language interpreters are bounded to secrecy at every interpreting, specially for the cases of secret or the affair of intimate sphere of individual person. All information, which get from interpreting, the sign language interpreters has to consider as confidential and has to hold and not to widen.
They can be released the secrecy only in case, when the state or jurisdictional board gives claim or when deaf claims that.
4. paragraph
The sign language interpreters have to do their job professionally and discreet and all participants involved in interpreting deal equal, correct and with respect. They have to know and are aware of their abilities and professional qualifies and that they can estimate if other interpreters have to participate in one interpreting.
5. paragraph
The interpreting is obligation of sign language interpreters, specially in case determined in Standing orders of the Association of Slovene sign language interpreters. Unjustified or unfounded abandoning or rejection the interpreting means dealing in contrary with this Code and other documents of the Association.
6. paragraph
The role of sign language interpreter is to establish the indirect communication between deaf and other participants in interpreting. The consequence of this communication has to be situation, when the actual condition is entirely clear to all participants. As long the situation isn't entirely clear and understandable to individual participant, the interpreter has with interpreting professionally help as long that there is entirely clear and understandable. In case of discrepancy between interpreter and participant the problem has to be solved, otherwise for solution has to determine third person.
7. paragraph
The sign language interpreters use the language from handbook »Multimedia dictionary of sign language« and at the same time speak so, that also other hearing participants can follow the situation. By interpreting from Slovene language to sign language they use the communication, which is the most understandable to deaf person (sign language, simultaneous communication, finger alphabet, writing, drawing, paraphrasing).
8. paragraph
The sign language interpreters are always only in role of neutral mediator, whose task is establishing the dialog between participants. Their duty is only to assure the correct translation or communication and they can't think of content, they can't take off or add anything. They have to abstract their feelings, thoughts, solutions, viewpoints, opinions and other.
They have to interpret exact and impartial, entirely, what was spoken, because they aren't responsible for content, but for exact interpreting. At this point they have to abstract all possible feelings, which could derives from the content of spoken.
The sign language interpreters can not be included or engaged partially at interpreting, because they can not be interested in result, by which come in particular case at the end of interpreting. Especially they can not decide instead of deaf persons, even they fell inclination to them. The sign language interpreters interpret authentic and by their best strength and they have to transmit will, sense, intention and mood to participant.
They can not leave out or add or include anything, by which they can be coresponsible for result.
In procedures on courts or administrative office the sign language interpreters are obliged to acquaint the participant in some cases, that word for word translation is not possible and it has to be paraphrased everything, what will be spoken or what deaf person inform.
9. paragraph
The sign language interpreters estimate their abilities with regard to the pretentiousness of situation, where the interpreting is needed. If they are proposed for interpreting and they think, that in concrete example or entirely couldn't interpret, they propose to engage other interpreter. In extremely matter have to decide in accordance to their conscience about taking the assignment, weather they are not entirely qualified , but the interpreting is urgent.
10. paragraph
The sign language interpreters must eliminate from the process in cases, when they are related with participants, no matter on line relationship or on cousin fourth removed or in relationship by marriage, no matter the marriage still continue or not. Also they have to refuse the interpreting, if they have their own interests in case or if they are in special friendship or hatred to individual participant or there are other circumstances, which show that they can cross their exact determine role and the assignment could do partially.
11. paragraph
The sign language interpreters, who can not perform the interpreting at agreed time, have to inform the participants and responsible person in the Association. And her duty is to assure the participation of other sign language interpreter.
12. paragraph
The sign language interpreters are paid for their interpreting by the tariff for sign language interpreters, which is accepted by minister, competent for invalid care, on the proposal of the Association for Slovene sign language interpreters and publishes it in Official Gazette of Republic of Slovenia.
13. paragraph
The sign language interpreters have to care for their reputation, reputation of the Association at interpreting and accordance to that they must have respective relationship to sign language. Also is expected from sign language interpreters to regain consciousness of public opinion of the deaf and deafness, in avoidance to misunderstandings, which arise in communication with the deaf.
14. paragraph
The sign language interpreters have to spread their knowledge of sign language. In accordance to that they have to accompany the novelty and progress from the field by studying the literature, exchanging the experience with other interpreters, by attending professional meetings and educational programs and on other way build their knowledge, which has to be examined in accordance to the document of Association.
The sign language interpreters have to know different type of communication so that can learn new signs and accept them, especially if they are useful or needed for better understanding the sign language.
15. paragraph
Every assignments of sign language interpreters, which are in contrary to provisions of this case, represent their violations. Sort, intensity and substantiation of violation handles the arbitration court at the Association and passes suitable sentences.
16. paragraph
It is expected from sign language interpreters to wear appropriate clothing, so that their clothing are in contrast with their hands and their movements.
17. paragraph
The code of ethics gets every sign language interpreter.