earticle

영어

This study reports the results of a qualitative meta-synthesis of three peer-reviewed articles on the working experience of hearing sign language interpreters (SLIs) in Korea. Taking a meta-ethnographic approach, the analysis revealed the hearing SLI experience to be focused around two key themes: “different worlds (a clash between ‘seeing’ and ‘hearing’ cultures)” and “role conflict”. Synthesis led to the metaphor of “the role conflict of SLIs playing on an uneven playing field without a playbook.” Results show how the individual themes link together as SLIs struggle to mediate between two fundamentally different worlds only to find that the players are engaged in a structurally unfair game, the SLIs’ version of the playbook does not prevail, and as referee, the SLIs are charged by both teams for not being on their side. The study sheds light on traditional role models for SLIs, as well as issues of neutrality and positionality.