Profiling today’s and tomorrow’s interpreters: Previous occupational experiences, levels of work and motivations

This paper has people as its focus, namely 80 trainee interpreters and practitioners, with the following questions: where they come from occupationally – what their current/previous occupations are; how much (wish to) work; why wish to become/remain an interpreter. Data were collected Australia-based informants who will or currently work in public service interpreting. Matching current of trainees previous practitioners according a classification system occupations, we see that substantial percentages ‘community personal workers’ ‘professionals’ categories, while for belonged ‘clerical administrative categories. Projected reported levels are often not full-time only some indication this is related general level demand languages. In relation feature motivation, employ Self-Determination Theory model examine informants’ stated motivations find amongst trainees, extrinsic focus on community activism, practitioners’ more intrinsic. By linking three key features cohesive way, gives comprehensive description today tomorrow’s interpreters.