Theorizing the Body in the ASL Interpreting Field: Promising Dimensions for Further Research

Authors

Taylor L. Woodall-Greene, Oklahoma State University - Main CampusFollow
Lucy E. Bailey, Oklahoma State University - Main CampusFollow

Abstract

This paper theorizes body politics in the American Sign Language Interpreting profession. The field is facing problems with burnout and attrition. We focus on the interpreting body and present four themes, including the embodied demands, the limited available scholarship over “the body” in ASL, the fluctuating meaning of the interpreter’s bodily labor, and the educational implications of our analysis. We argue that attention to body politics matters, and more research is needed on the intersections between the body and the ASL interpreting profession. Continuing the research into these theoretical dimensions and interpreters’ self-care given the embodied demands of the profession, both in the field and curriculum, is an equally important aspect of preparing for the field as effective communication.

Suggested Citation

Woodall-Greene, Taylor L. and Bailey, Lucy E. (2025) "Theorizing the Body in the ASL Interpreting Field: Promising Dimensions for Further Research," Journal of Interpretation: Vol. 33: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/joi/vol33/iss1/5