Dean & Pollard, University of Rochester, 2002
Dean and Pollard's Demand-Control Schema for Interpreting Work
Based on the Demand-Control Theory
What are the demands of interpreting work as defined by Karasek's theory?
Definition: Demands are requirements of the job; those factors which "act upon" the worker or what is needed to perform the task?
 Knowledge

Capabilities
 Character traits
 Working conditions
Dean and Pollard define 4 demand categories in interpreting work (that is, those factors that directly impact the work--translational and behavioral--of the interpreter. They are...
 Environmental

Interpersonal
 Paralinguistic
 Intrapersonal
Environmental Demands
Definition: That which is specific to the setting or the nature of the assignment
Environmental demands are broken down into 4 subcategories:
 Physical surroundings
 Room temperature
 Chemicals and odors

Seating arrangements/sight lines
 Lighting quality
 Visual distractions


Background noise
 Space (people, furniture, equipment)



Goal or purpose of setting
Terminology
Personnel or clientele
Questions one could ask to get at Environment Demands:
 What is the nature of this place?
 What are the physical surroundings like?
 Who are the staff, personnel, or clientele here?
 What is the objective here?
 What kind of equipment is expected?
 What is the expected terminology that is used here?
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Interpersonal Demand
Definition: That which is specific to the dynamics among the consumers and the interpreter
Interpersonal Demands (examples)
 Dynamics between HC and DC o Oppression, dishonesty, unfairness, etc.
 Dynamics between HC and I o Adherence to expected role norms o Communication directed to the interpreter
 Dynamics between DC and I o Parties' understanding of interpreter's role
 Power and authority dynamics


Communication control, e.g., turn-taking
 Thought worlds (see quote below)
 Emotional tone/mood
Roles
 Communication styles and goals
 Relationships (new, familiar, intimate, tension, power, etc)

Interpreting...is not merely transposing from one language to another. It is, rather, throwing a semantic bridge between two different cultures, two different thought worlds.
Claude Namy, 1977
Questions to ask about the Interpersonal interactions:
 What is the emotional tone of the interaction?
 What are the thought worlds of each party (SES to current emotional state?)?


What is the mood of the people involved?
 What do they want to accomplish?
What is the nature of the relationship?
 Is it positive or are there problems? Why?
 How do they feel about me as the interpreter?
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Paralinguistic Demands
Definition: That which is specific to the expressive skills of the deaf/hearing consumers
Examples of paralinguistic demands:


Idiosyncrasies of signing/speaking
 Volume
Pace
 Accents
 Clarity of speech
 Physical position
 Physical limitations
Questions about paralinguistic demands:

What is the deaf person's signing style? o Fast/slow--smooth/choppy--precise/sloppy

What is the speaking style of the hearing person? o Loud/soft--accented, impediment

Is the language of both deaf/hearing people coherent and following typical patterns of speech and discourse?
Idiosyncrasies of signing/speaking

Clarity of Speech/Signing
What impacts one's clarity?

Age

Disabilities
-Cognitive and physical

Mood/emotional state

Physical attributes/characteristics

Fluid movement of signing
Physical Limitations

Intellectual disability

Stroke

Injured limb(s)

Intoxication

Arthritis

Other range of motion problems (R.O.M)

Cerebral Palsy

Facial paralysis

AD/HD

Neck problems
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Intrapersonal Demands
Definition: That which is specific to the feelings and thoughts or personal experiences of the interpreter
Examples of Intrapersonal Demands
 Feelings or ruminations one may have about: o One's safety o o
One's interpreting performance
Liability o o
The people and the dynamics
The environment
 Physiological distractions
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What are the controls employed in interpreting work as defined by Karasek's theory?
Controls are defined as skills or resources that the worker can bring to bear in response to the demands of the job.
Controls for an interpreter may involve:



Behavioral actions and interventions
Particular translation decisions
Internal/attitudinal acknowledgments
Dean & Pollard's D-C schema defines "controls" in three time phrases:

Pre-assignment controls: controls that are employed before or in preparation for the formal assignment
Examples:

Education o Formal (interpreter training and continuing ed.) o Informal (other schooling)

Experience o Work-related o Personal

Direct preparation for the assignment o Contacts (team, hearing and deaf consumers) o Readings, prep materials, Internet
 Assignment controls: controls that are employed during the interpreting assignment
Examples:
 Acknowledgments
 Self-talk

Direct interventions


Adjusted translations
 Prior relationships
 RID Code of Ethics
 Role metaphors
 Post-assignment controls : controls that are employed after the assignment is over
Examples:
 Supervision o Formal (with supervisor) o Informal (with colleagues)
 Debriefing/venting o With support system
 Follow up o With people involved o With further education o With referring party

Self-care