Sign language interpreters’ experiences of remote interpreting in light of COVID-19 in Sweden

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the work of sign language interpreters from mostly face-to-face assignments to remote interpreting. The overall aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of interpreters working between spoken Swedish and Swedish Sign Language (STS) during the adjustment to remote interpreting (RI) due to COVID-19. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 26 sign language interpreters and analysed with qualitative content analysis. The interpreters represented 19 of the 21 regions in Sweden. The results of the analysis revealed five themes: (a) a comparison of interpreting settings; (b) adaptability; (c) social relations and interaction; (d) technical equipment; and (e) sustainability. Within the themes’ multifaceted experiences of both positive and negative aspects from a micro to a macro level were reported. This rather new setting for interpreters is still in transformation; thus, follow-ups are necessary.