ABSTRACT
Researching norms, ethics, quality and their interactions is obviously unlike researching abstract mathematical entities governed by pure logic and unencumbered by interference from real life, and unlike researching physical phenomena which can be measured with relative accuracy and replicated many times under quasi-identical conditions. This chapter shows Miner's contribution most useful to feed into the discussion of interpreting roles and of professional codes of conduct, whereas the more ambitious survey by Zwischenberger yielded quantitative data which do not seem to contribute much meaningful knowledge, except for one item which is identified, but without going into further exploration. The empirical investigations and reflection on the interpreter's role have been conducted within public service interpreting, not least in signed language interpreting settings. Bahadir argues that interpreters change the interaction between the principals, and that they are actors of social change through their interpreting action, which has ethical implications.
