Introduction

Interpreting is an activity that has been practiced since time immemorial, but only recently has it been viewed as a field of academic study in and of itself. From our perspective working in an institution that has been training interpreters for half a century, we have noted a growing interest in interpreting studies, driven by national and international needs for qualified interpreters in all domains: from international organizations, to private sector enterprises, and to public service organizations. We have also seen a corresponding increase in short programs and academic course offerings designed to introduce people to and train them for careers as interpreters. Some of these training programs reside in universities, while others are offered by community organizations or enterprising businesses. This increased desire for training has come to our attention through countless inquiries from prospective trainees and from other institutions seeking guidance on setting up programs. Thus, we have first-hand awareness of the important need to prepare interpreters well for the specialized sectors in which they will be employed. The need for qualified interpreters spans all domains: legal, medical, business, educational, political, governmental, academic, to name just a few. And each of these domains has nuances particular to it, whether it is the language-combination needs of the international organizations, the growing ethical concerns in the public service sectors, the challenge of integrating new technologies into the field, or the need for cost-effective interpreting – which happens to cross all domains. We felt that a volume that would introduce readers to recent issues in interpreting, to the many areas of professional work in the field, and to the particular needs and challenges of each, as well as to newly developing areas in which interpreters work, would be of great value.