REFLECTIONS ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE TERM “INTERPRETER” AND THE PROFESSIONAL STATUS OF INTERPRETING IN ALBANIA

The notion “status” is used in varies ways (Dam, 2015), in the context of this paper it is used to denominate the occupational status of interpreting, therefore of interpreters. The concept of status has its disciplinary roots in sociology, so that from a sociological viewpoint the path leading to occupational status goes through professionalization. According to Weiss-Gal & Welbourne (2008) eight criteria are considered as indicative of a profession: (1) public recognition of professional status, (2) professional monopoly over specific types of work, (3) professional autonomy of action, (4) possession of a distinctive knowledge base, (5) professional education, (6) an effective professional organization, (7) codified ethical standards and (8) remuneration reflecting professional standing. As Dam (2015) states, although in some countries there have been attempts of its professionalization in the field of interpreting, “there is probably no sub-branch of interpreting anywhere in the world that meets all eight criteria” (p. 400). In the frame of above mentioned, by reviewing the Albanian Law No.82/20211 on the Legal translation and the status of the legal translator, as the only legal act regulating only a sub-branch of the interpreting occupation in Albania, this paper aims to shed some light on two topics: the first one being the legal status of the term “interpreter” as the Albanian law uses the term “oral translator” to refer to the interpreter of spoken languages, weather the term “interpreter” is used to refer only to signed language interpreter.