Cover not available
Article published In:
Translation and Interpreting Studies
Vol. 12:3 (2017) ► pp.427–448

Professional interpreters’ job satisfaction and relevant factors

A case study of trained interpreters in South Korea

| Ewha Womans University

A study of the job satisfaction of professional interpreters may cast light on the current state of the profession and its prospects. Through a questionnaire-based survey of 150 professional interpreters in South Korea, this study examines various factors contributing to the job satisfaction of professional interpreters, including individual characteristics and job characteristics. Statistically significant correlations were confirmed between job satisfaction and marital status, the length of the interpreting career, average weekly working hours, and the dominant employment type of the respondents. While the respondents overwhelmingly chose income as the most important factor that determines their satisfaction, a multiple regression analysis revealed that job security was the most important factor, which was in turn strongly correlated with social recognition. This case study provides an analysis of the status quo of the profession in South Korea and has implications for the industry and for interpreter training.

Keywords: professional interpreters, job satisfaction, job characteristics, questionnaire-based survey, South Korea
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Previous studies of job satisfaction
  • 3.The study
    • 3.1Methodology
    • 3.2The results
      • 3.2.1Sample
      • 3.2.2Job satisfaction
      • 3.2.3Factors influencing job satisfaction
  • 4.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 23 November 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.12.3.04lee
References

References

AIIC
2002 “Interpreter Workload Study – Full report.” Communicate! February-March 2002 Last accessed 18 July 2017. [URL].
2005 “AIIC: A Statistical Portrait.” Communicate! September-October 2005, 1–8. Last accessed 18 July 2017. [URL].
Altman, Janet
1989 “Overcoming Babel: The role of the conference interpreter in the communication process.” In Babel: The Cultural and Linguistic Barriers between Nations, ed. by Rainer Kolmel, and Jerry Payne, 73–86. Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press.Google Scholar
1990 “What helps effective communication? Some interpreters’ views.” The Interpreters’ Newsletter 31:23–32.Google Scholar
Cho, Hye Eun, and Il Bong Moon
2014 “Chikwawisayngsauy nakkwanseng cakihyonungkam cikmwusuthuleysuka cikmwumancoktoey michinun yenghyang [The effects of the optimism, self-efficacy and job stresses on dental hygienists’ job satisfaction].” Korean Health Public Research 40(4): 121–32.Google Scholar
Choi, Jungwha, and Hyang-Ok Lim
2002 “The status of translators and interpreters in Korea.” Meta 47(4): 627–35. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Cooper, Cary L., Rachel Davies, and Rosalie L. Tung
1982 “Interpreting stress: Sources of job stress among conference interpreters.” Multilingua 1(2): 97–107. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Dam, Helle V., and Karen Korning Zethsen
2013 “Conference interpreters – the stars of the translation profession?: A study of the occupational status of Danish EU Interpreters as compared to Danish EU translators.” Translation and Interpreting Studies 4(2): 229–59. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Dantzker, Mark L.
1994 “Measuring job satisfaction in police department and policy implications: An examination of a mid-size southern police department.” American Journal of Police 131: 77–101.Google Scholar
Dawrant, Andrew, and Hong Jiang
2001 “Conference interpreting in Mainland China.” Communicate! Accessed April 2. [URL].
Dean, Robyn, K. Robert, Q. Pollard, and Vincent J. Samar
2010 “RID Research Grant Underscores Occupational Health Risks: VRS and K-12 Settings Most Concerning.” Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Views 27(1): 41–43.Google Scholar
Finn, Carmel P.
2001 “Autonomy: An important component for nurses’ job satisfaction.” Interactional Journal of Nursing Studies 381: 349–57. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Hackman, Richard J., and Greg R. Oldham
1976 “Motivation through the design of work: Test of a theory.” Organizational Behavior and Human Performance 161: 250–79. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Hall, Richard H.
1986 Dimensions of Work. Beverly Hills, CA: SAGE.Google Scholar
Hubscher-Davidson, Severine
2016 “Trait emotional intelligence and translation: A study of professional translators.” Target 28(1): 132–157. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Jeong, Heo-Uk
2006 “Inkwusahoyhakcekyoin, sahoyhakcek yoin mich kyosauy sahoysimlihakcekyoini cikmwumancoktoey michinun yenghyang [Influences of sociodemographic factors, school organizational factors, and sociopsychological factors on teachers’ job satisfaction].” Kyoyukkwahakyenkwu 37(2): 75–96.Google Scholar
Judge, Timothy A., Carl J. Thoresen, Joyce E. Bono, and Gregory K. Patton
2001 “The job satisfaction – job performance relationship: A qualitative and quantitative review.” Psychological Bulletin 1271: 376–407. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Kang, Su-jung
2015 “Thongpenyeksanepuy sicangkwucowa thukcingey kwanhan yenkwu [Study on market structure and characteristics of the industry of interpretation and translation].” Thongyekkwabeonyek 17(2): 113–133.Google Scholar
Lee, Jieun, Moonsun Choi, Jiun Huh, and Aili Chang
2016 “Community interpreting services by marriage migrants for marriage migrants in South Korea.” Perspectives 24(2): 179–200. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Lee, Jieun, Hyomi Yoo, Yangjoo June, and Heejeong Jeong
2014a “Thongpenyekhak seksa kyoyukkwaceng kaycengul wihan colepsayng selmwuncosa: ihwayetay. thongyekpenyektayhakwen salyeyyenkwu [Graduates’ survey in the process of the renewal of MA T&I curriculum: a case study of Ewha GSTI].” T&I Review 41: 51–71.Google Scholar
Lee, Jieun, Aili Chang, Moonsun Choi, and Jiun Huh
2014b “Gyeolhoniminja tongbeonyeokseobiseusaeopeul tonghae bon jiyeoksahwetongyeok sare yeongu” [A case study of T&I services for marriage migrants and multicultural families]. Translation Studies 15(3): 177–210.Google Scholar
Lim, Chang Ho
2014 “Kyengchalkwan cikmwumancoktouy kyelcengyoiney kwanhan yenkwu [A study on the determinants of job satisfaction among police officers].” Hankwukkyengchalyenkwu 13(3): 239–72.Google Scholar
Lim, Hyang-Ok
2005 “Working into the B Language: The condoned taboo?” Meta 50(4). DOI logo.Google Scholar
Locke, Edwin A.
1976 “The nature and causes of job satisfaction.” In The Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. by Marvin Dunnette, 1297–343. Chicago: Rand McNally.Google Scholar
Lu, Hong, Louise. K. Barriball, Xian Zhang, and Alison E. While
2012 “Job satisfaction among hospital nurses revisited: A systematic review.” International Journal of Nursing Studies 49(8): 1017–38. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Lu, Hong, Alison E. While, and K. Louise Barriball
2007 “Job satisfaction and its related factors: A questionnaire survey of hospital nurses in Mainland China.” International Journal of Nursing Studies 44(4): 574–88. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Moser-Mercer, Barbara, Uli H. Frauenfelder, Beatriz Casado, and Alexander Künzli
2000 “Searching to define expertise in interpreting.” In Language Processing and Simultaneous Interpreting: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, ed. by Birgitta Englund Dimitrova and Kenneth Hyltenstam, 107–352. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Neff, Jacquy
2008 “A Statistical Portrait of AIIC: 2005–06.” Communicate! Spring 2008 Accessed July 28. [URL].
2009 “A Statistical Portrait 2005–2009.” Communicate! Spring 2011 [URL]. Accessed 28 July 2016.
Olohan, Maeve
2007 “Economic trends and development in the translation industry.” The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 1(1): 37–63. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Ozolins, Uldis
2004 Survey of Interpreting Practitioners. Melbourne: VITS Language Link.Google Scholar
Park, Hyerim
2010 “Thongyeksa inki chwulak… “wulin ettekhay” [Popularity of interpreting job drops…” What’d happen to us?”].” Weekly Donga, July 26. Issue 747: 56–57. [URL].
Park, Mi Mi, and Suk-Jung Han
2013 “Kacengcenmwunkanhosauy kamcengnotong, cikmwu suthuleysu, kayincek cawenuy cikmwumancoktowauy kwanlyenseng [Relations of job satisfaction with emotional labor, job stress, and personal resources in home healthcare nurses].” Ciyeksahoykanhohakhoy 24(1): 51–61. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Piko, Bettina F.
2006 “Burnout, role conflict, job satisfaction and psychosocial health among Hungarian health care staff: A questionnaire survey.” International Journal of Nursing Studies 431: 311–18. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Pöchhacker, Franz
2009 “Conference interpreting: Surveying the profession.” Translation and Interpreting Studies 4(2): 172–86. DOI logo.Google Scholar
R Core Team
2016 R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria. [URL].
Rothman, Robert A.
1987 Working: Sociological Perspectives. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Ruggiero, Jeanne S.
2005 “Health, work variables, and job satisfaction among nurses.” Journal of Nursing Administration 351: 254–63. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Sela-Sheffy, Rakefet, and Miriam Shlesinger
2008 “Strategies of image-making and status advancement of translators and interpreters as a marginal occupational group: A research project in progress.” In Beyond Descriptive Translation Studies, ed. by Anthony Pym, Miriam Shlesinger, and Daniel Simeoni, 79–90. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Setton, Robin, and Alice Guo Liangliang
2009 “Attitudes to role, status and professional identity in interpreters and translators with Chinese in Shanghai and Taipei.” Translation and Interpreting Studies 4(2): 210–38. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Smith, Patricia C., Lorne M. Kendall, and Charles L. Hulin
1969 The Measurement of Satisfaction in Work and Retirement. Chicago: Rand McNelly.Google Scholar
Smucker, Michael K., Warren A. Whisenant, and Paul M. Pedersen
2003 “An investigation of job satisfaction and female sports journalists.” Sex Roles 49(7): 401–407. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Specter, Paul E.
1997 Job Satisfaction: Application, Assessment, Causes, and Consequences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Stempien, Lori, and Roger C. Loeb
2002 “Differences in job satisfaction between general education and special education teachers: Implications for retention.” Remedial and Special Education 23(5): 258–67. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Swartz, Daniel B.
1999 Job Satisfaction of Interpreters for the Deaf. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. The Graduate School of America.Google Scholar
van Scheers, Louise, and Johan Botha
2014 “Analysing relationship between employee job satisfaction and motivation.” Journal of Business and Retail Management Research 9(1): 98–109.Google Scholar
Wild, Priscilla., Vigil Parsons, and Elizabeth Dietz
2006 “Nurse practitioner’s characteristics and job satisfaction.” Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 181: 544–49. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Willem Annick, Marc Buelens, and Ives De Jonghe
2007 “Impact of organizational structure on nurses’ job satisfaction: A questionnaire survey.” International Journal of Nursing Studies 44(6): 1011–1020. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Witter-Merithew, Anna
2012 “Sign language interpreters: Breaking down silos through reflective practice.” Accessed 24 July 2017. [URL].
Won, Seong Ok, and Yun Ju Kang
2007 “Swuhwathongyeksauy cikmwu thuksengkwa mancokto pwunsek yenkwu [A study on the job characteristics and satisfaction of sign language interpreters].” The Journal of Special Education 6(8): 71–89.Google Scholar
Xiaomin Hao, Cherian Goerge, and Shi Gong
2016 “Job satisfaction of journalists: Professional aspirations, newsroom culture and social context.” Media Asia 40(1): 73–84. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Ziegler, Rene, Britta Hagen, and Michael Diehl
2012 “Relationship between job satisfaction and job performance: Job ambivalence as a moderator.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 42(8): 2019–2040. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 9 other publications

Giustini, Deborah
2022. Hakenconference interpreters in Japan: Exploring status through the sociology of work and of professions. Interpreting and Society 2:1 ► pp. 3 ff. DOI logo
Im, Sei-inn & Hyang-Ok Lim
2019. Where do we stand?. FORUM. Revue internationale d’interprétation et de traduction / International Journal of Interpretation and Translation 17:2 ► pp. 192 ff. DOI logo
Lee, Jieun & Yonsuk Song
2022. A survey of translation and interpreting studies doctoral students’ experiences. FORUM. Revue internationale d’interprétation et de traduction / International Journal of Interpretation and Translation 20:1 ► pp. 65 ff. DOI logo
Liu, Fung Ming Christy
2024. Scrutinizing job satisfaction during COVID-19 through Facebook. Translation Spaces DOI logo
Monzó-Nebot, Esther & Cristina R. Álvarez-Álvarez
2024. Healthcare interpreters X, Y, Z. Translation Spaces DOI logo
Phanthaphoommee, Narongdej & Athip Thumvichit
2024. Unraveling the multifaceted nature of job satisfaction among migrant healthcare interpreters/translators. Translation Spaces DOI logo
Pokorn, Nike K. & Jaka Čibej
2022. Chapter 13. Migrants’ attitudes towards community interpreting. In Advances in Interdisciplinary Language Policy [Studies in World Language Problems, 9], ► pp. 258 ff. DOI logo
Rossetti, Alessandra
2020. Lore Vandevoorde, Joke Daems, and Bart Defrancq (eds.): New Empirical Perspectives on Translation and Interpreting. Machine Translation 34:2-3 ► pp. 231 ff. DOI logo
Ruokonen, Minna, Elin Svahn & Anu Heino
2024. Translators’ and interpreters’ job satisfaction – a multi-faceted object of study with far-reaching implications. Translation Spaces DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 8 april 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.