What does the role boundary standard specify about an interpreter's professional activity?

The role boundary standard emphasizes that an interpreter's professional activity should be focused on interpreting within designated encounters. This means that the interpreter's primary responsibility is to facilitate communication between parties who do not share a common language, strictly adhering to the professional context in which they are operating.

By interpreting only within these encounters, the interpreter maintains a clear boundary of professionalism, ensuring that their involvement is relevant to the interaction taking place. This standard helps protect the integrity of the interpretation process and ensures that the interpreter remains an impartial conduit for the messages being exchanged, without veering into personal interactions or social discussions that could compromise their objectivity.

Engaging in social discussions or providing personal opinions falls outside this boundary, as it may lead to conflicts of interest, influence the information being communicated, and compromise the interpreter's role as an unbiased facilitator. Conducting research, while important in a broader professional context, is also not considered part of the interpreter's direct role during encounters and can create distractions from the core task of interpreting. Thus, the focus remains on the specific task of interpretation within set encounters, highlighting the importance of professionalism and clear boundaries in the interpreter's work.