The 1965 Code of Ethics continued unchanged until the 1978 RID Convention in Rochester, New York. Sentiment had been building for a few years that the existing text of the 1965 Code had become dated and required a refresh. Additionally, the membership had suggested that the Code be restructured to a list of points ('tenets') and guidelines (Cokely, 2000, 9; cf., Caccamise, F., Stangarone, J. and Caccamise, M. (eds.) (1979). Interpreting potpourri: Proceedings of the 1978 RID Convention. Silver Spring, MD: RID Publications.)

"The specific points of the proposed code of ethics, reported in the minutes of the business meeting, were as follows:

Interpreters shall keep all interpreted and assignment related information strictly confidential.
Interpreters shall render a faithful interpretation, always conveying the content and spiritof the speaker using the communication mode most readily understood by the persons for whom they are interpreting.
Interpreters shall not counsel, advise, or interject personal opinions.
Interpreters shall use discretion in accepting assignments with regard to skills, setting, and the persons requesting the service.
Interpreters shall deal with the matter of compensation for services in a professional and judicious manner.
Interpreters through the national organization and state chapters shall seek to uphold the integrity of the profession by encouraging the use of certified interpreters in order to achieve the highest standards.
Interpreters shall continue to develop his or her interpreting skills and keep abreast of developments in the field.

"Two items were referred back to the Code of Ethics committee for further refinement:

Interpreters shall behave and dress in a manner appropriate to the specific situation.
Interpreters shall not personally profit from any information gained in the course of interpreting.

After the RID's Code of Ethics committee reviewed the proposed revisions, the revised code was adopted in October 1979:

Text of the Code

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. has set forth the following principles of ethical behavior to protect and guide interpreters and transliterators and hearing and deaf consumers. Underlying these principles is the desire to insure for all the right to communicate.

This Code of Ethics applies to all members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. and to all certified non-members.

Interpreters/transliterators shall keep all assignment-related information strictly confidential.
Interpreters/transliterators shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content and spirit of the speaker using language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they serve.
Interpreters/transliterators shall not counsel, advise or interject personal opinions.
Interpreters/transliterators shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and the consumers involved.
Interpreters/transliterators shall request compensation for services in a professional and judicious manner.
Interpreters/transliterators shall function in a manner appropriate to the situation.
Interpreters/transliterators shall strive to further knowledge and skills through participation in workshops, professional meetings, interaction with professional colleagues, and reading of current literature in the field.
Interpreters/transliterators, by virtue of membership or certification by the RID, Inc., shall strive to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the Code of Ethics.

Learn more

For additional perspectives on the development, institution, and evolution of the RID's codes of ethical behavior, see also

Myers, D. (2013). "Looking back to Ball State: Birthplace of RID." RID VIEWS 30(2), 32–33.
Cokley, D. (2000). "Exploring ethics: A case for revising the Code of Ethics." n.p.
Fant, L. (1990). Silver threads: A personal look at the first twenty-five years of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Silver Springs, MD: Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Publications.

Page last modified:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 United States License. This license grants you permission to share (copy, distribute, and transmit the website) and remix (to adapt this work) under certain conditions and understandings. This license does not apply, however, to work claimed by other authors and producers. Additionally, every intent has been made to make materials available via “Fair Use,” (§107 to 118, Title 17, US Code); the content and downloadable materials on this page are solely for the benefit of the students enrolled in these courses.

Page © Doug Stringham, Utah Valley University; revised 2021. . APA citation form: Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. (1979). Code of Ethics.

HTML | WAVE WebAIM

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Code of Ethics (1979)

Text of the Code

Learn more