Abstract:
The present study aims to explore the role of the COVID-19 pandemic on the interpretation
sector in Kazakhstan, with particular emphasis on the transition to remote interpreting that was
implemented in March 2020. The practice of remote interpreting was not novel, though rarely
employed. The present study seeks to investigate the experiences and perceptions of
Kazakhstani interpreters in relation to remote interpreting, prior to the onset of the pandemic,
as well as their experiences and perceptions subsequent to the transition to remote interpreting.
Employing a phenomenological methodology and semi-structured interviews with a cohort of
10 Kazakhstani interpreters, the present study endeavors to discern the obstacles and
transformations that interpreters encountered during the pandemic. The study underscores the
diverse ways in which each interpreter responded to the novel working conditions, adapting
and enhancing their personal and professional competencies. The findings of this research
indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable influence on the interpretation
industry in Kazakhstan, which may lead to a growth in the prevalence of distant interpretation
and the need for interpreters to be technologically prepared in the future years
