The Framework
The ECCI Model™
Emotional & Cultural Competence in Interpreting
A framework for defining, developing, and assessing the emotional, cultural, and relational competencies that distinguish expert interpreters.
Developed by Sarah Wheeler, M.Ed., M.S. — CODA, interpreter, and founder of HuVia Technologies
Why This Framework Exists
Traditional interpreter training focuses heavily on linguistic accuracy. But interpreters don't just transfer words—they navigate emotionally charged medical appointments, high-stakes legal proceedings, and culturally complex interactions where miscommunication can have serious consequences.
The ECCI Model addresses what's been missing: a structured approach to the human competencies that technology cannot replicate.
Industry Research Reveals
Nearly half of interpreters report high burnout
Significant numbers consider leaving the profession within two years
The emotional and cultural dimensions of interpreting remain largely untrained
The Five Core Domains
The ECCI Model organizes interpreter competence into five interconnected domains.
Emotional Intelligence
Managing emotions under cognitive load
Managing your own emotions effectively while processing others' emotional content under cognitive load. This includes self-awareness during high-stakes assignments, emotional regulation when encountering trauma or conflict, and empathic accuracy without over-identification.
Key Competencies
- Self-awareness during high-stakes assignments
- Emotional regulation when encountering trauma or conflict
- Empathic accuracy without over-identification
- Recognition and management of emotional contagion
Cultural Intelligence
Cross-cultural meaning with humility
Navigating cross-cultural meaning with humility and awareness. Beyond surface-level cultural knowledge, this domain emphasizes recognizing the limitations of your own cultural lens, awareness of power dynamics, and authentic cross-cultural meaning-making.
Key Competencies
- Recognizing limitations of your own cultural lens
- Awareness of power dynamics in interpreted settings
- Authentic cross-cultural meaning-making
- Cultural humility and continuous learning
Meaning-Making & Message Construction
Intent, affect, and relational meaning
Conveying intent, affect, and relational meaning—not just language. Expert interpreters identify and preserve speaker intent, handle nuance and subtext, and deliver messages that resonate emotionally as well as linguistically.
Key Competencies
- Identifying and preserving speaker intent
- Handling nuance, subtext, and implicit meaning
- Emotional resonance in message delivery
- Pragmatic equivalence across languages
Role-Space & Interaction Management
Equi-Partial Role Ethics
Navigating professional boundaries with what we call Equi-Partial Role Ethics—balanced fidelity to all participants rather than impossible "neutrality." This includes dynamic boundary management and ethical navigation of complex power dynamics.
Key Competencies
- Dynamic boundary management across contexts
- Equi-Partial Role Ethics in practice
- Ethical navigation of power dynamics
- Team coordination and collaboration
Reflective Praxis & Professional Embodiment
Long-term professional judgment
Building long-term professional judgment through structured reflection. This domain develops systematic self-evaluation, pattern recognition across assignments, and integration of feedback into evolving practice.
Key Competencies
- Systematic self-evaluation practices
- Pattern recognition across assignments
- Integration of feedback into practice
- Long-term professional development planning
Theoretical Foundation
The ECCI Model draws on established research across multiple disciplines:
Emotion Science
Constructed Emotion Theory, emotional granularity research, and the neuroscience of emotional labor in high-demand professions
Intelligence Frameworks
Emotional Intelligence (Goleman, Bar-On) and Cultural Intelligence (Ang & Van Dyne) research adapted for interpreting contexts
Interpreting Theory
Role-Space Theory, Demand-Control Schema, and sociolinguistic models of interpreter decision-making
Professional Development
Reflective practice research and expert performance development literature
We are actively working toward formal validation studies as the framework is implemented across training and practice contexts.
What Makes This Approach Different
The ECCI Model reframes interpreter excellence as linguistic accuracy plus emotional depth and cultural fluency, grounded in reflective, measurable practice.
Rather than treating "soft skills" as intuitive or unteachable, ECCI provides:
Clear Definitions
Of each competency domain
Observable Indicators
Behavioral markers for each level
Developmental Progression
From emerging to expert
AI Integration
With AI-assisted reflection tools
Current Applications
The ECCI Model powers InterpretReflect, our AI-assisted professional development platform, and informs all Building Bridges Global training programs.
InterpretReflect Platform
AI-assisted debriefs with Elya
Elya uses the ECCI framework to guide reflective conversations, helping you identify patterns and develop professional judgment across all five domains.
CEU Workshops
RID-approved courses
Our continuing education workshops apply ECCI principles to practical interpreter scenarios—emotional intelligence, team dynamics, and reflective practice.
Want to go deeper?
We're preparing a comprehensive framework document with detailed competency descriptions and our full research bibliography.
The ECCI Model™ and ECCI Rubric™ are trademarks of HuVia Technologies / Building Bridges Global LLC. © 2025. All rights reserved.