What is communicative autonomy?

• A. The capacity to be responsible for and in control of our own communication
• B. The ability to translate any language instantly
• C. The obligation to defer to the service provider
• D. The process of recording conversations for legal purposes

Answer: (A)

Communicative autonomy is the capacity to be responsible for and in control of our own communication. It means you decide what to say, how to say it, and when to say it, while taking responsibility for the impact of your words. This includes asserting your needs, seeking clarification when needed, and adapting language to the situation and audience without losing your message. In interpreting contexts, it means participants retain agency in how they express themselves, and interpreters help convey that message accurately rather than taking over or deferring control. The other options describe skills or procedures that don’t capture the personal control and responsibility over one’s own speech.