Parallel to the further development of sign language as an independent means of communication, the profession has recently developed into sign language interpreters who either work simultaneously or consecutively. Sign language interpreters have been trained at universities in Germany since the mid-1990s.
Sign language interpreters are used in a large variety of areas to allow the communication between hearing and deaf people. They usually work simultaneously without using an interpreting device and interpret in both directions, as needed. All of the details that apply to interpreters also apply for sign language interpreters.