The Stakes of Citation

Welcome to 2026, interpreters. As we look forward to the new year, I’m excited for us to begin with this issue. “From the Archives” is Legacy’s first-ever issue in which members of our editorial board each chose an article from Legacy’s 35-plus-year history to bring forward, each writing a brief personal introduction to their chosen article.

So, why look into our archives for a full issue, and why now? Cultural theorist Sara Ahmed wrote in 2013, “I would describe citation as a rather successful reproductive technology, a way of reproducing the world around certain bodies.”

Who do we cite—to our visitors, funders, colleagues, ourselves—as holders of knowledge? Whose names are offered most frequently? Whose names, and by extension whose culturally situated ways of being in the world, are less present in our archives?

Each time we affirm a particular citation—in our writing, speaking, signage, and more—we choose to amplify this and not that, to reproduce this and not that. We see this in social media: repetition snowballs the visibility of certain figures or voices. We see this in professional circles. Whose names and theories do you drop to show familiarity with your field? Whose do you pause before speaking, knowing you’ll need to define them, wondering how your authority (your author-ity) might be questioned by citing them?

Lately, these questions feel very close to home. Across the United States, institutions and individuals are grappling with mandates to revise historical records, reconfigure archives, and erase words and populations from past and present inclusion. We have much to learn from studying our own archives. What topics appeared in Legacy 35, 25, 15, or 5 years ago? How have they shifted over time? As scholar Eli Clare shared in our 2024 interview, “Who is here, and who isn’t here?” It is always a good time to ask these questions.

We’ve organized this issue chronologically, beginning with the earliest-published article. What do you notice? Legacy’s inbox is always open for your thoughts. We welcome you to review our 2026 themes and submit an article proposal, and to read Legacy’s archives at length in the NAI Member Area.

PS: If I were to bring forward a previously published article, it would be hard to choose! Paul Caputo’s 20-plus years of Editor’s Desk columns are outstanding, particularly those for the 2022 JEDAI series. I also deeply admire the work of our recent Guest Editors: including Christina Cid for “Women and Femmes in Interpretation” (March/April 2024 and May/June 2024), Katie Shea for “Interpreting for the First Time” (July/August 2024), Erica Veal for “Interpreting in Color” (January/February 2025), and CJ Greco for “Interpreting Beyond the Binary” (July/August 2025). Outstanding work, all.