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Deaf Sign Language Interpreters

Abstract:

Most often sign language interpreters are hearing people who work between a spoken and a sign language. However, there have also always been Deaf people who functioned as interpreters e.g., negotiating meaning between their peers and hearing teachers in deaf schools (Leeson & Vermeerbergen, 2010). While sign language interpreting (SLI) as a profession for hearing people already emerged in the last few decades of the 20th century, Deaf interpreters (DIs) only became visible much more recently (Stone, 2009). This presentation reports on a study investigating the profile, practices and expectations of Flemish Deaf interpreters. Data are collected by means of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with all known Flemish DIs. Themes discussed include: 1) profile (including linguistic identity), 2) experience, 3) current practice(s) and tasks, 4) motivation, 5) needs and 6) wishes/expectations. All interviews and group discussions are conducted by an insider, i.e. a Deaf researcher of whom the informants know he has experience working as a DI (cf. Adam, Carty & Stone, 2011). The study yields some interesting preliminary results regarding Flemish DIs’ profiles, the nature of their work, and their hopes and wishes for the future. Results show, for instance, that DIs work in different situations and between different languages, including: • VGT and written Dutch (Flanders’ spoken language) - e.g. in television interpreting; • VGT and another national sign language - e.g. at transnational meetings; • VGT and International Sign – e.g. conferences; • VGT and homesigning - e.g. mediating for deaf immigrants with minimal language skills. In addition, we found that the informants’ main expectations for the future are training and formal recognition. In this presentation, we will discuss these expectations and explore how they might be met, taking into consideration the organization of (hearing) SLI training and formal interpreting provision. Although Deaf interpreters indeed have a long past, they only recently became visible in mainstream society. This is an important step in their professionalization process but there still is a long road ahead. References Adam, R., Carty, B. & Stone, C. (2011). Ghostwriting: Deaf translators within the Deaf community. Babel, 57(4), 375-393. Leeson, Lorraine & Vermeerbergen, Myriam. 2010. Sign Language Interpreting and Translating”. In Yves Gambier & Luc van Doorslaer (eds) Handbook of Translation Studies, Volume 1 (print edition and online edition). Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins, p. 324-328 Stone, C. (2009). Toward a Deaf Norm of Translation. Washington DC: Gallaudet University Press.