تويت
The Sign Language Translator and Interpreter
Volume 3, Number 2, 2009
Now available to online subscribers
http://www.stjerome.co.uk/periodicals/journal.php?j=154&v=645&i=709
Contents
“But We Booked an Interpreter!”
The Glass Ceiling and Deaf People: Do Interpreting Practices Contribute?
Pages: 117-140
Author: Simon James Bristoll
Abstract
Over the last ten years, an increasing number of British employers have begun to provide interpreting support for Deaf employees in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and this has reduced many communication barriers previously faced; however, there are still very few senior Deaf professionals in the workplace. The aim of this paper is to explore whether Deaf employees require more than just ‘interpretation in team meetings' in order to progress in their careers. The challenges encountered by interpreters in dealing with workplace communication are analyzed based on comments from seven Deaf people. The paper also explores whether a ‘designated interpreter' model can overcome these challenges. Deaf literacy is further explored as a possible barrier to career progression. Finally, interpreting practices are situated in the wider context of societal attitudes.
Keywords
Glass Ceiling, Employment, Designated Interpreter, UK, Communication Support Workers (CSWs), Reasonable Adjustments
Exploring MA Students’ Attitudes to Translation Theory and Practice
An Action-research Approach
Pages: 141-155
Author: Sameh F. Hanna
Abstract
Most translation and interpreting programmes in the UK involve two main aspects: one is theoretical, meant to familiarize students with the history of translation and the most recent theoretical developments in the field, and the second focuses on practical training in two languages familiar to the students. While the relevance of the practical component of these programmes is acknowledged by students, the importance of the theoretical aspect has not been easily accepted. This article examines the attitudes of MA students to both components of translation/interpreting pedagogy, using an action-research approach. Drawing on social psychology, the concept of ‘attitude' is used to mean the individuals' predispositions to classify and evaluate objects, events and other individuals and to react to them with a minimum of consistency. ‘Attitude' is an epistemological construct that cannot be objectively measured but is rather inferred through observable patterns of behaviour and verbal reports produced by the subjects of study in the form of questionnaires or interviews. These inferences are partly fashioned by the interpretive and subjective position of the observer. The author's self-reflection on his different roles as a previous student of translation theory and practice and then as teacher and researcher of translation is occasioned by the awareness of his subjective position in this study.
Keywords
Attitude, Action Research, Translation Theory, Translation Practice, Social Psychology, MA Translation Programmes
In Search of SDH Parameters for Brazilian Party Political Broadcasts
Pages: 157-175
Author: Vera Lúcia Santiago Araújo
Abstract
Brazilian political parties are allowed to campaign on TV for about two months before election day. In 2006, the President of the Supreme Court for Elections mandated that parties must provide subtitling for deaf and the hard-of-hearing people (SDH), or a sign language window, to promote audiovisual accessibility. This decision was based on Bill 310 (Radio and TV broadcasting for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and the blind and the visually impaired), which determines that by the year 2018, every open TV programme should be accessible. This article analyses the subtitles exhibited so far (in 2006 and in 2008), and takes some audiovisual translation (AVT) studies and research on the topic carried out at the State University of Ceará as theoretical background. The data suggest that SDH should be improved in order to meet the needs of the country's Deaf community, and a model protocol for SDH in Brazil is thus under investigation. The proposed protocol, to be tested in Brazil's five regions, was formulated with the help of 12 Deaf viewers from the city of Fortaleza.
Keywords
SDH, Protocol for SDH in Brazil, Subtitling, Bill 310, Party political broadcasts
Pandora’s Box: Lifting the Lid on Issues of Testing
A Case Study of Sign Language Interpreters in Training in Ireland
Pages: 177-201
Author: Laura Sadlier
Abstract
Since formalized interpreter education was established, educators have battled with the issue of appropriate testing. Interest in testing has taken a variety of forms and includes issues ranging from test design to administration, and more recently, the societal effects of testing. Research has begun to identify that test developers should be guided by both test professionals and test takers. In light of this, this paper explores issues of testing, including the views of both test takers and evaluators. Discussion is set within the context of a sign language interpreter-training programme in Ireland. This paper considers three main issues: (i) the primary principles of language testing, which can be applied to the field of interpreting; (ii) a case study whose findings are reported and examined in relation to test taker and developer/rater perceptions, and (iii) linguistic and sociolinguistic challenges that arose during the test are plotted against theoretical interpreting frameworks. The case study allows for exploration of the views of test takers and, from their perspective, examines how tests may be altered to improve validity. This provides an exploration of the age-old testing conundrum of working within test design constraints to find the appropriate balance between authenticity and reliability.
Keywords
Testing, Test design, Test developer, Test taker, Sign Language Interpreter, Trainee interpreters, Competence, Performance, Skill sets, Reliability, Validity, Authenticity
BOOK REVIEWS
Cecilia Wadensjö, Brigitta Englund Dimitrova and Anna-Lena Nilsson (eds): The Critical Link 4: Professionalisation of Interpreting in the Community
Reviewed by Isabelle Heyerick, Belgium
Claudia Angelelli: Medical Interpreting and Cross–Cultural Communication
Reviewed by Robert G. Lee, UK
Doreen DeLuca, Irene W. Leigh, Kristin A. Lindgren and Donna J. Napoli (eds): Access: Multiple Avenues for Deaf People
Reviewed by Elvire Roberts, UK
Anne Baker and Bencie Woll (eds): Sign Language Acquisition
Reviewed by Ronice Müller De Quadros, Brazil
News from the World of Sign Language, Interpreting and Translation
Volume 3, Number 2, 2009
Now available to online subscribers
http://www.stjerome.co.uk/periodicals/journal.php?j=154&v=645&i=709
“But We Booked an Interpreter!”
The Glass Ceiling and Deaf People: Do Interpreting Practices Contribute?
Pages: 117-140
Author: Simon James Bristoll
Abstract
Over the last ten years, an increasing number of British employers have begun to provide interpreting support for Deaf employees in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and this has reduced many communication barriers previously faced; however, there are still very few senior Deaf professionals in the workplace. The aim of this paper is to explore whether Deaf employees require more than just ‘interpretation in team meetings' in order to progress in their careers. The challenges encountered by interpreters in dealing with workplace communication are analyzed based on comments from seven Deaf people. The paper also explores whether a ‘designated interpreter' model can overcome these challenges. Deaf literacy is further explored as a possible barrier to career progression. Finally, interpreting practices are situated in the wider context of societal attitudes.
Keywords
Glass Ceiling, Employment, Designated Interpreter, UK, Communication Support Workers (CSWs), Reasonable Adjustments
Exploring MA Students’ Attitudes to Translation Theory and Practice
An Action-research Approach
Pages: 141-155
Author: Sameh F. Hanna
Abstract
Most translation and interpreting programmes in the UK involve two main aspects: one is theoretical, meant to familiarize students with the history of translation and the most recent theoretical developments in the field, and the second focuses on practical training in two languages familiar to the students. While the relevance of the practical component of these programmes is acknowledged by students, the importance of the theoretical aspect has not been easily accepted. This article examines the attitudes of MA students to both components of translation/interpreting pedagogy, using an action-research approach. Drawing on social psychology, the concept of ‘attitude' is used to mean the individuals' predispositions to classify and evaluate objects, events and other individuals and to react to them with a minimum of consistency. ‘Attitude' is an epistemological construct that cannot be objectively measured but is rather inferred through observable patterns of behaviour and verbal reports produced by the subjects of study in the form of questionnaires or interviews. These inferences are partly fashioned by the interpretive and subjective position of the observer. The author's self-reflection on his different roles as a previous student of translation theory and practice and then as teacher and researcher of translation is occasioned by the awareness of his subjective position in this study.
Keywords
Attitude, Action Research, Translation Theory, Translation Practice, Social Psychology, MA Translation Programmes
In Search of SDH Parameters for Brazilian Party Political Broadcasts
Pages: 157-175
Author: Vera Lúcia Santiago Araújo
Abstract
Brazilian political parties are allowed to campaign on TV for about two months before election day. In 2006, the President of the Supreme Court for Elections mandated that parties must provide subtitling for deaf and the hard-of-hearing people (SDH), or a sign language window, to promote audiovisual accessibility. This decision was based on Bill 310 (Radio and TV broadcasting for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and the blind and the visually impaired), which determines that by the year 2018, every open TV programme should be accessible. This article analyses the subtitles exhibited so far (in 2006 and in 2008), and takes some audiovisual translation (AVT) studies and research on the topic carried out at the State University of Ceará as theoretical background. The data suggest that SDH should be improved in order to meet the needs of the country's Deaf community, and a model protocol for SDH in Brazil is thus under investigation. The proposed protocol, to be tested in Brazil's five regions, was formulated with the help of 12 Deaf viewers from the city of Fortaleza.
Keywords
SDH, Protocol for SDH in Brazil, Subtitling, Bill 310, Party political broadcasts
Pandora’s Box: Lifting the Lid on Issues of Testing
A Case Study of Sign Language Interpreters in Training in Ireland
Pages: 177-201
Author: Laura Sadlier
Abstract
Since formalized interpreter education was established, educators have battled with the issue of appropriate testing. Interest in testing has taken a variety of forms and includes issues ranging from test design to administration, and more recently, the societal effects of testing. Research has begun to identify that test developers should be guided by both test professionals and test takers. In light of this, this paper explores issues of testing, including the views of both test takers and evaluators. Discussion is set within the context of a sign language interpreter-training programme in Ireland. This paper considers three main issues: (i) the primary principles of language testing, which can be applied to the field of interpreting; (ii) a case study whose findings are reported and examined in relation to test taker and developer/rater perceptions, and (iii) linguistic and sociolinguistic challenges that arose during the test are plotted against theoretical interpreting frameworks. The case study allows for exploration of the views of test takers and, from their perspective, examines how tests may be altered to improve validity. This provides an exploration of the age-old testing conundrum of working within test design constraints to find the appropriate balance between authenticity and reliability.
Keywords
Testing, Test design, Test developer, Test taker, Sign Language Interpreter, Trainee interpreters, Competence, Performance, Skill sets, Reliability, Validity, Authenticity
BOOK REVIEWS
Cecilia Wadensjö, Brigitta Englund Dimitrova and Anna-Lena Nilsson (eds): The Critical Link 4: Professionalisation of Interpreting in the Community
Reviewed by Isabelle Heyerick, Belgium
Claudia Angelelli: Medical Interpreting and Cross–Cultural Communication
Reviewed by Robert G. Lee, UK
Doreen DeLuca, Irene W. Leigh, Kristin A. Lindgren and Donna J. Napoli (eds): Access: Multiple Avenues for Deaf People
Reviewed by Elvire Roberts, UK
Anne Baker and Bencie Woll (eds): Sign Language Acquisition
Reviewed by Ronice Müller De Quadros, Brazil
News from the World of Sign Language, Interpreting and Translation