Sign language interpreter quality: the perspective of deaf sign language users in the Netherlands

This study explores the quality of sign language interpreters in the Netherlands from a deaf user perspective. Deaf sign language users select an interpreter according to situational factors, the interpreter’s professional skills and norms. The choice for a specific interpreter is based on a set of individual quality criteria. Results of the study indicate that consumers firstly aim to select an interpreter who will render a faithful and understandable interpretation. Further results show that the criteria vary depending on the setting, such as employment, education, and community. Lastly, the study suggests that many deaf sign language users lack awareness regarding the professional requirements of the interpreter, and also many interpreters lack insight regarding the expectations of the deaf sign language user

The ‘Role’ of the Community/Public Service Interpreter

This paper discusses the problematic nature of the concept of role as defined by professional sign language interpreters . The authors argue for a more rational approach that takes into account the expected behaviours of the monolingual participants in the interpreted interaction

American Sign Language Interpreters and their Influence on the Hearing World

This honors thesis is going to discuss the hearing community’s perception of American Sign Language and by association the hearing community’s perception of the Deaf community. For most of the hearing community their only interaction with American Sign Language is through watching an interpreter perform at their job. They personally have no physical interactions with the language. Even though they have never personally used the language or attempted to interact with the Deaf community they will draw their own conclusions about sign language and the Deaf community. The conclusions that are assumed tend to be incorrect. Early on in the field of interpreting these misunderstandings are encountered. The small nature of the Deaf community makes it hard for these false perceptions to be dismantled because the Deaf community and the hearing population with the misconceptions rarely intersect. This thesis will delve into the extent of these misconceptions and just how much of the hearing world’s perspective they influence. To first understand the potential hazard of the interpreter language model it is important to understand a brief history of American Sign Language and Deaf culture. The paper when then apply these principles to the Deaf community, the interpreter, and the hearing community. The end of the paper will then dispel many of the false perceptions that the hearing community has of Deaf culture. This section is included to show that the misconceptions exist

Sign language interpreter aptitude: The trials and tribulations of a longitudinal study

This paper discusses the process of undertaking an exploratory longitudinal study of language learning and interpreter aptitude. It discusses the context of aptitude testing, the test selection for a test battery, the recruitment of subjects within the small-scale study (n=22) and the administration of that battery within the context of whether longitudinal studies are feasible with small cohorts of sign language interpreters. Sign languages continue to be languages of limited diffusion in Europe. Even with gradually increasing numbers of ‘hearing’ sign language users, typically those wishing to become sign language interpreters do not have high levels of sign language fluency prior to enrolling in sign language interpreter training. As such, these students need to gain fluency in sign language, whilst also beginning to engage in interpreter education and interpreting-skills development. To date there is little understanding of how best to screen sign language interpreter program applicants to ensure the effective use of resources, i.e. to educate those who will both learn sign language to C1 fluency (Pro-signs, 2016) during the BA and also be able to learn how to interpret. Longitudinal studies enable us to take a longer view of learning and the professionalisation of skills and knowledge. They do, however, require significant time and this in itself can prove to be an obstacle when university researchers are required to produce tangible research outputs for career goals such as promotion or tenure.ESR

Uusi tulkki tahtoo töihin : Selvitys vuosina 2011-2013 valmistuneiden viittomakielentulkkien työllistymisestä

TIIVISTELMÄ Saarikko, Saara & Suonpää, Heta. Uusi tulkki tahtoo töihin – Selvitys vuosina 2011–2013 valmistuneiden viittomakielentulkkien työllistymisestä. Kevät 2014, 55 s., 1 liite. Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu, Viittomakielen ja tulkkauksen koulutus, viittomakielentulkki (AMK). Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli selvittää, työllistyvätkö vastavalmistuneet viittomakielentulkit tulkkausalalle, millaisia työsuhteita he solmivat, riittääkö heille töitä ja ovatko he joutuneet tekemään muutoksia elämässään tulkkausalan töitä saadakseen. Työ toteutettiin yhteistyössä Suomen Viittomakielen Tulkit ry:n kanssa. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin sähköisellä Webropol-kyselyllä. Kysely lähetettiin 146 vastaanottajalle, jotka olivat valmistuneet viittomakielentulkeiksi Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulusta tai Humanistisesta ammattikorkeakoulusta vuosina 2011–2013. Kyselyyn vastasi 106 vastavalmistunutta viittomakielentulkkia. Tulosten mukaan viittomakielentulkeille on riittävästi töitä, sillä 91 % vastavalmistuneista oli työllistynyt tulkkausalalle. Vastauksista tuli esiin myös tyytyväisyys työtuntien määrään. Yleisimmät tulkkaustöiden vuoksi tehdyt muutokset olivat ajoneuvon hankkiminen, paikkakunnalta toiselle muuttaminen ja oman ulkoasun muuttaminen. Opinnäytetyön tulosten perusteella tulkkaustöiden voidaan olettaa tällä hetkellä riittävän. Implantoinnin ja kuurojen ikääntymisen myötä asiakaskunta vähitellen muuttuu ja pienenee, jolloin myös viittomakielentulkin työnkuva muuttuu. Vielä ei voida olla varmoja muutosten vaikutuksista viittomakielentulkkien työllistymiseen tulevaisuudessa. Asiasanat: vastavalmistunut, viittomakielentulkki, työllistyminen, kyselytutkimusABSTRACT Saarikko, Saara and Suonpää, Heta. New terp wants to work – Employment of the Sign Language interpreters graduated 2011–2013. 55 p., 1 appendix. Language: Finnish. Spring 2014. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Sign Language Interpretation. Degree: Bachelor of Humanities. The objective of this thesis was to examine employment of recently graduated sign language interpreters. The study investigates how many of the 2011–2013 graduates have obtained a job as a Sign language interpreter. This study also reveals the changes that Sign language interpreters have done to improve their possibilities to obtain a job. This thesis was made in co-operation with The Finnish Association of Sign Language Interpreters. The data of the study was gathered by a Webropol-survey. The survey was sent to 146 interpreters graduated from Diaconia University of Applied Sciences and Humak University of Applied Sciences. A total of 106 responses were received. Results showed that 91 % of recently graduated interpreters have employed as a Sign language interpreter. Results revealed that the most common changes interpreters have done in order to obtain a job were purchasing a vehicle, moving and changing one’s appearance. The results of this thesis indicate that there is enough work for interpreters at present. However, the situation may change in the future due to implantation and aging of the deaf people. Key words: employment, recent graduate, sign language interpreter, surve

Viittomakielentulkkeihin kohdistuva seksuaalinen häirintä : Kartoitus työelämässä tapahtuvasta seksuaalisesta häirinnästä

Pohjolainen-Helminen, Tiina & Suviala, Taru. Viittomakielentulkkeihin kohdistuva seksuaalinen häirintä – kartoitus työelämässä tapahtuvasta seksuaalisesta häirinnästä. Kevät 2013, 93 s., 5 liitettä. Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu, Viittomakielentulkin koulutusohjelma, viittomakielentulkki (AMK). Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää, kohtaavatko viittomakielentulkit työssään seksuaalista häirintää ja millaisena se ilmenee. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin sähköisen Webropol-kyselytutkimuksen kautta. Kysely lähetettiin Suomen Viittomakielen Tulkit ry:n alueellisten postituslistojen kautta 557 vastaanottajalle. Yhteensä 88 viittomakielentulkkia vastasi kyselyymme. Tutkimustulostemme mukaan seksuaalista häirintää tapahtui, ja noin 61 prosenttia viittomakielentulkeista kohtasi sitä silloin tällöin. Jotkut vastaajista kohtasivat jonkinlaista seksuaalista häirintää jopa viikoittain. Tulosten analysointi osoitti, kuinka esimerkiksi tulkin sukupuoli, ikä, työkokemus, työaika tai asema yrityksessä vaikuttivat seksuaalisen häirinnän kokemusten määrään. Tuloksien mukaan viittomakielentulkit kohtasivat seksuaalista häirintää vastakkaisen sukupuolen edustajalta. Vastoin ennakko-oletusta seksuaalista häirintää tapahtui pääosin julkisilla paikoilla virka-aikaan. Seksuaalisella häirinnällä on kielteisiä vaikutuksia viittomakielentulkkien työhyvinvointiin, työturvallisuuteen sekä työympäristöön. Opinnäytetyömme nostaa esille viittomakielen tulkkausalalla tapahtuvan seksuaalisen häirinnän, ja näin ollen opinnäytetyömme tarjoaa uutta tietoa alallemme.Pohjolainen-Helminen, Tiina & Suviala, Taru. Sexual Harassment faced by Sign Language Interpreters – Survey of Sexual Harassment at Work. 93 p., 5 appendices, Language: Finnish. Spring 2013. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Sign Language Interpretation. Degree on Bachelor of Humanities. The objective of this thesis was to find out whether Sign Language interpreters face sexual harassment at work and how it is implemented. This thesis reveals that it does occur, and that approximately 61 % of Sign Language interpreters face sexual harassment at work occasionally and some of the respondents face some kind of sexual harassment at least weekly. The data were collected through a Webropol-survey, and all together 88 interpreters responded to our questionnaire. It was sent via the mailing list of The Finnish Association of Sign Language Interpreters to 557 receivers. The analysis of the survey describes how for example gender, age, work experience, working time or position in the company affect the frequency of sexual harassment experiences. It was concluded that interpreters are usually harassed by the opposite sex. Unexpectedly, sexual harassment mainly appears in public places during office hours. Sexual harassment has negative effects on interpreters’ welfare and working environment. When sexual harassment occurs, there is a need to intervene, which emphasizes the importance of this study. Key words: customer services, legislation, sexual harassment, sign language interpreters, surve

Stutter-like dysfluencies in Flemish sign language users

The purpose of this communication is to report on the occurrence of stutter-like behaviour in Flemish Sign Language users. A questionnaire was sent to 38 Flemish Sign Language interpreters and 28 employees of special needs schools adapted to deaf and partially deaf pupils inquiring whether they had ever observed dysfluencies in the manual communication of the deaf and partially deaf. Of the 13 individuals who responded, nine indicated to have perceived such behaviour. The characteristics of the observed dysfluencies are summarized and implications are discussed

New approaches for professional training of Sign Language interprets

У статті розкрито організаційні умови надання освітніх ліцензійних послуг у сфері професійно-технічної освіти для перекладачів жестової мови на базі Навчально-відновлювального центру Українського товариства глухих. Чітко висвітлено критерії до якісного перекладу з форм словесної мови на жестову мову та навпаки. Описано розробку навчальних матеріалів для оцінювання знань та умінь з жестової мови для перекладачів ЖМ. Розкрито зміст робочих навчальних планів для професійної підготовки перекладачів жестової мови. Визначено перспективи вдосконалення практики перекладу жестової мови в обласних організаціях УТОГ.The article deals with institutional arrangements to provide educational services in vocational education and training for sign language interpreters on the basis of manual "Educational Rehabilitation Centre" Ukrainian Society of the Deaf under license from the Ministry of Education and Science. Clearly highlights the criteria for the quality of the translation (of the speech to sign language and vice versa), which have an important influence on the development of teaching material for evaluating knowledge of sign language interpreters. At the article is disclosed the contents of working curricula for the training of sign language interpreters. The prospects of improving the practice of translation of sign language in the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf

Interpreting with Immigrant Deaf People : a Qualitative Case Study of an Interpreted Event

The aim of this thesis is to research the ways in whict Sign Language interpreters modify their translational strategies when interpreting with immigrant deaf people. This thesis tries to find and highlight the best practices in interpreting with immigrant deaf people. Furthermore the thesis aims for the demystification associated with interpreting for deaf people from foreign countries. In the centre of this thesis lies a case-study, in which the author has observed two Sign Language interpreted events between an immigrant deaf person and a Finnish hearing person. Case 1 is situated in the field of educational interpreting and case two is situated in community interpreting. These events have been documented through field notes, and observations done are then compared to those of authors own in working as an interpreter. The thesis aims to find solutions and answers to how interpreting with immigrant deaf people could be made more manageable for Sign Language interpreters

Sign language interpreter aptitude: The trials and tribulations of a longitudinal study

This paper discusses the process of undertaking an exploratory longitudinal study of language learning and interpreter aptitude. It discusses the context of aptitude testing, the test selection for a test battery, the recruitment of subjects within the small-scale study (n=22) and the administration of that battery within the context of whether longitudinal studies are feasible with small cohorts of sign language interpreters. Sign languages continue to be languages of limited diffusion in Europe. Even with gradually increasing numbers of ‘hearing’ sign language users, typically those wishing to become sign language interpreters do not have high levels of sign language fluency prior to enrolling in sign language interpreter training. As such, these students need to gain fluency in sign language, whilst also beginning to engage in interpreter education and interpreting-skills development. To date there is little understanding of how best to screen sign language interpreter program applicants to ensure the effective use of resources, i.e. to educate those who will both learn sign language to C1 fluency (Pro-signs, 2016) during the BA and also be able to learn how to interpret. Longitudinal studies enable us to take a longer view of learning and the professionalisation of skills and knowledge. They do, however, require significant time and this in itself can prove to be an obstacle when university researchers are required to produce tangible research outputs for career goals such as promotion or tenure.ESR