Brenda Nicodemus - Signed Language Interpretation and Translation Research Selected Papers from the First International Symposium

Signed Language Interpretation and Translation Research

Melanie Metzger and Earl Fleetwood, General Editors

Selected Papers from the First International Symposium

Brenda Nicodemus and Keith Cagle, Editors

Studies in Interpretation

A Series Edited by Melanie Metzger and Earl Fleetwood

Gallaudet University Press

Washington, DC 20002

http://gupress.gallaudet.edu

2015 by Gallaudet University

All rights reserved. Published 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Cover leaf design by John Paul Navoa.

ISBN 978-156368-649-8

ISSN 1545-7613

This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

Brenda Nicodemus and Keith Cagle

Eileen Forestal

Silvia Del Vecchio, Marcello Cardarelli, Fabiana De Simone, and Giulia Petitta

Stephanie Feyne

Annie Marks

Campbell McDermid

Jeremy L. Brunson

Ronice Mller de Quadros, Janine Oliveira, Aline Nunes de Sousa, and Roberto Dutra Vargas

Roberto R. Santiago, Lisa F. Barrick, and Rebecca Jennings

Annette Miner

David Quinto-Pozos, Erica Alley, Kristie Casanova de Canales, and Rafael Trevio

It was late October 2013 in Washington, D.C., and the wind was brisk, yet Brendas palms were noticeably clammy. She hadnt been exercising, so she could only attribute the sensation in her hands to sheer nervousness. She was serving as the coordinator of the inaugural International Symposium on Signed Language Interpreting and Translation Research, and the deadline for presentation proposals was fast approaching. Dont worry, she told herself, with luck we will interest 50 or so scholars who can gather together in a serious, dark-paneled room on campus to talk about their research studies. The administrators at Gallaudet University had given their blessings and financial support for the symposium, whatever the outcome. Energized faculty, staff, and students were in place to assist with every aspect of the symposium. But the potential of the event being a colossal flop weighed on Brenda.

The original vision of a small-scale gathering changed overnight as the abstracts came pouring in on the due date. Proposals from students and scholars in Brazil, Turkey, Australia, Italy, Scotland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Holland, Belgium, Scotland, and other countries filled the inbox. The 14 members of the international scientific committee rolled up their sleeves and began reviewing proposals on a range of topics. When the dust settled, 42 abstracts were selected for presentation and an additional 15 for poster sessions. The program was rounded out with three outstanding keynote presenters: Terry Janzen of Canada, Eileen Forestal of the United States, and Lorraine Leeson of Ireland. The 2-day symposium quickly expanded to 3 full days, and the presentation schedule was stretched to two concurrent sessions. With the generous backing of the Gallaudet University Regional Interpreter Education Center (GURIEC), live streaming was provided for individuals who couldnt attend in person and desired to participate in the symposium. As the number of registrants swelled from 100 to 200 and then to 300, the hotel staff supporting the event accommodated our ever-shifting needs for more space. In the end, the symposium had nearly 450 on-site and distance registrantseight times the anticipated number! The outstanding faculty, staff, and students in the Gallaudet Department of Interpretation and across campus generously gave their time to do the heavy lifting necessary to bring the symposium together.

It was within this context the volume that you are now holding was created. Along with the myriad unknowns about the symposium, there were questions about whether a book of the presentations could be produced. When Gallaudet University Press expressed interest in publishing a selected-papers volume, we quickly sent out a call for papers and, from the submitted manuscripts, we selected 10 excellent papers. We provide you with a summary of the chapters here.

In , Eileen Forestal uses poetry and prose to advocate for inclusion of Deaf perspectives in all signed language interpreting and translation research. Her chapter, Deaf Perspectives in Interpretation Research: A Critical Element Long Overdue, reminds us that only a full partnership between hearing and Deaf researchers will advance our thinking and profession.

In , Silvia Del Vecchio, Marcello Cardarelli, Fabiana De Simone, and Giulia Petitta, frame the issue of participants direct interaction with interpreters in their chapter Interacting with Participants Outside of Interpretation. For any interpreter who has faced the question, How do you sign __________? or other metalinguistic questions, the study of these interactions will be enlightening.

Stephanie Feyne details her study on the discursive practices of interpreters and how these practices affect listeners perceptions of source language speakers. In , Typology of Interpreter-Mediated Discourse that Affects Perceptions of the Identity of Deaf Professionals, Feyne provides insights about the impact that interpreters can have on hearing peoples perception of Deaf individuals.

Next, Annie Marks examines discourse in a setting that is ripe for research: video relay service (VRS) interpreting. In , she examines interpreters discourse within the unique demands of interpreting in video relay settings. Marks identifies novel strategies used by VRS interpreters in managing discourse that unfolds via video.