Formal and dynamic equivalence: challenges for interpreters with Jemina Napier

What is an equivalent translation? What is translation style? The concepts of “free” (or dynamic) translation style in comparison to a more “literal” (or formal) style of translation will be addressed initially in this session. Translation theory and its application to the field of sign language interpreting will also be discussed. Participants will then engage in some practical activities involving ‘back translation’ from a target language product, back to source text for comparison purposes to identify what may have occurred in the interpreting process in either direction.

Jemina Napier is a Professor and Chair of Intercultural Communication in the Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, where she teaches signed language and spoken language interpreting students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and supervises various PhD students on topics related to sign language interpreting, translation, discourse and identity. She is a widely published interpreter researcher and educator and has practiced as a signed language interpreter since 1988. She is accredited as a BSL, Auslan and International Sign interpreter and is fluent in ASL. She is an Honorary Life Member and past President of ASLIA and was an inaugural board member of WASLI. She is also a Fellow of ASLI UK and the UK Chartered Institute of Linguists. She was co-chair of the WASLI-WFD Task Group on International Sign that established the new IS interpreting accreditation system in 2015, and is co-lead of the efsli Committee of Experts, as well as a member of the WFD Expert Group on Accessibility. 

This training will be delivered in BSL.