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FREE (Zoom will open at 6:45 for a mini social chinwag!)
Papers to choose from:
The Effect of Preparation on the Quality of Sign Language Interpretation. (Thóroddsdóttir and Gísladóttir, 2024)
This article discusses the effect of preparation on the cognitive load of sign language interpreters and its relationship to the quality of sign language interpretation. Participants were all sign language interpreters working in Iceland. The data collected were both qualitative and quantitative, i.e. interviews, a questionnaire in connection with a special interpreting project and a specially designed interpretation test. The test was held to obtain statistical information on the effects of preparation on sign language interpretation and to get feedback from the interpreters themselves about what they consider important to prepare. The results of the study show that preparation both increases the interpreters' understanding of the topic and facilitates their presentation of the interpretation. These factors reduce the cognitive load and increase the quality of the interpretation. Statistical data showed that in unprepared interpretations almost 20% of the main points to be interpreted were lost, but only about 10% in prepared interpretations. The results indicate that it is important for sign language interpreters to have the opportunity to prepare before their assignments. Thus, in order to ensure the quality of interpretation it is important for the interpreters to receive the preparation they need.
Sign language interpreting, pragmatics and theatre translation (Rocks, 2019)
This chapter focuses on the translation and interpretation of theatrical performance texts into British Sign Language (BSL), a provision that has grown and developed in the UK over the last three decades, and which most commonly situates the BSL interpreter at the side of the stage, outside of the performance space. Despite initially appearing to be a process of simultaneous interpretation, the chapter shows that the discipline involves the audiovisual translation of a multimodal theatrical text, followed by the simultaneous delivery of the signed rendition, synchronous and co-creating meaning with the live performance. The chapter discusses the particular nature of the Deaf audience, issues facing that audience when witnessing a theatrical production interpreted into BSL, and the task of the theatre interpreter. With specific reference to the pragmatic phenomena of turn-taking and spatial deixis, the chapter explores the ways in which the performance text’s mise-en-scène has a fundamental impact on how the translation can be constructed and the interpretation delivered, due to the visual-spatial nature of signed languages.
Im/politeness and interpreting (Mapson, 2019)
In this chapter on the interpretation of politeness and impoliteness (im/politeness), im/politeness is considered as a discursive concept that exists in the way language is perceived and evaluated. This facet of pragmatics is therefore integral to the building and maintenance of interpersonal relationships but can present a significant challenge for interpreters because evaluations of im/politeness vary between different languages and cultures. Key perspectives and common themes within translation and interpreting studies literature are explored, including the affordance of familiarity with clients and context on the way im/politeness is interpreted. One theme relates to the degree of directness or indirectness involved, which may result in interpreters employing a variety of strategies, including hedges, prosody, toning down face threatening acts (FTAs) and use of third person. The influence of interpreters’ personal identity is another theme, which in some situations may manifest through use of particular terms of address. The chapter highlights the need for a greater focus on im/politeness and rapport management within interpreter training and continuous professional development (CPD), and the value of more explicit connections between translation and interpreting studies and the theoretical foundations within cross-cultural and intercultural im/politeness research.
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This is our monthly reading group where a journal article or book chapter related to the world of interpreting – both spoken language and signed language – will be selected and read. The reading group will be giving us the opportunity to discover new research which will inform our practice and to discuss topics in a safe and supportive environment. The format for the event will be an introduction to the paper followed by breakout rooms for small groups to discuss the paper – We can discuss such things as what did you learn? What did you like? What did you not like? What did you not understand? How might this inform your practice? What other CPD might you look to undertake because of reading the paper?
If you are registering after voting has closed, you will not have a say in which paper will be selected and the winning paper will be listed below. This is to ensure we have ample time to read the paper before the event. (Top tip – register early next month!). Please do not worry if your preferred paper is not chosen this time as papers receiving a significant number of votes can be added to another month’s list.
Here is a handy document for anyone after a few tips or a refresher in how to get the most out of your social science article reading experience. Please click on title: How to Read (and Understand) a Social Science Journal Article
This is a FREE event for members and will be worth 1 unstructured CPD point. Obviously you can decide on an individual basis to allocate more CPD points to this session for pre-session reading/reflection time and post-session reflection/further discussion time. Zoom details will be sent 24 hours before.
We look forward to seeing you! Paul Michaels and your ASLI team; Anna, Shaunett and Tess
Please email us with any questions at: southeast@asli.org.uk
Key dates:
Monday 15th July – Registration and voting opens. You will need to supply your name and an email address upon registration.
Wednesday 17th July – voting closes at 23:59.
Thursday 18th July – The chosen paper will be uploaded here on the event page to download. Members who haven’t voted can still register, read the paper and attend.
Monday 22nd July , 7:00pm – 8:00pm – Online meeting to discuss the paper. Zoom will open at 6:45 for a mini social chinwag!
southeast@asli.org.uk