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Skopos Theory and Constructed Action in BSL Interpreting by Clive Mason
Date: Sat 6 Dec 2025, 9.30am-4.30pm (6 Hours CPD)
Cost: £150 – inc. tea and coffee
Location: St Pancras Community Association, 67 Plender Street, London NW1 0LB (ask for ASLI London at reception)
Nearest Tube station Mornington Crescent. Wheelchair accessible, Accessible toilets on both ground and first floor. Lift access to first floor.
Delivered in BSL - Skopos provides the why, while Constructed Action delivers the how
This practical, in-person CPD workshop explores how Skopos Theory can inform the intentional and effective use of Constructed Action in British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting. With a focus on formal settings, the session offers practical strategies to enhance delivery, clarify purpose, and meet audience needs.
Suitable for both trainee and practising interpreters, the six-hour workshop features hands-on activities, real-life examples, and guided reflection. Participants will gain adaptable tools and a deeper understanding of how theory can support purposeful, audience-led interpreting practice.
Aims
To develop participants’ understanding of how Skopos Theory can inform the intentional and effective use of Constructed Action in British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting, particularly within formal settings.
Location: St Pancras Community Association, 67 Plender Street, London NW1 0LB (ask for ASLI London at reception)
Nearest Tube station Mornington Crescent. Wheelchair accessible, Accessible toilets on both ground and first floor. Lift access to first floor.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this 6-hour in-person CPD workshop, participants will be able to:
Outline the core principles of Skopos Theory as applied to interpreting practice.
Identify when and how to use Constructed Action purposefully within an interpreted event.
Apply Skopos-informed strategies to enhance message clarity and audience relevance.
Reflect critically on their own use of Constructed Action to improve professional practice.
Trainer Bio:
Clive is a Deaf native signer with over 30 years’ experience in BSL media, translation, and education. Best known for his long-standing role on the BBC’s See Hear, he is a Registered Sign Language Translator (RSLT) and Associate Lecturer at University College London (UCL). Clive regularly delivers CPD workshops and has held academic posts at City University London, University of Wolverhampton, and the University of Bristol’s Centre for Deaf Studies.
Any queries, please contact us at southeast@asli.org.uk
