Sign Languages Commons^™

An Exploratory Case Study Of Accredited Interpreter Education Programs In The United States, Len Roberson, Sherry Shaw, Carolyn Ball, Sierra A.W. Rance

Journal of Interpretation

This exploratory qualitative case study examines how undergraduate signed language interpreter education programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE) maintain programmatic distinctiveness while complying with shared accreditation standards. Drawing on document analysis and semi-structured interviews with program directors from all 19 CCIE-accredited programs in the United States, the study investigates institutional, curricular, and contextual variables that contribute to successful accreditation and program sustainability. The study analyzed publicly available documents alongside interview data to identify commonalities and variations across programs in areas such as curriculum design, faculty composition, admissions and progression requirements, field experience, and institutional support. Findings …

Sequential And Global Learning In Signed Language Interpreter Education, Heather A. Turell

Journal of Interpretation

Cognitive styles (Joughin, 1992) have been described as the means by which human beings prefer to learn. While cognitive styles and activities to support specific cognitive styles have been explored in various arenas of adult learning, they have yet to be applied to interpreter education. To explore this further, a pilot test was conducted to determine if the interpreting training activities designed for global and sequential learners aligned with their expressed preference for global or sequential learning tasks. Four student interpreters participated in the study. To establish the participants’ cognitive styles, they completed a learning styles questionnaire. Participants were then …

Guest Editor's Note: The Emerging Profession Of Signed Language Pathology, Anita Small, Jody Cripps, Kimberly Ofori-Sanzo

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

The Anatomy And Physiology Of Signed Language Articulation, Leah C. Geer

Society for American Sign Language Journal

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) receive extensive training in the anatomy and physiology of the oral speech and swallowing mechanisms. However, SLPs who serve individuals using a signed language like American Sign Language (ASL) may struggle to apply their training to appropriately assess and treat signed language productions in such students. Similarly, signed language specialists often lack foundational clinical knowledge to work effectively in the context of signed production. This article provides a detailed anatomical exploration of the primary sign language articulators, highlighting parallels between oral and manual articulators. SLPs learn in graduate school which speech sounds typically emerge at what ages …

Stuttering-Like Behaviors In Asl: Clinical Position Paper On Assessment Considerations And Recommendations, Jody Cripps, Mark W. Pellowski

Society for American Sign Language Journal

Assessment of stuttering like behaviors in signed language among deaf individuals will be discussed in this paper. Several assessments have been developed over the years that evaluate deaf children’s American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency, which is a very important undertaking for this population. However, there has been very little discussion in the literature regarding the specific diagnostic tools used to evaluate deaf children’s signed language disorders and dysfluency, such as specific signed language impairment (SSLI) and signed stuttering (Cripps et al., 2016a & b). Although some American deaf children have been ‘informally’ diagnosed with SSLI (e.g., Quinto-Pozos et al., 2011, …

Afterword: Toward A Framework For Signed Language Pathology, Paul M. Evitts

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

From Language Access To Ownership In The Education For Deaf Children, Joanne R. Marshall

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Asl Proficiency Outcomes: Comparing In-Person And Online Instructions, Stephen B. Fitzmaurice

Society for American Sign Language Journal

This study examined whether American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency outcomes differ between in-person and online instructional modes using a standardized external assessment. Twenty-eight undergraduate students who completed 44 credit hours of ASL coursework at a southeastern U.S. university were assessed using the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI). Students were divided into two groups based on graduation cohort: those who completed all coursework in-person (n = 15) and those who completed at least four courses online (n = 13). Results revealed significantly higher ASLPI scores for in-person students (M = 2.47, SD = 0.48) compared to online students (M = …

Freeing The Butterfly: A Call To Action, Lisalee D. Egbert

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Volume 8

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Impact And Utilization Of Asl Lab Spaces In University Settings, Nathan J. Dutra, Michele Vincent

Journal of Interpretation

American Sign Language (ASL) is a challenging yet rapidly growing language taught at both secondary and higher education levels. Despite its increasing popularity, there is limited literature on utilizing ASL labs as learning centers. This quantitative study examines the implementation of a new ASL lab at a large four-year university in California. It investigates the factors influencing participation, the motivations behind students' involvement, and their perceptions of the lab's effectiveness. Results indicate significant associations between course modality, instructor influence, and lab participation. The study suggests that ASL labs function as cultural and educational spaces that promote visibility of Deaf culture …

Toward Professionalization: Insights From Sign Language Interpreters In Vietnam, Anh P. Doan

Journal of Interpretation

This study examines how sign language interpreters in Vietnam perceive the professionalization of their field and the strategies they propose for establishing it as a recognized profession. Despite growing demand for communication access, sign language interpreting in Vietnam remains an emerging field with limited institutional infrastructure and no formal interpreter education programs. Data were collected through an online qualitative survey of 28 hearing interpreters working in sign language interpreting across Vietnam. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes in interpreters’ experiences and perspectives. Findings show that many interpreters enter the field through informal pathways such as community …

Lights, Camera… Interpretation: Navigating The Challenges Of Irish Sign Language Interpreting In Broadcast Settings, Kristina Cregan, Sarah Sheridan

Journal of Interpretation

Sign language interpreters working in broadcasted settings face added pressures due to its public nature. This research sets out to explore what the effects of being video recorded during assignments are on interpreters, and to examine how interpreters adapt to the challenges of broadcast assignments. To achieve this, an anonymous questionnaire was sent to Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreters who have experience working in broadcasted environments or being video recorded for public contexts. The questionnaire used a combination of open and closed questions to discover what the challenges are for these environments and how interpreters cope. A thematic analysis was …

The Problem With People: Signed Language Interpreter Disposition Match And Attrition, Dawn M. Wessling

Journal of Interpretation

In the United States, communication access is a legislated right for Deaf people in many settings; however, recent data suggest that the number of signed language interpreters does not meet current service demand. This multiple‑case study contributes to understanding interpreter attrition by examining how disposition mismatches between novice interpreters and more experienced co‑interpreters influence early exit from the field. Attrition among novice interpreters may exacerbate demand–supply imbalances and contribute to persistent shortages in interpreting services.

This study draws on applied and organizational psychology frameworks, specifically attraction, selection, and attrition (ASA) theory and person–organization fit (P–O fit). Using these theoretical lenses, …

Draw To Breathe, Ranran Ma

Masters Theses

This thesis explores visual expression in drawing as an intuitive mode of thinking suited to everyday life—a form of expression that runs parallel to language and surpasses it.

The project begins with a daily Post-it note drawing practice. These drawings often emerge before conscious understanding, subsequently accompanied by brief text, allowing image and word to resonate through emotion and intuition. Through the use of small-scale, portable, low-pressure materials, and with immediacy and intuitive freedom as the foundation of making, a visual language system grounded in the self develops. Through this sustained practice, I developed an instruction-based card system titled Draw …

True Biz: A Fusion Of Written English And Printed Asl, Elysha O'Brien

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper analyzes the book True Biz by Sara Novic with particular attention given to the socio-cultural and historical aspects of the story as well as the postmodern construction of the novel. The narrative of a young girl transferring to a Deaf school and learning American Sign Language features numerous translanguaging characteristics. This essay pays close attention to story elements and how those elements highlight significant aspects of Deaf culture and Deaf history as well as how the postmodern construction of the novel enables a book to feature two differing language systems, namely written English and printed American Sign Language.

Worldbuilding A Place For The Deaf: An Encyclopedic Approach To Writing Inclusive Narratives, Frederick Scott

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This honors capstone project centered on existing deaf literature sets the stage for further storytelling projects using creative worldbuilding details written in an encyclopedic informational text. Across a fledgling life spent reading hearing fiction, a shortage of deaf literature has not gone unnoticed. To start addressing this shortage, this project collects necessary information to support further writings/publications of deaf literature. A review of American Signed Language and deaf/disabled representation in literary format shows that various strategies are employed to represent the language and people within their culture. The review identified examples of unique or distinct approaches used for various characters' …

What You Don't Hear About Barriers To Healthcare In The Deaf Community: Analyzing Interpreter Experiences In The Deep South, Ryan Augustine

Honors Theses

Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals experience significant health disparities in the United States, yet the perspective of the ASL interpreter has remained largely absent regarding the barriers documented in existing literature. This pilot case study examined the barriers Deaf individuals face when seeking healthcare through the unique vantage point of eight ASL interpreters across the Deep South: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Guided by grounded theory methodology, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed to find recurring themes. Findings confirmed and revealed barriers that would not have surfaced without the perspective of the interpreter. Four themes emerged from this study: healthcare …

Orthographic Representations In American Sign Language Fingerspelling, Zed Sehyr, Lauren Fillet, Kiana Billot-Vasquez, Emily Saunders, Karen Emmorey

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

This study examined fingerspelling accuracy and error patterns in deaf American Sign Language (ASL) signers and written spelling in hearing English speakers to investigate how orthographic representations are shaped by phonological, visual, and motor encoding strategies. Deaf participants (n = 39) completed a fingerspelling repetition task, while hearing participants (n = 35) completed a written dictation task using the same word and pseudoword stimuli. While overall accuracy did not differ significantly between groups, deaf participants exhibited qualitatively distinct error patterns, including higher rates of deletions and transpositions, compared to hearing participants who made more substitution errors. Deaf participants also produced …

Fragmented Foundations: Interpreter Educator Resources And Uneven Student Preparation, Kierstin S. Muroski

Journal of Interpretation

The readiness-to-work gap among graduates of signed language interpreting programs has been widely acknowledged for decades. Efforts to address the gap have primarily focused on training methods and student performance. This paper shifts the focus to interpreter educators, examining whether the inconsistencies in their awareness and use of discipline-related books may contribute to the disparate educational outcomes of students entering the workforce. Drawing on survey data from 75 interpreter educators in the United States, this study explores demographic patterns of their book awareness and usage in teaching. Results indicate that awareness and utilization of discipline-related books to support teaching are …