Education Commons^™

Redefining The Landscape Of Educational Interpreting: A National Study, Kristen Guynes, Deborah Cates, Angelina Pelikan, Stephanie Zito

Journal of Interpretation

This national study was conducted to examine the level of progress that educational sign language interpretation has made towards professionalization as a field, particularly since the establishment of the National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE) in 2016 and the subsequent release of their Standards and Professional Guidelines in 2019. Following a long history of literature indicating drastic disparities in educational interpreters’ credentials, qualifications, expectations, and working conditions, this mixed-method study partially replicated Johnson and colleagues’ (2018) national study, with added exploration of newly acknowledged domains. Data from 591 educational interpreters were analyzed using descriptive and content analyses, triangulated through …

Initiation Practices And Access To Higher Education For Deaf Students: The Interpreter As A Resource, Susana Barbosa, Ana Oliveira, Fernanda Teixeira

Journal of Interpretation

The transition from secondary school to higher education institutions (HEIs) can be a very exciting experience, but it can also represent unique challenges, making this moment a crucial event in the academic path of all students. Academic initiation practices are a tradition that exists on several universities campuses with the purpose of promoting students' integration into academic life during such an important transition.

It is important to analyse the participation of deaf students in initiation practices to higher education and the sign language interpreters' role in including them in this process. Sixteen deaf students of HEIs in the Porto region …

Identity And Coping: Deaf Sign Language Interpreters And Secondary Traumatic Stress, Debra L. Russell, Cathy J. Chovaz, Wayne Nicholson, Margie English, Victoria Paquette

Journal of Interpretation

This article describes the results of a mixed methods study with 47 Deaf sign language interpreters (D-SLIs) and their experiences with secondary traumatic stress (STS). By replicating Daly and Chovaz (2020) research, this study contributes data based on the unique experiences of Canadian and American Deaf interpreters and allows us to contrast the findings to the original study with non-Deaf interpreters (ND-SLIs). The findings reveal that the majority of D-SLIs did not experience clinical levels of STS, compassion satisfaction, anxiety, or burnout. In looking at the results, one-third of the D-SLIs showed comparable levels of STS and compassion satisfaction but …

Virtual And Viral: Shifts In Signed Language Interpreter Education During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mark A. Halley, Dawn M. Wessling, Stephanie N. Sargent

Journal of Interpretation

While online education has become more prevalent throughout the years, nothing prepared signed language interpreter educators for the likes of the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed educators in the United States and internationally to not only determine if practices had changed to keep up with the demands of the pandemic, but to learn how these practices were implemented. This study delves into the question of how interpreter educators adjusted their pedagogical approaches during the global pandemic. Responses showed a variety of adaptations to meet the needs of students, and a primary theme was the adeptness of educators in overcoming technology frustrations, …

Goodnight Gorilla: How Do Second Language Learners’ American Sign Language Narrative Renditions Change After Viewing An Asl Model?, Jennifer Beal Dr., Jessica Scott, Terynce Butts

Journal of Interpretation

We investigated the effects of a single viewing of an American Sign Language (ASL) model on university second language learners’ ASL narrative renditions. Spoken English was the first language of all participants and they had varied lengths of signing experience, ranging from 1 to 26 years. Participants completed a receptive measure of ASL. Then they rendered a wordless picture book in ASL. Afterwards, they watched a native-signing adult model of the story in ASL, and then told the story again. We investigated their inclusion of specific details and how they expressed them, including their use of constructed action (CA), depicting …

Novice Interpreters, American Sign Language Proficiency, And The National Interpreter Certification Performance Exam, Laurie Swabey, Andrea M. Olson, Aimee M. Sever-Hall, Keith Gamache

Journal of Interpretation

More than 40 years after American Sign Language (ASL) and interpreter education were first offered as programs of study in higher education, little is known about the level of ASL proficiency of graduates from baccalaureate degree programs in interpreting and what level of ASL proficiency may be associated with passing the performance portion of the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) examination. With this in mind, we posed three questions: 1) What is the distribution of ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) ratings of a national sample of novice interpreters relatively near the time of graduation from baccalaureate degree programs in interpreting? 2) What …

Impact Of Study Abroad To Nazi Concentration Camps: Perceptions Of Interpreting Students On Identity-Building, Sherry Shaw, E. Lynn Jacobowitz, Kaitlynn Himmelreich

Journal of Interpretation

This study focuses on the perceptions of post-secondary interpreting students who traveled to concentration camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland) and Schloss Hartheim (Austria). The historical context of spoken language interpreters in concentration camps, eugenics in the Deaf community, and extermination of people with disabilities underpin the study’s mixed-methods design, incorporating social identity and transformative learning theories to explore professional identity development. A Deaf, Jewish moderator-participant facilitated four focus groups using photo elicitation to foster narratives. Participants ranked photos and value statements to reveal identity components that most impacted them. A grounded theory approach to analysis revealed four themes triangulated with survey data: …

The Disc® Personal Profiles Of Emerging Sign Language Interpreters, Kim B. Kurz, Kierstin S. Muroski, Veronika B. Talbott

Journal of Interpretation

Language interpretation is a discipline of choices governed by the unique personality and behavioral traits of individuals involved in an interpreted interaction. Interpreters are communication facilitators for people who do not share languages. Every interpreter has distinct personality and behavioral traits that influence their communication choices. There are benefits for interpreters to be keenly aware of personality styles and behaviors. This article reports the findings of the personality and behavioral styles using the DiSC® Personality Profile Instrument of 242 undergraduate American Sign Language-English Interpreting students over a nine-year period. Specifically the study explores the four DiSC® profiles, Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, …

Patterns In Eipa Test Scores And Implications For Interpreter Education, Deborah Michele Cates

Journal of Interpretation

The present study addresses existing skill gaps of sign language interpreters by analyzing a database of 1,211 scores from the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) to answer four primary questions: what patterns are there in EIPA Romans across score levels, what patterns are there in EIPA indices within Romans across score levels, which discreet language and processing skills correlate most strongly with overall EIPA scores, and how does performance on those discreet language and processing skills compare between graduates and non-graduates of interpreter training programs. Characteristics of score patterns and correlations between indices on the test are examined and discussed …

From Interpreting Student To Deaf Interpreter: A Case Study Of Vocational Identity Development, Margie English, Brenda Nicodemus, Danielle I. J. Hunt, Stephan Kennedy, Mckenna Mcgough

Journal of Interpretation

Research indicates that the development of a vocational identity is critical to the process of adult maturation and for creating a sense of purpose in one’s life. Deaf individuals in the United States are increasingly interested in establishing a vocation in signed language interpreting, despite workplace obstacles experienced by other oppressed and marginalized populations. Career identity has been examined in several professions, but little is known about the factors underlying the vocational identity development of Deaf interpreters. To address this gap, the researchers adopted a case study approach to explore the experiences of two Deaf students during their first semester …

Service Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Model Of Temporal, Spatial, And Cultural Adaptability, Sherry Shaw, Mark A. Halley

Journal of Interpretation

In this study, the researchers analyze the progress of undergraduate and graduate ASL/English interpreting students (n = 34) in service learning courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was an exploratory investigation of student adaptability and approaches to collaboration with the Deaf community amidst the global crisis. Using student assignments as the primary data source, the analysis yielded five themes that contextualized student growth throughout their service learning journeys: outlook, approach, effort, focus, and locus of control. Further, the findings are framed within the concepts of habitus and boundary work, resulting in a model of temporal, spatial, and cultural adaptability …

Gendered Translations: Working From Asl Into English, Campbell Mcdermid, Brianna Bricker, Andrea Shealy, Abigail Copen

Journal of Interpretation

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-spatial language that differs from spoken language, such as English. One way is in the use and characteristics of pronouns (Meier, 1990). Pronouns in ASL, for example, are created by pointing to objects or locations in space (written in English here as POINT), and do not have a gender assigned to them as they do in English (he, she, him, her). So, where it is not specified in ASL, interpreters must decide how to interpret pronouns into English. Limited research has been done on this topic (Quinto-Pozos et al., 2015), and so a study …

Insights From U.S. Deaf Patients: Interpreters’ Presence And Receptive Skills Matter In Patient-Centered Communication Care, Brenda S. Nicodemus, Lori Whynot, Poorna Kushalnagar

Journal of Interpretation

In the U.S., deaf individuals who use sign language have a legislated right to communication access in the healthcare system, which is often addressed through the provision of signed language interpreters. However, little is known about deaf patients’ perception of interpreter presence, its impact on their disclosure of medical information to physicians, and whether this perception affects their assessment of physicians’ patient-centered communication behaviors (PCC). A total of 811 deaf adults responded to questions on a bilingual ASL-English online survey about their experiences with interpreters and physicians. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between deaf patients’ perception …

Embracing The Next Generation Of Interpreters: A Call To Action For The Registry Of Interpreters For The Deaf, Barbara D. Garrett, Emily G. Girardin

Journal of Interpretation

The founding members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) felt strongly about recruiting, training, and confirming the competence of interpreters. As a result, for over 50 years RID has been the national leader for the profession of ASL-English interpreting. At the same time, the next generation of American Sign Language (ASL)-English interpreters continue to face challenges pertaining to pre-service education, practicum experiences, and professional support after graduation as they enter the field. This article describes these challenges and offers suggested recommendations toward proactive organizational investment in this next generation of interpreters that will improve the quality of …

The Most Important Cog In The System: A Case For Legislative Change To Drive Professionalisation, Stacey Webb, Brett A. Best

Journal of Interpretation

System theory (ST) explains how signal jamming (SJ) may impede or even reverse processes of professionalization, thereby having a detrimental impact on the quality of services clients receive. In the U.K., there are various metaphorical “cogs” in the Sign Language Interpreting (SLI) system. By applying ST to the profession, we can achieve a better understanding of the current landscape and identify ineffective cogs which potentially disrupt the smooth functioning of other cogs within the system. Improving system operations will result in improved services. We argue that an instigating and mandatory force—legislation—is the central cog that will drive more consistent signaling …

Content Development Of The Educational Interpreter Roles And Responsibilities Guiding Checklist, Kristen Guynes, Nora Griffin-Shirley, Donna Brown

Journal of Interpretation

The purpose of this qualitative study was to extend development of the Educational Interpreter Roles and Responsibilities (EIRR) Guiding Checklist, which was designed to assist the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team in determining and documenting individualized roles and responsibilities of the educational interpreter, as appropriate to the needs of the student receiving such services and the qualifications of the interpreter as a related service provider. Literature indicates a long-standing state of confusion regarding the appropriate roles and responsibilities of the educational interpreter, as well as the need for more clear guidelines and procedures. The Checklist was initially designed by a …

Deaf Translators: What Are They Thinking?, Janis Cole Ms.

Journal of Interpretation

The examination of work performed by Deaf translators in creating translations between written texts and signed languages is an emerging area of inquiry in Translation Studies. Deaf people have been performing ad hoc translations within their community for hundreds of years (Adam, Carty & Stone, 2011; Bartley & Stone, 2008). More recently, Deaf translators have begun to work as paid professionals, creating a new subfield of Translation Studies, one that, to date, is largely unexplored. Using qualitative data, this pilot study examines the thought processes of two Deaf individuals in the rendering of an academic text from written English into …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Work Values And Job Satisfaction Among Sign Language Interpreters, Monique J. Champagne

Journal of Interpretation

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of work values on job satisfaction among sign language interpreters due to an increased risk of burnout. A phenomenological approach was utilized to understand the experiences of nine participants through semi-structured interviews. Results revealed six themes: (1) Autonomy, (2) Altruism, (3) Relationships, (4) Achievement, (5) Safety-Comfort, and (6) Status. Empowerment was found to be encompassed within the themes of Altruism and Relationships. Results of this study were consistent with the Theory of Work Adjustment and Demand-Control Theory and were largely consistent with previous work values research. These results point to …

University American Sign Language (Asl) Second Language Learners: Receptive And Expressive Asl Performance, Jennifer Beal Dr.

Journal of Interpretation

American Sign Language (ASL) is used by estimates of up to 500,000 people (deaf and hearing) in the United States (Mitchell et al., 2006); however, the majority of users are typically hearing university students, frequently within university interpreting or deaf education preparation programs, who learn ASL as a second language (L2). It is unclear how these learners develop their skills as they progress through university training programs. The present study documents university learners’ receptive and expressive ASL skills, factors related to performance, and self-evaluation and strategy use at the end of their ASL IV course. Both assessments are readily available, …

Discoursing Into Interpreting - Sign Language Interpreting Students And Their Construction Of Professional Identity As Interpreters For Deafblind Individuals, Gro Hege Saltnes Urdal

Journal of Interpretation

This article reports on students’ process of Bildung expressed as their construction of professional identity as interpreters for deafblind individuals. With a qualitative research design and critical discourse analysis, focus group discussions were used to gain insight into which discourses students drew upon when constructing their professional identity at different stages during their education. Data from the focus group discussions were analyzed by using Fairclough's (1989, p. 112) values of features, experiential and expressive values. The findings indicate that students drew upon intersecting and antagonistic discourses in the construction of their professional identity. At the beginning of their education, and …

University American Sign Language Learners: Longitudinal Self- And Faculty Evaluation Ratings, Jennifer S. Beal, Nanci A. Scheetz, Jessica W. Trussell, Andrew Mcallister, Jason D. Listman

Journal of Interpretation

Students who are Deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) represent a small yet diverse population of students with individual needs who often receive educational services provided by sign language interpreters and teachers of the Deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH). Many interpreters and teachers appear unprepared to model fluent American Sign Language (ASL) skills when working with D/HH students who use sign language for communication and instruction. We investigated the ASL skills of 19 interpreting and Deaf education candidates within one university preparation program at two points in time: the end of ASL I class (Time 1) and a year later at …

On The Expression Of Higher Mathematics In American Sign Language, John Tabak

Journal of Interpretation

Abstract

The grammar and vocabulary of higher mathematics are different from the grammar and vocabulary of conversational English and conversational American Sign Language (ASL). Consequently, mathematical language presents interpreters with a unique set of challenges. This article characterizes those aspects of mathematical grammar that are peculiar to the subject. (A discussion of mathematical vocabulary and its expression in ASL can be found elsewhere (Tabak, 2014).) An increased awareness of the grammar of mathematical language will prove useful to those interpreters for the deaf and deaf mathematics professionals seeking to express higher mathematics in ASL.

In this article one will, for …

‘My Fellow Citizens’: Deaf Perspectives On Translating The Opening Line Of A Presidential Inaugural Address Into American Sign Language, Laurie Swabey, Brenda Nicodemus, Keith Cagle, Jimmy Beldon

Journal of Interpretation

Translating from English into American Sign Language holds a number of challenges, particularly when the English source text is a formal, high profile, scripted speech. This study examined perspectives of Deaf bilinguals on translating President Obama’s 2009 inaugural address into American Sign Language. We conducted a microanalysis of translations of the opening line – ‘my fellow citizens’ – to investigate the product and processes employed by Deaf translators. Five Deaf ASL-English bilinguals who are ASL teachers or interpreters/translators were asked to translate the opening paragraph of the address and were interviewed about the processes they used to render their …

Contextualized Recognition Of Fingerspelled Words, Campbell Mcdermid, Lynn Finton, Alexis Chasney

Journal of Interpretation

Fingerspelling, an aspect of American Sign Language, is difficult for second language English-speaking adults to learn (Bahleda, 1998), yet mastery is required by professional ASL-English interpreters. This study compared novice and expert interpreters’ interpretation of fingerspelled words under the assumption that exposure to priming material in their L1, English, would enable the interpreters to recognize those terms when fingerspelled in their L2, ASL. In this study, participants (15 novices, 15 experts) were asked to interpret an ASL text with 25 “carefully” fingerspelled words embedded. Ten subjects were not given priming materials, ten a list of words in printed English that …

What Is Higher Mathematics? Why Is It So Hard To Interpret? What Can Be Done?, John Tabak

Journal of Interpretation

Courses and seminars in higher mathematics are some of the most challenging assignments faced by academic interpreters. Difficulties interpreting higher mathematics can adversely impact the academic and professional aspirations of deaf mathematics students and professionals. This paper discusses the nature of higher mathematics with the goal of identifying what distinguishes higher mathematics from other subjects; it then reviews the history of attempts to sign/interpret higher mathematics with particular attention to current challenges associated with expressing higher mathematics in sign. The final part of the paper discusses strategies for more effectively expressing higher mathematics in American Sign Language.

Evidence Of A "Hearing" Dialect Of Asl While Interpreting, Campbell Mcdermid

Journal of Interpretation

Little is know about the characteristics of fluent hearing signers and their ultimate attainment of ASL as a second language. To address this, a study was conducted with 12 ASL-English interpreters who were native English speakers to examine their use of ASL while interpreting. Each subject was asked to simultaneously interpret a short English narrative into ASL and a panel of three Deaf native signers assessed their fluency. Though the group included both novice and expert interpreters, the results revealed many similarities in their work. These included a reduction in pronouns between the English source and ASL target text, the …