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Designated Or Preferred? A Deaf Academic And Two Signed Language Interpreters Working Together For A Phd Defence: A Case Study Of Best Practice, Maartje De Meulder, Jemina M. Napier, Christopher Stone

International Journal of Interpreter Education

In this paper we present an appreciative inquiry case study of our work together in a PhD defence, which we believe demonstrates a best practice in the field of signed language interpreting. We call into question the meaning and relevance of the ‘designated interpreter’ model, examining whether there is a ‘perfect formula’ for deaf academics and interpreters working together, not only in PhD defences, but also in academia more generally. We also challenge the very system for the provision of interpreter services as an institution creating structural inequalities, because it is heavily based on privilege. We argue that what is …