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INTERNATIONAL SIGN Video version SPA Interpretación de lengua de signos |
other names
Sign language interpreting, visual-gestural interpreting. In this entry we use signed language instead of sign language, because the phrase signed language interpreting is the grammatical form that aligns with spoken language interpreting. In contrast, sign language is used when referring to a specific sign language, for example, British Sign Language, South African Sign Language or Chinese Sign Language (Janzen 2005). This practice is also consistent with the International Standards Organization terminology used within the language, interpreting, and translation published standards.
summary
The International Standards Organization defines signed language interpreting as interpreting between two signed languages or between a signed language and a spoken language. Sign language is used when referring to a specific sign language, such as British Sign Language, Pakistan Sign Language or any other of the 200+ documented signed languages. Sign language is not universal, although there is a phenomenon known as international sign, which is used in translanguaging events such as the World Federation of the Deaf congress or the Deaflympics.
Signed language interpreters, as with spoken language interpreters, provide access to services available to society as a whole and which a deaf or deafblind consumer would otherwise be unable to access due to the use of a different language. Interpreters working within the deaf community provide services in a broad range of settings including healthcare, legal, community and conference interpreting settings. A signed language interpreter must possess linguistic fluency in both languages, be trained in interpretation, and adhere to ethical codes of conduct.
The history shaping signed language interpreters has evolved from one of a charity or welfare model to a bona fide profession with well-established post-secondary programs, professional associations, and a body of literature based on research and scholarship. Interpreters can be deaf or non-deaf, and increasingly the use of deaf-non-deaf teams is common in conference, legal, mental health and medical contexts. There are also increased opportunities for deaf signed language translators to work from text to digital forms of translation, for example, translating museum content, or government websites.
This entry explains the basics of signed language interpreting and provides a general overview of signed languages prior to addressing the history of professional associations and interpreter education practices that have shaped the profession. It also examines issues of international conventions and legal frameworks that have advanced the work of signed language interpreters, the emerging role of Deaf interpreters and Deaf translators, educational programs, the role of professional associations, and the impact of technology and international sign interpreting. Finally, it will briefly outline some areas of research on signed language interpreting.
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Debra Russell, Jeanette Nicholson & Wayne Nicholson |
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2026 |
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Russell, Debra; Jeanette Nicholson & Wayne Nicholson. 2026. "Signed Language Interpreting" @ ENTI (Encyclopedia of Translation & Interpreting). AIETI. |
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https://www.aieti.eu/enti/signed_interpreting_ENG |
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