International Perspectives on Sign Language Interpreter Education

by Jemina Napier (Editor)

Overview

The Fourth Volume in the Interpreter Education Series

From the moment the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) was established in 2005, an overwhelming wave of requests from around the world arrived seeking information and resources for educating and training interpreters. This new collection provides those answers with an international overview on interpreter training from experts in Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States. Whether from income-rich or income-poor countries, the 31 contributors presented here provide insights on how sign language interpreter training has developed in each nation, and also how trainers have dealt with the difficulties that they encountered.

Many of the contributors relate the movement away from ad hoc short courses sponsored by Deaf communities. They mark the transition from the early struggles of trainers against the stigmatization of sign languages to full-time degree programs in institutions of higher education funded by their governments. Others investigate how culture, religion, politics, and legislation affect the nurturing of professional sign language interpreters, and they address the challenges of extending training opportunities nationally through the use of new technology. Together, these diverse perspectives offer a deeper understanding and comparison of interpreter training issues that could benefit the programs in every nation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781563684111
Publisher:	Gallaudet University Press
Publication date:	03/15/2009
Series:	Interpreter Education , #4
Edition description:	1st Edition
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jemina Napier is Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Translation and Interpreter Programs at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, and president of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters.

Table of Contents

Preface: The Conference of Interpreter Trainers and Its Influence on the Past, Present, and Future Carolyn Ball vii

Foreword Liz Scott Gibson ix

Part 1 Europe

Sign Language Interpreter Training in Austria: An Integrated Approach Nadja Grbić 3

Sign Language Interpreter Training in Finland Marjukka Nisula Juha Manunen 15

Three Leaps of Faith and Four Giant Steps: Developing Interpreter Training in Ireland Lorraine Leeson Teresa Lynch 35

Beginnings of the Interpreter Training Program in Kosovo Selman Hoti Susan Emerson 57

Linguistic Variation as a Challenge for Sign Language Interpreters and Sign Language Interpreter Education in the Netherlands Onno Crasborn Tony Bloem 77

From Small Acorns: The Scottish Experience of Developing Interpreter and Translator Training Christine W. L. Wilson Rita Mcdade 96

Interpreter Education in Sweden: A Uniform Approach to Spoken and Signed Language Interpreting Anna Hein 124

Part 2 Asia-Pacific

Interpreting Down Under: Sign Language Interpreter Education and Training in Australia Karen Bontempo Patricia Levitzke-Gray 149

Isa Lei: Interpreter Training in Fiji Kate Nelson Inise Tawaketini Ruth Spencer Della Goswell 171

Training of Sign Language Interpreters in Japan: Achievements and Challenges Eiichi Takada Shin'ichi Koide 190

Sign Language Interpreter Education and the Profession in New Zealand Rachel Mckee Shizue Sameshima Lynette Pivac David Mckee 200

Part 3 The Americas

Brazilian Sign Language Interpreter Education in Brazil: From Voluntary Work to Formal Distance Learning Ronice Müet;ller De Quadros Marianne Rossi Stumpf 221

Traveling the Path of Excellence in InterpreterEducation: The Canadian Experience Karen Malcolm Nigel Howard 248

The National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers in the United States of America Elizabeth A. Winston Dennis Cokely 267

Part 4 Africa

Sign Language Interpreter Training in Kenya Okoth Okombo Jefwa G. Mweri Washington Akaranga 295

Contributors 301

Index 309