The UNCRPD and “professional” sign language interpreter provision
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Christopher Stone
Abstract
Deaf people are doubly protected both via human rights and disability legislation to access all parts of society through direct service delivery and via interpreters. Alongside the Deaf community and its representative organizations, interpreter agencies are the main agents for changes in service provision, ensuring that the policy and legislation they are aware of are implemented. This paper documents international (United Nations and European Union) instruments, and national (specifically United Kingdom) legislation relevant to the provision of sign language interpreters. The paper then describes a small (non-representative) United Kingdom survey, giving an indication of interpreters’, and agencies’ understanding of who should be booked to work as ‘professional’ interpreters and how the term ‘professional’ is understood. Finally, the paper discusses consideration for future provision of sign language interpreters in light of the survey’s findings.
Abstract
Deaf people are doubly protected both via human rights and disability legislation to access all parts of society through direct service delivery and via interpreters. Alongside the Deaf community and its representative organizations, interpreter agencies are the main agents for changes in service provision, ensuring that the policy and legislation they are aware of are implemented. This paper documents international (United Nations and European Union) instruments, and national (specifically United Kingdom) legislation relevant to the provision of sign language interpreters. The paper then describes a small (non-representative) United Kingdom survey, giving an indication of interpreters’, and agencies’ understanding of who should be booked to work as ‘professional’ interpreters and how the term ‘professional’ is understood. Finally, the paper discusses consideration for future provision of sign language interpreters in light of the survey’s findings.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Interpreting in a changing landscape 1
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Part I. Political and economic changes
- Court interpreter ethics and the role of professional organizations 15
- Role playing “Pumpkin” 31
- A description of interpreting in prisons 45
- From chaos to cultural competence 61
- The UNCRPD and “professional” sign language interpreter provision 83
- From invisible machines to visible experts 101
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Part II. Interpreting vs. mediating/culture brokering
- Role issues in the Low Countries 117
- One job too many? 133
- Exploring institutional perceptions of child language brokering 149
- Natural interpreters’ performance in the medical setting 165
- The interpreter – a cultural broker? 187
- The role of the interpreter in educational settings 203
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Part III. Interpreting strategies in different interactional contexts
- Business as usual? 225
- Who is speaking? 249
- Changing perspectives 267
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Part IV. A changing landscape
- Training interpreters in rare and emerging languages 287
- From role-playing to role-taking 305
- Public service interpreter education 321
- Index 339
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Interpreting in a changing landscape 1
-
Part I. Political and economic changes
- Court interpreter ethics and the role of professional organizations 15
- Role playing “Pumpkin” 31
- A description of interpreting in prisons 45
- From chaos to cultural competence 61
- The UNCRPD and “professional” sign language interpreter provision 83
- From invisible machines to visible experts 101
-
Part II. Interpreting vs. mediating/culture brokering
- Role issues in the Low Countries 117
- One job too many? 133
- Exploring institutional perceptions of child language brokering 149
- Natural interpreters’ performance in the medical setting 165
- The interpreter – a cultural broker? 187
- The role of the interpreter in educational settings 203
-
Part III. Interpreting strategies in different interactional contexts
- Business as usual? 225
- Who is speaking? 249
- Changing perspectives 267
-
Part IV. A changing landscape
- Training interpreters in rare and emerging languages 287
- From role-playing to role-taking 305
- Public service interpreter education 321
- Index 339
