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Title:
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Linguistic Coping Strategies of Sign Language Interpreters
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Author:
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Jemina Napier
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Email:
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click here to access email
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Homepage:
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http://www.ling.mq.edu.au/about/staff/napier_jemina/index.html
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Degree Awarded:
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Macquarie University
, Postgraduate Studies in Applied Linguistics
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Degree Date:
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2001
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Linguistic Subfield(s):
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Translation
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Subject Language(s):
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Australian Sign Language
English
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Director(s):
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Trevor Johnston
Cynthia Roy
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Abstract:
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This study explores the linguistic coping strategies of Australian Sign Language (Auslan)/ English interpreters specifically in relation to interpreting in higher education. A survey instrument was used to examine the demographics and educational backgrounds of Auslan/ English interpreters. The survey found that a high percentage of Auslan interpreters working in higher education did not hold a university qualification. This finding raised the question of what linguistic coping strategies Auslan/ English interpreters might employ to cope with a university lecture, especially if they are not familiar with the discourse environment.
The empirical study concentrated on the use of translation style and the use of omissions as linguistic coping strategies in the interpretation of a university lecture from English into Auslan, with consideration given to sociolinguistic and sociocultural factors that influenced the use of these strategies.
The two key findings were: (1) Auslan/ English interpreters were dominant in using a free or literal interpretation approach, with those using a free approach occasionally switching to a literal approach within the interpreted text, as a linguistic coping strategy to provide access to English terminology. A combination of familiarity with the discourse environment and the lecture topic influenced the extent of switching and the use of fingerspelling. (2) Auslan/ English interpreters produced omissions as a linguistic coping strategy, but also produced erroneous omissions, with the most frequently occurring omissions being unconscious, and the second most frequent being conscious strategic omissions. Omission occurrence was also influenced by a combination of familiarity with the discourse environment and the lecture topic.
The significance of this study is in relation to the education and training of sign language interpreters in Australia. At the moment there are no university level interpreter education programs available for Auslan/English interpreters. This study demonstrates that to work in a university setting, interpreters need to be familiar with the discourse environment and preferably have subject-specific knowledge. Therefore university training needs to be made available to Auslan/ English interpreters to provide them with the linguistic exposure necessary for them to work in higher education.
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Page Updated: 27-Nov-2009
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