History of Sign Language Interpreting

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Since the RID was established in the year 1964, there have existed biennial conferences that are used to bring together interpreters from various parts of the United States and Canada. The interpreters come together to discuss theories and techniques of the interpreting profession. During these conferences, the interpreters get to interact with each other and exchange their skills (Dean & Pollard 2011). The conferences enhance the acquisition of demographics of the interpreters. During the conferences, the participants break into two main functions. The first group is that of individuals who became interpreters because a member of their family, a friend, or someone close to them was deaf. The second category is that of interpreters who went for some training in sign language interpretation as a result of their passion for assisting the deaf and hard of hearing. The two groups interact to exchange ideas and skills that have major impacts on the deaf community and the interpreters themselves. The skills acquired in these conferences enable the interpreters to provide better services to the deaf community. The deaf community, therefore, benefits from quality services.

American Sign Language research has had major impacts on the deaf community and the interpreters. Research activities involved include medical and psychological research on how to improve the interpretation activities. The findings of the research when implemented improve the quality of services offered to the deaf community. Additionally, the activities increase the skills and knowledge of the interpreters, hence improving the interpreting profession as a whole. Interpreting related graphics are designed in a way that they enhance the skills and knowledge of the interpreters. In turn, the acquired knowledge and skills improve the quality of services offered to the deaf community. State laws and regulations contain rules that guide the quality of services offered to the deaf community. The regulations also entail how to treat people from the deaf community, what to do and what not to do. These regulations, therefore, work to eliminate discrimination against the deaf and hard of hearing and enhance the provision of equal opportunities and access to these individuals. On the other hand, the laws and regulations work to enhance the quality of skills and knowledge that the interpreters have. This is possible since the regulations apply to the learning institutions and in many states; an interpreter acquires a license for hi, or her to practice.

Technology improvements are positive changes that have affected the deaf community and the interpreters. In the ancient days, there was a low level of technology. The interpreters only used signs to interpret information from and to a deaf individual. Some of these interpretations did not have clear and understandable meanings. Additionally, most of the interpretations were not accurate. However, this changed to the positive with technological advancements. In the current days, there are technological appliances that are used to interpret sign words. In some cases, the deaf does not need a human interpreter to communicate. Technology has made communication easier for the deaf community (Mindess, 2014). On the other hand, technology has enhanced the interpreters’ skills by facilitating the acquisition of interpreting knowledge. Interpreting graphics are used by the interpreters to acquire more skills and enhance their accuracy. With technology, the deaf community can acquire equal education and other opportunities as other members of the community.

Social influences have also positively impacted the deaf community and the interpreters. The deaf community, in many regions of the continent, has leadership that ensures the survival of its members. Leadership is necessary for contesting the dominance of a rational management. Leadership in the deaf community has worked to eliminate traditional discriminative attitudes towards deafness (Premaratne, 2014). Leadership has worked to change the assumption that deaf people are disabled and that their activities are under the control of the hearing. There is a critical necessity to consider and issue the deaf community and leadership with a place in developing public policies in medical interventions, education, genetics, and other policy areas that affect the wellbeing of the deaf community.

Sign language interpretation is a field that requires quality skills to provide quality services to the deaf community. The sense of self in interpreters is generated by interactions with each other and with other people. The national organization of interpreters known as the RID has worked with the interpreters to improve the quality of services offered to the deaf community. There are many efforts made to improve the welfare of the deaf community and to facilitate the services provided by the interpreters. Technology and social interventions have significantly enhanced communication in the deaf communities. It is important that deaf people are not treated as disabled people and that they are given equal opportunities as any other member of the society. The interpreters acquire skills and knowledge through technology and interaction with each other during conferences. The interaction enables the interpreters to provide quality services to the deaf community hence improved communication.

References

Dean, R. K., & Pollard Jr, R. Q. (2011). Context-based ethical reasoning in interpreting: A demand control schema perspective. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer, 5(1), 155-182.

Mindess, A. (2014). Reading between the signs: Intercultural communication for sign language interpreters. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.

Premaratne, P. (2014). Sign languages of the world. In Human Computer Interaction Using Hand Gestures (pp. 145-169). Springer Singapore.