On The Role Of The Signed Language Interpreter

Signed language(SL) as the first language of deaf people is the most important tool for them to communicate their feelings,acquire information and participate in social life.Signed language interpreting(SLI) as an interpreting practice involving at least one SL has become recognized as a profession in the second half of the 20th century in the west and was officially declared as a profession in China by the Chinese Ministry of Labor and Social Security in 2007.Because most deaf people cannot speak and few hearing people can sign,SL interpreters are indispensable for the successful communication between the deaf and the hearing people.Given the unique features of SLI in terms of the working languages,modes of delivery,settings and communicative parties,the role of the SL interpreter has demonstrated its own characteristics.In this thesis,the author has applied himself to the exploration of the role that an SL interpreter usually assumes under various conditions.This thesis is organized along six interconnected chapters.Chapterâ… is an introduction which consists of the explanations of the background as well as the research scope of the study.While explaining the background,the author has reviewed the development SLI as a profession and research into SLI both in the west and in China.Chapterâ…¡reviews the previous studies on the role of the interpreter.Starting with the earliest perception of the interpreter as a helper and moving on to the more controversial role of the interpreter as a conduit,it discusses the role of the interpreter as a cultural mediator and a communication facilitator.Chapterâ…¢seeks to analyze the various features of SLI within the multi-parameter framework proposed by Bistra Alexieva.Parameters such as working languages,modes of delivery,settings and communicative parties are elaborated.Chapterâ…£works toward the analysis of the role of SL interpreters.Based on the review of the studies on the role in Chapterâ…¡and the discussion of SLI features in Chapterâ…¢,the author proposes five roles that an SL interpreter usually assumes: interpreter as a communication facilitator,interpreter as a helper,interpreter as a deaf culture advocator,interpreter as an SL promoter and interpreter as a scapegoat.Each role is discussed in detail in light of the framework provided in the previous chapters.Chapterâ…¤reports the findings from the interviews of four groups of people.In order to substantiate the five roles proposed in the previous chapter,the author has interviewed four groups of people:top deaf educators,SL interpreters,deaf clients and hearing clients.Their responses are documented and analyzed so as to confirm or overthrow the roles proposed by the author.Chapterâ…¥concludes the major discussions and analysis in this thesis.