History of Sign Language Interpreting Essay Example

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Additionally, the programs had a linguistic component of vocabulary building. Discussions concerning physical, mental, and emotional processes were limited since there was limited availability of scholarly materials. The programs were not equipped well enough to support knowledge, ability, and skills that enabled the effective performance of the interpreters (Premaratne, 2014). However, it was better to have the programs than having no programs at all.

Moreover, this was just a start. In the 1970s, there was still a low understanding of the complexity of interpretation task. The interpreters, therefore, recognized the need for further development of the profession, seeking support from the established organizations, and acquiring more knowledge through conferences, workshops, and mentoring relationships. As at today, the ITPs run for two to four years, and award certificates and degrees upon completion.

In America, there are several programs at postgraduate levels throughout the country.The American society labels the deaf and hard to hear as disable. This causes stigma that places the deaf and hard to hear in the inferior role in the American society. Moreover, the individuals working with the deaf and hard of hearing people are most of the time thought to be helpers or charitable when providing the services. As at the past decade, this was the case with many sign language interpreters throughout the globe. However, in the recent years, the sign language interpreters are required to possess certain credentials to perform the interpreting tasks.

Today, it is common for a professional perform the interpretation task rather than in the past where the clergy, family members, and friends commonly provided the interpretation services. There are various events that have helped in shaping the profession of interpretation.

These include interpreter associations, American Sign Language research, interpreting related graphics, education, information and resources on deafness, disability advocacy associations, and state laws and regulations among others. These events have significantly enhanced the profession in various ways.Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf has played significant roles in the shaping of this profession.

This includes maintaining a registry of sign language interpreters so as to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the interpretation system (Dean & Pollard 2011. The organization has played a key role in ensuring quality for the interpreters and translators. The organization encourages the growth of interpreting profession, ensures equal opportunities and access for all individuals, and educates the public on the vital roles of interpreters and translators.Interpreter associations include the national alliance of black interpreters that gives support to sign language interpreters of the African community.

The international association of conference interpreters represents all the interpreters of the professional conference from all languages. American Sign Language research includes research papers and publications that regard the ASL linguistics. These research publications contain information that can be used to enhance the interpreting profession. The interpreting graphics involve videos that show how the words in ASL are signed.Information and resource of deafness have a mission of providing every deaf or hard of hearing individual with equal access to learning and communication by using supportive collateral materials and captioning information.

Education, on the other hand, plays a major role in creating awareness among all people. This is made possible by various courses offered at different educational institutes concerning the deaf and hard of hearing. The students are taught how to treat the deaf and hard of hearing as their equals

rather than as disabled people.During these courses, the students learn interpreting skills and can enhance their interpreting careers. The state laws and regulations contain the rights and guidelines on how to interact with the deaf and hard of hearing.

All these events work to enhance the profession of interpretation. 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