WASLI Newsletter no 4 2017

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PRESIDENT’S WORDS

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ARTICLE

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EVENTS

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SPECIAL

Read a message from

50th National Assembly on

Check out the upcoming

International Translation Day

WASLI’s President, Debra

Sign Language Interpretation

events about deaf

2017 in a special article by

Russell, about recent

of Japan in Fukuyama city.

communities, sign language

International Federation of

studies, translation and

Translators - FIT

activities of WASLI.

interpreting studies.

WASLI

newsletter. no. 4

2017

We are proud to share with you our next conference logo and theme.

President’s words Debra Russell

Dear Members and WASLI supporters, Welcome to this edition of our WASLI Newsletter. Not only can you enjoy this newsletter, but you can also enjoy reading the WASLI 2015 Conference Proceedings, which have just come out! If you were a delegate in Turkey, the proceedings are included in your registration and you will have received a link for it. To those wishing to purchase, you can do that easily from our website. Thank you to Suzanne Ehrlich and Isabelle Heyerick for their editorial work in bringing this project to a completion, and to each of the authors who have generously shared their work with you.

Our executive board has approved the logo for WASLI 2019 in Paris, and we hope you are excited by the color and imagery represented in the logo. More importantly, we are working hard to secure an appropriate conference venue, and our thanks to WASLI members living in Paris who are helping Michelle Ashley, WASLI 2019 Conference Chair. It’s never too early to begin saving so that you can attend this event.

Our regional representatives continue to work hard to raise awareness of interpreting issues in their region, and to plan learning events that can support interpreters and Deaf communities working collaboratively. During February I was fortunate to meet Angela Murray, our Austoceania representative in Wellington, New Zealand. While there I attended a meeting with her and representatives from Deaf Aotearoa, the national Deaf association, where they reviewed opportunities to support interpreters in the Solomon Islands and Fiji. This region has been an outstanding model of working towards making training relevant for the

local context, and building the skills and capacities of local interpreters to work with the deaf community. My personal thanks to Rachel Locker McKee, George Major and Ly n x , f o r h o s t i n g t w o e v e n i n g presentations, where I had a chance to meet with interpreters, signed and spoken, in Wellington and Auckland. It was great to spend time with the communities and I so appreciate the warm hospitality.

In a similar vein, I met with Bunko, efsli President, Ivana and our Europe Regional Representative, Christopher Stone via s k y p e d u r i n g D e c e m b e r. T h e s e conversations help us to work cooperatively, and to also consider ways in which well-developed regions such as Europe can support countries where interpreting in still emerging.

Liz Mendoza, North American Regional Representative, has been holding regular meetings between Mexico, US and Canadian interpreter leaders and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their labor in supporting interpreters in Mexico, especially on the challenging issue of accreditation. Watch the Streetleverage site for an interview between her and Brandon Arthur, where they discuss WASLI in the context of international learning.

Our Fund Development co-chairs, Bibi Moulder and Chris Grooms, have been busy with a GoFundMe campaign targeting dollars towards the Africa Regional Conference which was held in Nigeria this month. To each of you who have joined me in making a donation, I thank you. Our African regional representative, Natasha Malika, and conference chair, Tim Tinat, have put in countless hours to ensure that African interpreters could meet to take the next steps of developing the profession in Africa. Several of us presented via video, keeping the travel costs low for presenters, and increasing the funding available to African delegates. Our congratulations to all on what looked like a very successful and productive conference.

Our WASLI Board will hold its next meeting in Panama City July 14-15, 2017, in conjunction with the Second Latin American Sign Language Interpreters conference. Those representatives who are not able to secure their funding to attend will participate by technology, which makes it possible for our dedicated group of volunteers to learn from other regions and share their own successes. The Latin American conference is shaping up to be a very exciting event, and several WASLI Board members will participate in it. I look forward to co-presenting with Kaisa Alanne, WFD Board member.

Our collaboration with the World Federation of the Deaf continues and most recently we have struck a shared committee that will oversee the International Sign Accreditation Standards, ensuring we have a constant improvement loop built into reviewing processes on a regular basis and dealing with any concerns that may arise based on an IS interpreter’s conduct. Dr. Christopher Stone will chair this group that also included Liz Scott Gibson and Bo Hardell.

The next round of accreditation will be announced soon, and WASLI extends congratulations to those candidates who w e r e a w a r d e d W F D - WA S L I I S Accreditation in December 2017. Finally, on this same topic, Colin Allen, WFD President, and I have been selected to present at the Federation of Interpreters and Translators conference in Brisbane in August of this year. The FIT conference, for the first time, will highlight sign language interpreting, in a dedicated track and through a keynote delivered by Dr. Jemina Napier. It will be an exciting event and we are very pleased to share our innovative approach to accreditation.

WFD and WASLI have also put forward a joint submission to the United Nations OHCHR regarding the review of the CRPD. We have focused on submission on barriers and access to judicial processes for deaf people via professional and trained continues on the next page...

sign language interpreters. We believe these joint submissions are a demonstration of solidarity at the international level, and send a strong message to the United Nations from two key stakeholder groups, deaf people and the interpreters that serve the local communities.

During 2017 we will also review a number of key documents, including the WASLIWFD Memo of Understanding that was signed ten years ago. Our intent is to update the MOU, including the perspectives of the WFD Youth Section (WFDYS). We are also in touch with the World Federation of Deafblind to canvas their interest in a triparty arrangement between our three organizations, as WASLI has a MOU with WFDB and WFD does not yet have that.

We also have a small working group reviewing our WASLI Philosophy Statement on Training and our Educational Guidelines, which were also ratified in 2007. Rachel Locker McKee is leading this work.

As always, I thank each of you for your generous support for me as President and for the board of directors. I thank each of you working as volunteers for WASLI. As we share the work of raising awareness of the profession of interpreting, I hope you will see the value that WASLI brings to your world. Our new membership year started January 01, 2017 – If you have not renewed, please do and recruit your friends to do the same! For more information see our membership information in this issue.

If you have questions or comments, please e m a i l m e a n y t i m e a t president.wasli@gmail.com.

Sincerely.

5th Pacific Regional Conference on Disability in Samoa Australasia Oceania representative attends

The fifth Pacific Regional Conference on

Solomon Islands Deaf Association, Mr. Kyle

Disability was held 20-24 February 2017 in

Miers from Deaf Australia and Ms. Gael Seru

Apia, Samoa. This conference saw the largest

Fiji Interpreter.

group of deaf participants of any previous pacific

Deaf participants had a real presence during the

regional conference. Deaf participants from

conference as they chaired sessions, presented,

Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and

were panelists and a local Deaf Samoan Mr.

Solomon Islands attended. There were

Simona Simati was honored to present the kava,

interpreters from each of those countries and

a traditional cultural custom, to His Royal

Angela Murray, WASLI Australasia Oceania

Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamese Ta'isi Efi at

representative, used this as an opportunity to

the opening ceremony.

support and assist the interpreters from the

A meeting of all deaf participants and

islands who were attending and working at the

interpreters discussed current challenges for

conference.

Deaf Communities, the need for cooperation

Interpreter training in the Pacific Islands has

and mutual support to achieve and agreed that

been sporadic and mostly only available to those

formation of a new deaf association in Samoa

in Fiji. Since this conference was held in Samoa,

and supporting the Solomon Islands Deaf

two local Samoan interpreters spent the week

Association should be priorities going forward.

working alongside experienced interpreters

The Conference outcomes statement recognized

from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. The local

the need for more sign language work and the

interpreters said this was a very valuable

need to recognize and promote sign languages in

learning experience for them and they were

the Pacific.

hungry for more opportunities and training.

There was also a particular outcome that urged

Angela Murray presented about WASLI and the

the Pacific Disability Forum to support the

work of WASLI in Australasia Oceania as part of

parallel work of WASLI Australasia Oceania

a panel presentation on the situation of the Deaf

with WFD Oceania to develop skilled and

community in the Pacific led by WFD Expert

qualified interpreters, professional codes of

Group on Human Rights Coordinator, Ms. Elena

ethics to improve accessibility for deaf people in

Down. There were 6 other panelists: Mr. Isoa

the Pacific to information, education,

Nabainivalu and Mr. Krishneer Sen from Fiji

employment and services across all sectors.

Association of the Deaf, Mr. Faleasi Loto from

Wa t c h s o m e i m a g e s o f t h e e v e n t a t

Samoa Deaf club, Mr. Ali Barnabas from

https://youtu.be/YZbwrkO-viw.

Gallaudet University The 2017 Symposium on Signed Language Interpretation and Translation Research From March 31st until April 2nd, Gallaudet University hosted the

North-America with us, Liz Mendoza and our Deaf Interpreter

Symposium on Signed Language Interpretation and Translation

Advisor, Nigel Howard.

Research. Scholars, interpreters and students from all over the

The symposium offered the participants a look into the history of

world joined at this 3-day event to share and discuss research on

signed language interpreting research, the profession of deaf

signed language interpreting and translation.

mediators and interpreters, and into the right of deaf people to

Keynote presenters were Prof. Dr. Beppie van den Bogaerde on

interpretation throughout history.

the first day, Dr. Xiaoyan Xiao during the opening of the second day

Additionally, on-going research on current matters such as the

and Dr. Robert Adam delivered the closing keynote.

quality of interpreting, deaf interpreters, signed news broadcasts,

During the symposium, 36 presenters shared their research with

the access of deaf people to justice, the right of deaf people to

the attendees. These included a presentation by the WASLI

function as a juror in court proceedings was presented.

president, Dr. Debra Russell (co-presenting with prof. Dr. Jemina

The symposium was a unique opportunity for anyone working on

Napier), the WASLI secretary, Isabelle Heyerick, and our social

signed language interpretation and translation to meet up, to share

media coordinator Suzanne Ehrlich (co-presenting with Dawn

new ideas and explore possible future cooperation. The thrill of

- WASLI would like to acknowledge and pay respects to Elena Down who passed away suddenly, shortly after the Samoa conference. Elena worked tirelessly for the rights of people with disabilities and in particular for the Deaf community in the Asia Pacific region. Her contribution and passion for the ongoing work in the Pacific disability sector will be sorely missed.

ŠGallaudet

being able to experience this at Gallaudet University made even more exciting. Truly, there is no other place like it in the world.

ŠGallaudet

Wessling).

We were also very lucky to have our regional representative for

- Professor Tomoki Hayashi, Vice President of the Japanese Association of Sign Language Interpreters (JASLI) passed away on April 6, 2017. Professor Hayashi, as Chairperson of the International Affairs Committee of JASLI, attended WASLI Conferences and facilitated some workshops at WASLI-Asia Meetings making a significant contribution. We sincerely pray for his soul to rest in peace.

Call for Volunteers TRANSLATORS

WASLI wishes to offer news and information in multiple languages. In that way we are looking for dedicated translators who are willing to support our organization. For the written language translation department we are looking for people who can translate from English into Hindi, Russian and German. For the written translations, send an e-mail to translations.wasli@gmail.com with the following information: full name, e-mail address and your working languages (which can be others than the ones listed above) and your level of proficiency in them.

Legal Interpreters for Deaf People in Serbia

50th National Assembly on Sign Language Interpretation in Japan

In Serbia, the Ministry of Justice has appointed

The forum will be held in Fukuyama city in

participants will visit Hiroshima Peace

17 permanent court "sign language interpreters

Hiroshima Prefecture, in the western part of

Memorial to consider the preciousness of peace

for deaf people" which is the first appointment

Japan, from August 18, Friday, to August 20,

walking around the atomic bombed city of

of the kind after almost two decades. So far only

Sunday. It includes lectures on “Human Rights”

Hiroshima.

3 "interpreters for the hearing impaired" have

and “Community Development”, discussions

been registered in electronic records of court

on issues of employed sign language

translators and interpreters.

interpreters, and workshops where you can

The Association of Serbian SLI (ATSZJ) in

learn from the lives of Deaf people.

cooperation with the Belgrade City

Also, there will be a special course where

The event will attract more than 1,000 people from across Japan, including Deaf people, sign language interpreters, sign language learners, government officials and medical professionals.

Organization of the Deaf have translated the Law on the Use of Sign Language. This is the first law translated by Deaf Sign Language users and interpreters in the region.

Futher details: http://gogb.org.rs/tvojepravo/zakon-o-upotrebi-znakovnog-jezika.

65th Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) National Congress in Fukuoka Japanese National Congress of the Deaf, hosted

WASLI African Representative has Called on the Nigerian Government to Make SL an Official Language

by JFD, was held from June 1, Thursday, to June 4, Sunday, 2017, in Fukuoka city, southern part

The Africa Regional Representative, Natasha

disabled community, but rather a linguistic

of Japan.

Maliko, made the call in Abuja during the first

and cultural minority. The only difference

JFD marks the 70th anniversary of the

Regional Conference on Sign Language

between us and them is our language, the only

foundation this year and Mr. Colin Allen, WFD

Interpreting and Deaf Rights in Africa jointly

thing that sets the deaf people aside is sign

President, gave a keynote speech in the event to

hosted by the Africa Federation of Sign

language which is not a physical disability, we

commemorate it. Also, WFD board members

Language Interpreters, Deaf Resource Centre

are part of the disabled community but we are

participated in 4 separate sessions (1: Sign

and the World Association of Sign Language

in alliance and partnership with them.”,

Language, 2: Human Rights, 3: Information

Interpreters, WASLI.

Natasha said.

Access, and 4: History) as panel members.

Maliko also said political will and appropriate

On her message for the Nigerian government,

legislation is needed from the Nigerian

Natasha said, “what we are asking for is the

government to make Nigerian sign language

political will and legislation that will change

an official language as it is in other countries.

“It’s important for us to realise that partnership is very important, Deaf people without interpreters will not reach the goal and reach their full potential and without the Deaf people, sign language will not exist; we coexist in this world and we need to carry vision of complete access for deaf people and as well as give them their human right which is sign language recognition.”, she stressed.

“Deaf people don’t think they are part of the

the plights of the deaf in Nigeria, the government should make sign language in Nigeria official.”. ©VoiceNigeria

African Forum of Sign Language Interpreters has been Created in Nigeria During the First Regional Conference of Africa Region, delagates created the African Forum of Sign Language interpreters.

Conference Goals: · Building leadership capacity among sign language interpreters and Deaf leaders in Africa · Strengthening the capacity of AUD & AFSLI for regional activities that will promote Deaf rights and sign language interpreter education · Building synergy with the regional government for inclusion in developmental activities of the region · Building a network of all organizations of the Deaf and interpreters in Africa for

utilization of material, technical, and human resources. · Identifying new practice and trends in the field of sign language interpretation and sign language research methodology · Developing partnership strategies with WASLI, WFD, EUD, NAD, and NAOBI in achieving the goals set by AFSLI and AUD. Next conference will be held in Nairob, Kenia in 2018.

Do you have a national interpreter’s association in your country? Or are you thinking of setting one up, with support from your national Deaf association? If so, we would welcome you as a national member.

Become a member or renew your 2017 membership. http://wasli.org/membership

Join us!

EVENTS AUSTRALIA XXI FIT - International Federation of Translators World Congress Brisbane 3 – 5 August 2017 Website: http://www.fit2017.org DENMARK 8th Deaf Academic Conference Aarhus 10 - 12 August, 2017 Website: http://www.dac2017.com/ FRANCE EFSLI 2017 - AGM & Conference Toulouse 8 - 10 September, 2017 WASLI Conference Paris 17 - 20 July, 2019 Website: www.wasli.org XVIII World Congress of WFD Paris 23 - 27 July, 2019 Website: www.paris-wfd2019.org HUNGARY 3rd International Conference of the World Federation of the Deaf Budapest 08 - 10 November 2017 Website: wfdbudapest2017.com

International Translation Day 2017 Translation and Diversity In our digital world, a product or service is often marketed in many countries, and information appears to flow instantly across most national boundaries. Yet we don’t want other societies to impose their way of thinking on us. How does translation relate to the desire to access everything while retaining diversity?

subtitling and dubbing, is different from localisation. In contrast to localisation, this type of translation typically aims to open a window to the source culture, and thus helps share local insights and alternative views of the world, giving the experience of another culture through one’s own language.

Cultural diversity is closely tied to linguistic diversity. Losing your language means losing a part of your cultural identity.

Translation is important both to maintaining and learning from a culture.

Both localisation and source-culturespecific translation are challenging intellectual tasks that involve much more than mechanically matching up the words and phrases of two languages. Only skilled human translators are able to perform these creative types of translation, which help us maintain our own culture and learn from other cultures, respectively.

Globalisation brings greater international cooperation, but the downside of that can be cultural homogenisation, which in turn threatens diversity. In an effort to access global markets effectively, products and services are often translated with sensitivity to the target culture, rather than imposing the culture of the source content. This type of translation, called localisation, thus supports diversity.

Language transcends physical barriers of distance, borders and time. Translation of literature and other culture-specific material, such as foreign film through

Each culture in the world should be in control of its destiny. By promoting diversity of cultures and languages, we can hope to create a bright and colourful world, full of possibilities for learning, growing and sharing a peaceful vision for humanity based on mutual respect. We thank translators for their contribution to diversity as we celebrate International Translation Day 2017.

by International Federation of Translators - FIT

WASLI 2015 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS Get your copy!

The WASLI Board and the Conference Proceeding editors, Isabelle Heyerick and Suzanne Ehrlich, proudly present the proceedings of the 2015 WASLI conference.

This edition compiles a selection of papers presented in Istanbul during the 2015 WASLI C o n f e r e n ce “ H u m a n R i g h t s , w h e r e d o Interpreters fit in?”. The eight papers reflect the themes presented at the WASLI conference: interpreting as a means of access to religion, interpreting for deaf professionals, International S i g n i n te r p ret i n g , n e w m o d e l s fo r t h e professionalization of interpreters and the challenges interpreters and Deaf communities face in countries such as Jordan and Kenya.

The full publication can be purchased from the WASLI website.

The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters. The Editor, together with the WASLI Executive Board and external contributors, produce the WASLI newsletter. WASLI will work to ensure the authenticity of any information provided. We reserve the right to edit all submissions that are published. WASLI accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed. Readers are invited to reproduce information provided the source is quoted. Readers should contact secretary@wasli.org for permission to use WASLI official photographs, or to advise of a change of email address.

WASLI EXECUTIVE BOARD Officers: Deb Russell (President); José Ednilson Souza Junior (Vice President); Isabelle Heyerick (Secretary); Susan Emerson (Treasurer) Regional Representatives: Angela Murray(Australasia & Oceania); Natasha Maliko (Africa); Monica Punjabi and Etsuko Umemoto (Asia); Desanka Zizic (Balkans); Isabel Rey (Latin America and Caribbean); Liz Mendoza (North America); Igor Bondarenko & Anna Komarova (Transcaucasia & Central Asia); (Europe); Christopher Stone.

FOLLOW US

WASLI VOLUNTEERS Deaf Interpreter Advisor: Nigel Howard WASLI Membership Coordinator: Robin Demko Social Media Coordinator: Suzanne Ehrlich and Christy Filipich WASLI Translations Coordinators: Michelle Chang (written translations), Christian Rathmann and Arkady Belozovsky (signed translations) Website: Patrick Galasso Newsletter Editor: José Ednilson Júnior Fund Development Committee: Chris Grooms & Bibi Dalacey-Mould Educational Video Modules: Simone Scholl Conference Chair: Michelle Ashley

CONTACT US WASLI Office 7/211 Wellington Street Collingwood Victoria 3066 Australia

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