Newsletter Issue 1 2015 Committed to the development of the profession of sign language interpreting worldwide
Inside this issue:
WASLI News Dear Members and WASLI Supporters,
WASLI News
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WASLI Conference update; Call for Nominations 3 Success in Viet Nam 4 AIIC and Sign Language Interpreters 6
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As we approach the final few months of the 2015 term for your Board of Directors, I want to thank each of the board members and regional representatives for their efforts over the past 4 years. Our association relies on the generosity of volunteers, and over the past four years we have had countless hours of volunteer time donated. My sincere thanks to each and everyone that have volunteered, and demonstrated their support for this association. We have had task groups working on shared WFD-WASLI work, resulting in the finalized document on communicating with Deaf people in times of natural disasters, as well as the process to describe working conditions appropriate for International Sign interpreters performing United Nations work, and most recently, the work that has drafted a process whereby WFD and WASLI can screen International Sign interpreters, resulting in standards that articulate the skills, knowledge and experience required in order to provide the service level desired by WFD and WASLI. We have people who manage our website, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and navigate the PayPal system in order to allow members to use it as form of payment. Finally, I want to acknowledge the international team that has planned the WASLI 2015 conference – the conference promises to be an exceptional learning event for those that will be in attendance, and our sincere appreciation to all who stepped forward to offer their time and talent to WASLI to benefit interpreters from around the globe. Individual Membership renewals have been pouring in, and we are working with our National Associations to also complete their renewal process, or to join for the first time. Congratulations to all of the associations from the Latin American Region that have paid their membership fees for 2015, including Cuba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panamá, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Paraguay. In North America, we have also welcomed Mexico as new national member. Our sincere thanks to Diana Ashley of Australia for stepping up to fill the Membership Coordinator’s role in Roni Lepore’s absence. We are grateful to Roni for her work last year and we look forward to having her back as time allows. Here are some of our accomplishments over the past few months:
and our website:
www.wasli.org
In August, several board members were able to meet in Macau during the WFD Asia-Pacific Secretariat meeting. Thank you to Etsuko Unemoto for organizing our meetings, and for also allowing us to attend the Asia regional meetings. It was a delight to meet so many interpreters from such a diverse region and to get a flavor for your successes and challenges.
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WASLI News cont.
During the Board meeting, we were able to review the tasks completed over the past three years, and to plan for the final year of this term. One of the opportunities identified by the Board is the need for the Deaf advisor role. While over the years, we have had the wisdom from our Deaf colleagues Juan Carlos Druetta, Stuart Anderson, and most recently, Nigel Howard, we increasingly have requests for information about Deaf Interpreting training and standards. To that end, we would like to recruit a Deaf Interpreting Advisor who can then assemble a task group, who can continue to expand this area within WASLI. See the Call for Nominations in this newsletter for this role, as well as for the Board positions, and the Newsletter Editor(s). Our regional representative process was also solidified at the August Board meeting, and each region is in the process of recruiting nominations, and the national interpreter associations of each region will select their next regional representative for presentation at the WASLI 2015 conference. These processes are to be completed by June 01, 2015, and while many regions are using electronic voting processes, some regions are relying on mail ballots. Ultimately, each region will find solutions that work for their region and we look forward to welcoming the next representations for 2015-19. Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of working with a talented crew of interpreters on this board, and while circumstances have prevented some from being active during their term, I appreciate whatever contribution they have been able to make. I have been incredible blessed to be able to visit each of the WASLI regions, combining the visits with conferences and/or training, including South Africa (Durban), Central America (Panama City), Transcausia (Kiev and Moscow), Balkans (Tirana, Albania), North America (New York, Winnipeg, Washington, Mexico City), Latin America (Rio, Brazil; Lima,Peru), Asia (Macau), Austoceania (Sydney). As we share the work of raising awareness of the profession of interpreting, and look back on the accomplishments of the past four years, I trust you will see the value that WASLI brings to your world. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me to represent your interests.
To each of you, thank you for your on-going support of WASLI, and to our shared profession. Warm regards, Debra Russell WASLI President
Recent work in Peru with ASISEP: Asociación de Intérpretes y guías intérpretes de lengua de señas del Perú.
WASLI Conference 2015, Call for Nominations
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WASLI Conference, Turkey 2015 The 2015 WASLI Conference Organising Committee has been working diligently to bring you the best conference to date. As part of the WASLI mission, we sponsor delegates from emerging nations. Your generous support to help these interpreters attend conference is greatly appreciated. Please consider joining our fundraising efforts to assist their participation: Help Support Delegates. We are deeply grateful to the conference sponsors. Please take a moment and view the sponsors on the conference sponsor page: Sponsors. If you would like to know more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the treasurer.wasli@gmail.com. The committee is formed as follows: Liz Mendoza, Tracy Norris, Igor Bondarenkio, Michael Pidwebeski, Gregg Howe, Rachel McKee, Desanka Zizic, Cassia Sofiato, Isabelle Heyerick, Suzanne Ehrlich, Jack Callon, Zane Hema, Brandon Arthur, Okan Kubus, Shauna Jehle, Delys Magill, Susan Emerson and Debra Russell. The makeup of the committee truly reflects the global community that WASLI serves to work with and for.
Call for Nominations
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S The WASLI Board of Director’s is seeking nominations for the following positions: President, VicePresident, Secretary and Treasurer. These terms are for a four-year period (2015-2019). National members of WASLI can put forward nominations. Nominees for office must have been a member in good standing of their association for the past three years. Candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest, describing your skills and experience for the position, and the goals you would like to accomplish over the next four years. The slate of nominees will be presented at the WASLI 2015 conference and the national membership will vote for the slate of officers. If your national association does not have a representative at the WASLI 2015 meeting you may submit your proxy to another national member, or your regional representative. Submit nominations and letters of interest to secretary.wasli@gmail.com by June 01, 2015.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR DEAF INTERPRETING ADVISOR The WASLI Board of Director’s is seeking nominations for the following positions: Deaf Interpreting Advisor. This term is for a four-year period (2015-2019). Nominees are asked to submit a letter of interest, describing your skills and experience for the position, and the goals you would like to accomplish over the next four years. The slate of nominees will be presented at the WASLI 2015 conference and the national membership will vote for the Deaf Interpreting Advisor. If your national association does not have a representative at the WASLI 2015 meeting you may submit your proxy to another national member, or your regional representative. Submit nominations and letters of interest to secretary.wasli@gmail.com by June 01, 2015.
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Successes in Viet Nam
BRING THE HIGH EDUCATION TO DEAF PEOPLE IN VIET NAM HOA NGUYEN, M.A. in Secondary Education for Deaf/ HoH Students Before 2000, deaf people in Viet Nam only received an education from kindergarten up to 5 grade. Schools for deaf people believed in the medical model so audition and speaking were the most important aspects. Speech therapy and attempts to “fix” hearing are the focus in most of the deaf schools in Viet Nam. This philosophy held deaf people back in developing their cognition and knowledge. Compared with many countries around the world, the level of deaf people in Viet Nam before 2000 was very low. Awareness of this issue, the project “Opening University Education to Deaf People in Viet Nam Through Sign Language Analysis, Teaching, and Interpretation” was established in Dong Nai university by Dr. James Woodward and Ms. Hoa Nguyen. The purposes of this project are: Providing the higher education for deaf people in Viet Nam and serving as a model program that demonstrates that most countries in the region could establish indigenous tertiary educational programs for deaf people even if the country has few financial and human resources, no previous sign language analysis, and only the most basic level of Deaf Education. Believing in the culture model of deafness, this project uses Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language and Vietnamese (in written form) as the main languages in instruction. Since it was established until now, the project has brought the opportunity to about 200 deaf people studying in the following programs: junior high school, senior high school, Sign Language Analysis, Sign Language Teaching, and a college program in Elementary Education. Deaf students in this project study all the subjects in the same curriculum as hearing students so when they finish junior high school ( 9 grade) or senior high school (12 grade) they take the same national exams as hearing students do in order to graduate and have enough condition to continue the next level. After 14 years of implementation, the project has some remarkable achievements such as: 1) one Deaf student ranked 5th out of 1,333 hearing and deaf students taking the national exam in Dong Nai Province in 2003, 2) one Deaf student ranked 1st out of 999 hearing and deaf students taking the national exam in Dong Nai Province in 2005, one Deaf student was in the top 10 students who had the high score in university exam of Art university in Ho Chi Minh City in 2010, and one Deaf student won the World Deaf Leadership scholarship of Gallaudet university for study for the M.A degree in Sign Language Teaching in 2012. She is the first Deaf student in Viet Nam to receive this scholarship and also the first Deaf person to reach this level of study in Viet Nam. In addition, when comparing the results of Deaf students of the project with the hearing students in Dong Nai province who take the same national exam every year ( from 2006-2012) the percentage of deaf students who passed these exams has always been higher than hearing students in the same province, except for the result in 2010 (see figure 1 below). At present the project has 66 Deaf people who graduated 9th grade, 54 Deaf people who graduated 12 grade. Eleven Deaf students received a University Certificate in Elementary Education, 17 Deaf people have graduated college with a B.A. in Elementary Education, 60 Deaf students (and 6 hearing students) have received the Certificate in Sign Language Analysis, and 12 Deaf students have received the Certificate in Sign Language Teaching. In addition, when compare the result of deaf students of the project with the hearing students in Dong Nai province who take the same national exam every year ( from 2006-2012) the percentage of deaf students who passed these exams almost higher than hearing students, except for the result in 2010 (see figure 1 below).
Success in Viet Nam
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In general, at this present the project has 66 deaf people graduated 9 grade, 54 deaf people graduated 12 grade, 11 deaf students received a certificate in Elementary Education, 17 deaf people graduate college with B.A. in Element Education, 60 Deaf students received the Certificate in Sign Language Analysis, and 12 Deaf students received certificate in Sign Language Teaching. The dramatic impact of the project is graduating the first class of Deaf students from Junior High School, graduating the first and only classes of Deaf students from Senior High School, and this is the only place in Viet Nam that providing the college program for Deaf students.
First group of deaf students received B.A in Elementy Education.
Deaf student received WDL Scholarship from Gallaudet University.
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Successes in Viet Nam
Ms. Hoa’s class
Deaf students in Dong Nai Program with some teachers. The project is succeeding in Viet Nam at an average rate of less than $40,000 per year. We believe that some primary reasons for the high success rate are the Dong Nai Deaf Education Project is strongly a Deaf-Centered project, the directors of the project have a right vision and make the right decision about direction for the project, and the contribution of the teachers who devote for teaching deaf students. The lessons we learned from this project are: design the project that is not dependence on expensive high-tech equipment, which tends to break down frequently in countries like Viet Nam and is very expensive to repair. If dependence is placed primarily on personnel and not on technology, such programs can also be established in many countries at a low-cost and still be highly successful. Similar programs can succeed in other countries with proper design and with the establishment of the program within a cultural and linguistic framework that is acceptable to the larger hearing culture(s) in the country.
Sign of the times: AIIC and sign language interpreters AIIC, the home of conference interpreters worldwide, welcomed sign language interpreters into the fold at last year’s Assembly in Buenos Aires. The AIIC blog caught up with the Coordinator of the Sign Language Network to find out more about this landmark decision.
By Aude-Valérie MONFORT & Michelle Renée HOF
AIIC
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For many of us these days, the words “sign language interpreter” conjure up images of Lydia Callis, the interpreter whose skilful renditions of New York Mayor Bloomberg’s press briefings during last year’s Hurricane Sandy earned sign language interpreting a place on nightly news reports around the globe. Callis’ performances spawned everything from pseudo-scholarly treatises on the use of facial expressions to reflect grammatical inflection in sign language to light-hearted late-night comedy show spoofs of her work, and in the process raised awareness among the general public of just what it is that sign language interpreters do. Interpreter associations know that the work of sign language interpreters (or SLIs) extends well beyond the occasional catchy headline, however. We also know that SLIs, just like their spoken language colleagues, can clearly benefit from membership in organizations that defend their profession and reflect their needs as professionals. For some time now, AIIC’s Sign Language Network has been working together with other associations such as WASLI (the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters) and efsli (the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters) to see how AIIC can best contribute to addressing these needs. These efforts culminated in the resolution, adopted at AIIC’s 35th Assembly in Buenos Aires, to include sign languages in the language combinations recognized for membership, thereby giving SLIs who work in conference settings access to membership in the world’s only global conference interpreter association. I recently caught up with Aude-Valérie Monfort, Coordinator of AIIC’s Sign Language Network, to find out more about what this landmark decision means for sign language interpreters, for AIIC, and for the profession as a whole. Here’s what I found out. MH: The news that AIIC, an association dedicated to conference interpreting, has decided to accept sign language interpreters as members might come as a surprise to some, since people tend to equate sign language interpreting with work in community settings such as hospitals, schools, or courts. But many SLIs also work in the conference setting, isn’t that right? AVM: Yes, that’s right. Sign languages have been used at conferences for many years, but mainly at national events. This is why spoken language conference interpreters who work mostly at multilingual meetings in international settings are often not aware of this fact. The decision to welcome sign language interpreters as members of AIIC will hopefully contribute to changing this perception. MH: How much conference work does your average sign language interpreter do? Where might one find an SLI at work? AVM: If you compare an SLI’s workload with the average workload of a spoken language conference interpreter on the free market, you will see that there are no major differences. In any given year, a sign language conference interpreter might work approximately 20 days at national conferences (interpreting between spoken French and French sign language, for example) and another 20 days for a University (at university lectures, viva voce examinations, etc.). Broadcasters are also increasingly using the services of sign language interpreters and some SLIs (like their spoken language counterparts) work very regularly for such clients. The rest of an SLI’s assignments will probably take place in a community setting.
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AIIC
National parliaments represent another conference-style setting where SLIs can be found. Did you know that the linguistic service of the German Parliament offers several sign language interpreting assignments every month, and that this trend is increasing constantly? These types of events are carried out without the participation of spoken language interpreters, though, which is one reason why the spoken language interpreting community is not aware of them. At the level of international events, The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) is very active in Brussels, lobbying for greater access through the provision of sign language interpreters in the European institutions and at international events. The election of a deaf MEP (Ádám Kosá) in 2009 has also contributed to increasing the profile of SLIs by bringing sign language conference interpreting onto the floor of the European Parliament. MH: The fact that AIIC now accepts sign languages will undoubtedly increase contact between the two interpreter communities. What can spoken language interpreters learn from sign language interpreters (and vice versa)? AVM: AIIC is the only global association of conference interpreters. It is active in all areas affecting conference interpreting, i.e. it promotes high standards of quality and ethics in the profession, it represents the interests of its practitioners towards all our clients (international and national institutions, the private sector) and encourages quality in the training of conference interpreters. In view of the fact that an increasing number of sign language interpreters work in a conference setting, they can benefit from AIIC’s expertise in these areas. As for spoken language interpreters, we can benefit from exposure to the different dimensions that characterize sign language interpreting. For instance, SLIs work primarily with a linguistic and cultural minority and apply different interpreting techniques and skills to interpret between an auditory and a visual language. Researchers in Interpreting Studies are also increasingly looking to SLIs to learn lessons about the interpreting process and feed our knowledge of how conference interpreters work. Another area where we might learn from one another has to do with assignment-related stress encountered in certain conflict situations. Sign language conference interpreters tend to have more experience in managing this type of stress and have even established a coaching system to help their less experienced colleagues deal with it. Cooperation between the two communities, not to mention direct contact between sign and spoken language colleagues, would be extremely beneficial in furthering our knowledge in this regard. MH: What are some of the special requirements that must be kept in mind when organizing a mixed team of sign and spoken language interpreters? AVM: Even when we work in a common setting with similar requirements relating to team strength, the documents needed for preparation, etc., there are some elements that differ in importance for SLIs, such as the need for briefings with the speakers prior to the conference. Also, considering the fact that sign language conference interpreters work in the conference room itself and not in booths, it is useful to arrange an advance a meeting of the full interpreting team so that all members can discuss the assignment together. This will allow the various interpreters to get to know each other and help to
AIIC
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create the team spirit that is necessary to ensure the success any interpreting assignment, while facilitating the coordination of our work. A concrete example of this need for coordination can be seen when a sign language conference interpreter interprets a panel involving several deaf participants. In such cases, it is helpful for the spoken language interpreters in the booths to know who s/he is interpreting at any given moment. MH: Tell me a little bit more about AIIC’s decision to put sign languages on an equal footing with spoken languages in our association, which was taken at our Assembly in Buenos Aires in January, 2012. What does this decision mean in practical terms? AVM: In the past, sign language interpreters who worked in conference settings had no opportunity to join a professional association that focuses specifically on conference interpreting. Now, they can apply to join the only global association dedicated to the conference interpreting profession, and enjoy all the benefits that full membership in AIIC offers. As for what the decision means for AIIC, we aim at being a universal association, representing all conference interpreters wherever they are in the world and whatever the particular type of conference interpreting they perform. Sign language interpreting is an essential aspect of conference interpreting, it is therefore only logical and indispensable that it finds its proper place within our association. Also, with this decision, AIIC is the first professional association of conference interpreters to take on board sign languages, i.e. to put sign language conference interpreters on an equal footing with spoken language interpreters. It means that we are in a better position, as consultant interpreters, for example, to organize and coordinate a mixed team of sign and spoken language interpreters to meet the specific needs of some of our clients. We can also ensure the appropriate coordination between the conference organizer and the full team of spoken and sign language interpreters prior to the conference, as we discussed a moment ago. MH: What has been the response of the sign language interpreting community to AIIC’s decision to include sign languages? AVM: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Indeed, the SLI community has been supporting our efforts to raise the profile of sign language conference interpreters since long before Buenos Aires. Both WASLI and efsli have helped our Network to explain the situation and status of sign languages, sign language interpreting and sign language conference interpreters to our members. In the run-up to Buenos Aires, they both helped us with background material on sign languages to support our resolution. More particularly, in spring 2011 the AIIC Sign Language Network and the efsli board worked closely together to prepare the necessary documentation to support the proposal at the AIIC Assembly. efsli sent a request to the AIIC President together with extensive support letters from WASLI and well known academics in the field (Christopher Stone, Christian Rathmann and Verena Krausneker).
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AIIC
Once the resolution was adopted, these associations naturally shared our happiness and have since been spreading the word among the SLI and deaf communities. MH: Have you had any applications for membership from sign language interpreters yet? AVM: Yes, I’m pleased to say that we have already accepted one pre-candidate and there are several more candidatures in preparation. MH: To wrap up, maybe you could tell me a little bit about the work of AIIC’s Sign Language Network. AVM: The Sign Language Network sees its role as mainly one of creating and maintaining links with sign language interpreters and their associations worldwide, while at the same time keeping our members at the regional level informed about sign language issues. We also exchange information with sign language interpreter associations on issues related to training, ethics, working conditions, and the like. In 2010, AIIC became an associate member of efsli, furthering strengthening the bonds between the two communities. My task is to coordinate the activities of our members throughout the world. This means keeping track of the information we collect in the various countries, as well as organising our meetings (which we try to hold as often as possible, either online or back to back with other AIIC events such as the Private Market Sector meetings, regional meetings, or the Assembly). I am also responsible for liaising with the AIIC Bureau, Council, Treasurer and Secretariat. MH: Where can readers go to learn more about sign language interpreting in the conference setting? AVM: Their first port of call should definitely be the page maintained by AIIC’s Sign Language Network. Our partner associations WASLI and efsli also have a wealth of interesting information on sign language interpreting for anyone who wants to find out more. On the efsli site, for instance, they’ll find the Sign Language interpreter Guidelines for international/European-level meetings prepared by efsli/EUD (which are also available as a video). MH: Thank you very much. It would appear that between Lydia Callis and the work of your Network and SLI associations, the future of sign language interpreting is in good hands! AVM: Thank you for your interest, and for spreading the news of our work on the AIIC Blog. -------------------------------------------Note: This article was originally published in The AIIC Webzine (Issue 62) and has been republished with the permission of AIIC and the authors.
CALL FOR NEWSLETTER EDITOR(S) WASLI is seeking a Newsletter Editor or Co-Editors for the 2015-2019 term. The task is to: • solicit articles from WASLI members and/or regional reps • work with the Media Team to publish the edited final version on Facebook, and the WASLI Website, as well as to email it to members. • publish minimum of 3 newsletters per year If you are interested in this work, we would love to hear from you. Please send a letter of interest, describing your skills and experience with creating newsletters or communiques, and three things you would like to contribute to improve the newsletter for WASLI. Send expressions of interest to: Secretary.wasli@gmail.com
IMPORTANT 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 Luis Brieva Padilla (Vice President); Awoii Patrick Michael (Secretary); Susan Emerson (Treasurer) Regional Representatives: Anna Vost (Australasia & Oceania); Tim Tinat (Africa); Monica Punjabi and Etsuko Umemoto (Asia); Selman Hoti (Balkans); José Ednilson Jnr (Latino America); Nigel Howard (North America); Igor Bondarenko (Transcaucasia & Central Asia); (Europe); To be advised.
WASLI VOLUNTEERS WASLI Membership: Diana Ashley- Australia WASLI Webmaster: Patrick Wiche- Finland visualife Newsletter Editor: open Newsletter proofreaders: Sara Romes, Awoii Patrick Michael