The EU's Directorate General for Interpretation has a site that defines and diagrams the various kinds of interpretation, including sign language.
Interpreting: November 2005 Archives
Europa is the "official portal to the European Union". It's section on languages asserts:
"Our policy of official multilingualism as a deliberate tool of government is unique in the world. The EU sees the use of its citizens’ languages as one of the factors which make it more transparent, more legitimate and more efficient."
Meanwhile, the "first ever Communication" on multilingualism was just released on 22 November 2005.
we're having a good time in Briankle's class, discussing Walter Benjamin, The Task of the Translator and On Language As Such. Thinking together, as it were. :-)
To be sure, we're not the only ones. Others have been thinking too. I disagree with Sarah Dudek's assertion that "Benjamin’s thoughts cannot be understood without having a closer look at his concept of language". I thought we did a good job of imagining such a separation - or was that just me in my own head? I realize as I'm invoking the royal we (!) that of course you were thinking differently than me, but I'm using the "we" in the sense of the shared discourse - what was said out loud among us during class. :-)
The rest of Dudek's thought: " -'pure language' seems a rather vague term. [Benjamin's] whole project is so remarkable because it has an all-embracing notion of language as its basis: the world is made of language and the final aim is to understand this “textus” of the world, to achieve harmony between the inadequate human languages and the language of God."
David was right on top of the mysticism, eh? :-) Cabbala more precisely than Sufi, although there does seem to be a convergence of mystical spirituality from various religious traditions.
Dudek: "Benjamin posited a universal sphere of concepts, which he called the “intellectual part”, totally self-sufficient and distinguished from the “linguistic part”. The two components of the human being are connected to some extent, but the linguistic part never covers the whole conceptual sphere."
Rule 2. Notice to Defendants and Right to Assistance of Counsel.
(a) Each individual defendant in custody shall receive not less than 30 days before trial a copy, translated into a language which he understands, (1) of the Indictment, (2) of the Charter, (3) of any other documents lodged with the Indictment, and (4) of a statement of his right to the assistance of counsel as set forth in sub-paragraph (d) of this Rule, together with a list of counsel. He shall also receive copies of such rules of procedure as may be adopted by the Tribunal from time to time. "
"...doing an ordinary job in circumstances so extraordinary as to be unforgettable" ~ Hilary Gaskin, Eyewitnesses at Nuremberg (1990:178).
"There is no room for vengeance, there is no room for real justice in the world. You cannot revive the six million who were murdered; you cannot even do justice by reaching everybody who has committed a crime. What does that do? The thing to do is to learn what happened, and to make sure that it doesn't happen again, ever." (149-150)
"When the national government abdicates in time of crisis, and cedes its power and law-enforcement functions to organized mobs, then it is possible for Holocausts to occur, anywhere and at any time. It is all to do with the attitude that freedom can be taken instead of given." (150)
Peter Uiberall, interpreter at Nuremberg
I don't leave for another chunk of hours, but the socializing has been one of the best parts of my time here at ASLTA. The presentation was fine (more or less) - we've got some tweaking to do in terms of organization and satisfying a wider range of learning styles earlier, but we received "plenty good feedback" (to play with a transliteration of ASL, smile). One participant said she liked "thinking about thinking", which sums up the approach, although I do hope there will be some practical outcomes, too. (Cindy kept teasing me and Eileen about our "meeting of minds" up in the ozone.) :-) Tom was trying to figure out how he could adapt a lesson for his own students (in interpreter training programs). A handful of other folk also commented on the usefulness of having a new way to think about familiar things. And someone commented that we were brave to get up and talk about this stuff at all...I think everyone who came to even listen is brave, too, given how explosive and painful trying to get past or through the tensions between the Deaf and sign language interpreters has been for many of us. I think what I personally feel best about is how well Eileen, Anne and I worked together as a team. They both are easy with the edges of my passion, which both supports and tempers my modes of perception and engagement. In other words, we make a nice but powerful kind of meaning together. :-)
I've often wondering about this too (sent by email): "A few months ago at a Betty Colonomos workshop I watched the dynamics involved when 2 interpreters worked together interpreting a dialogue, with each interpreting one of the 2 participants conversations. Seeing it interpreted that way made the dialogue easy to follow. What I'm wondering is, would that work in a situation where there were multiple participants? Would one interpreter sign the message of the first speaker, and the other terp sign all of the other respondents? or take a type of turn taking approach? This reminds me of interpreted plays. My experience is limited in this arena."
Seems like a bunch of stuff to sort out: primary might be finding some kind of balance between not turning interpreting into a show, whil still producing the most effective accessibility and participation. I know from the wee bit of theatre I've done that the timing there is really tricky...has to be coordinated with the other interpreter visually, as well as auditorily keeping up with the stream of incoming incoming! speech. I've also experienced, a very few times, divvying up the voicing when there are more than one Deaf person involved. As I'm remembering these experiences, there were still issues with temporality...
I guess it will really only become "old-fashioned" if the model actually changes, but I was struck by the normalcy with which a group today operated on auto-pilot.
I've been working in a setting where I move around constantly, putting my body (as the interpreter) where the speech (spoken language) is coming from. Sure, this means people notice me more often, but you know what? It means they're actually paying attention to the communication process! I had felt that some things were different, were going "better" somehow, but I wasn't sure why. Today, going into a different situation where folks are using the traditional model, I was able to identify some of the differences.
You wouldn't know it by my frequent (cough, cough) appearances at meetings, but the Vermont Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf is my professional "home". My roots are in Indiana . . .
I've had some exposure to "Demand-Control Schema" but have already put the workshop by Lynette into the calendar. Hope I can pull it off when the time draws near... If I'm still in the country in May I'll attend the community forum.
