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Introduction
- Gallaudet University Press
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Introduction : ix Introduction Interpreters and translators can be found working wherever individuals from diverse language communities come together. We interpret and translate interviews so basic in nature that outcomes might determine whether or not a family will have food on the table. We interpret and translate at conferences that are so technically and ethically far-reaching that even the nature of nature itself, the human genome, might be the subject of our efforts. A seemingly infinite number of unique linguistic grammars and situated sociocultural behaviors make up the threads with which we weave our daily work. In our work, we create tapestries of meaning so others might more readily interact with one another as they move through their lives. The weaving of tapestries serves as a common backdrop for our efforts . Still, idiosyncrasies of particular languages and cultures differentiate the textures that result from our cognitive craft. Even the linguistic modes that we confront can significantly shape the very nature of our efforts. For example, Nida (1976), Wilss (1982), Cokely (1992) and others have noted that interpreting between written texts (i.e., translation) offers the luxury of time, continuous access to a source text, opportunity to review and correct, and the benefit of seeking feedback in a manner that is rarely (if ever) possible in the formulation of face-to-face, simultaneous interpretations. Thus, interpretation and translation, though certainly related tasks, are distinct in their demands. Issues related to mode and to the interpreting process carry particular significance for those concerned with signed language interpreting. Although much of the cognitive work managed by interpreters is similar regardless of mode, a noteworthy observation is that spoken language interpreters usually interpret between monolinguals whereas signed language interpreters might interpret for bilinguals who simply do not have direct or equal access to both linguistic modes and, subsequently, to both of the languages of a given encounter (Davis, 1989; Roberts, 1987; Wilss, 1982). This reality serves to define some of the processes and products of our work. For example, where deaf bilingual consumers and the issue of language access come together, implications certainly exist for the interlocutors in a x : I N T R O D U C T I O N particular interaction. Moreover, situations of this kind weave broad patterns and textures into the age-old discussion of interpretations as being form-based or meaning-based. Form-based products, which prioritize preserving the form of the source message over the meaning of that message, might not make sense to a monolingual person. Nevertheless , products such as these might actually be preferable to a bilingual consumer in at least some circumstances. An example of an issue related to interpreting processes can be found where translation is contrasted with interpretation. Translation, by its very nature, is less restricted by time than is interpretation. The translator is able to tailor the fabric of meaning that, relatively speaking, consecutive and simultaneous interpreters might barely have time to stitch. Nevertheless, as Hatim and Mason (1990) point out, both written and face-to-face conveyance of messages from one language to another provide “evidence of a communicative transaction taking place within a social framework” (p. 2). This transaction is true regardless of any modality , linguistic, or cultural distinctions in our work. Anthropologists and sociologists come together to seek underlying patterns in human behavior. Psychologists examine recognizable and recurring behaviors within individuals to better understand the workings of the human mind. Science teaches that pursuing the study of recurring patterns that are based on actual events can offer an ever expanding view of the world, leading to advancement and improvements beyond expectation. In a similar way, this series of studies on interpretation and translation, and this volume in particular, endeavors to gather empirical research that addresses theoretical issues related to translation and interpretation of spoken , written, and signed languages. Our hope is that this series will serve as a source of research findings that help us better understand and improve our work as signed and spoken language interpreters and translators. The six chapters of this volume focus on interpretation, including monologic situations and multiparty contexts. These chapters highlight interpreted encounters that incorporate spoken languages (i.e., English and Spanish) and signed languages (i.e., American Sign Language, Australian Sign Language). They include studies of interpreted medical, religious , and educational encounters. Both live (recorded) interpreted interactions and analyses of videotaped source texts are included within. The first section of this volume concentrates on issues that arise in interpreted interaction. In...