From Topic Boundaries to Omission: New Research on Interpretation

Analysis of Interactive Discourse in an Interpreted Deaf Revival Service: Question-Answer Adjacency Pairs Initiated in an ASL Sermon

Analysis of Interactive Discourse in an Interpreted Deaf Revival Service : 55 Analysis of Interactive Discourse in an Interpreted Deaf Revival Service: Question-Answer Adjacency Pairs Initiated in an ASL Sermon Mary Ann Richey Research on religious interpretation is limited at best and, for the most part, has been concerned with defining the role of the interpreter in church settings or with making general recommendations to address logistical or environmental issues. However, few empirical studies have been made of interpreted religious events, either from English to ASL or vice versa. In particular, there have been no published data-based linguistic analyses on a discourse level of an interpreted ASL sermon nor has there been research on interactions in a Deaf1 worship service. Therefore, this case study will focus on a discourse analysis of an interpreted ASL sermon and interaction in a Deaf worship service. Consequently, this study examines a new genre of ASL discourse and of interpretation. It also builds on research focusing on the use of formal ASL as used by native signers in a majority-status role as compared to a minority-status role. Therefore, the findings of this study will contribute to a growing body of research related to the structure of ASL monologic discourse (see, e.g., Bahan & Supalla, 1995; Gee, 1986; Liddell & Metzger, 1998; Mather & Winston, 1998; Metzger, 1995; Roy, 1989a; Wilson, 1995; 1. In this paper, the protocol used by Padden and Humphries (1988) will be followed. The word deaf in lowercase letters is an adjective describing an audiological condition of not being able to hear whereas the word Deaf in uppercase letters is an adjective describing a community of deaf people who are users of American Sign Language (ASL) and members of a distinctive culture (Padden & Humphries, 1988, p. 2). 56 : M A R Y A N N R I C H E Y Winston, 1992, 1993; Zimmer, 1989b), and to a growing body of empirical research related to interpreted interaction (see, e.g., Angelelli,2001; Berk-Seligson, 1990; Metzger, 1995, 1999; Roy, 1989b, 2000; Wadensjö, 1992, 1998; Zimmer, 1989a, and others in this volume). In addition, this study both builds on previous work and extends it, focusing on, in Hymes’s (1972) sense, a unique “speech” situation (a religious gathering), event (a revival service), and “speech” act (questions). This case study consists of an analysis of a preexisting videotaped worship service conducted by a guest Deaf pastor to a Deaf, predominantly Caucasian, Protestant congregation. The main thrust of this case study is to examine the question of whether or not interactive discourse occurs in this most formal of settings. In these data, the speaker and audience do interact with one another, despite the fact that a church worship service is considered a formal setting where, typically, little or no speaker-initiated interaction occurs between a pastor and the congregation. The pastor -congregation interaction also affects the interpretation. Although research has been conducted on the interpretation of one-on-one interviews (Angelelli, 2001; Berk-Seligson, 1990; Metzger, 1995, 1999; Roy, 1989b, 2000; Wadensjö, 1992, 1998; Zimmer, 1989a), little research has been conducted on the pragmatics of multiparty interaction such as that found in discussion groups, in counseling sessions or elsewhere. Here, the interaction is both multiparty and formal, being constrained by the structure of the religious event taking place. This interactive element must be considered in addition to the fact that the translation of religious discourse is a unique undertaking. Religious interpreters regularly confront challenging source material. The Bible is fraught with figurative language, and religious discourse itself is replete with concepts that can be experienced and understood on a multitude of levels. Joos (1967), in his work The Five Clocks, describes how frozen text can be read and reread with new considerations or insights occurring with each new reading (Joos, 1967, p. 41). Moreover, the sermon itself is more than a monologic speech event; it is a divine connection. In The Practice of Preaching, Wilson (1995) claims that “preaching is an event in which the congregation meets the living God” (p. 21). In consideration of the monologic and religious aspects of a sermon , the task facing religious interpreters is extremely challenging and requires a wholehearted dedication to preparation. Gaining a better understanding of the interactive features of religious discourse can only serve to make the task faced by interpreters more manageable. Analysis of Interactive Discourse in an Interpreted Deaf Revival Service...