International Perspectives on Sign Language Interpreting

Beginnings of the Interpreter Training Program in Kosovo

Beginnings of the Interpreter Training Program in Kosovo 57 S E L M A N H O T I A N D S U S A N E M E R S O N KOSOVO IS situated in Western Europe in the Balkans, and its neighboring countries are Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Albania. Yugoslavian soldiers and paramilitaries forced approximately one million Albanians out of Kosovo. In 1999, NATO struck out against the former Yugoslavia and President Slobodan Milosevic to put a stop to the genocide. After years of struggle, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008. Kosovo’s independence, while recognized by the United States, has not been endorsed by the many of the world’s countries, and notably not by Serbia or Russia. Kosovo’s population ranges from 1.9 million to 2.4 million. The last two censuses, conducted in 1981 and 1991, estimated Kosovo’s population at 1.6 and 1.9 million. However, it is likely that 1991 census undercounted Albanians. A 2001 estimate by the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) puts the number at 2.4 million. The population density is close to 200 people per square kilometer, one of the highest rates in Europe. The majority of the population is composed of ethnic Albanians (88%), while the largest minority is Serbian (7%). Other ethnic groups include Bosnians (1.9%), Turks (1%), and the Roma, more commonly known as Gypsies, 1.7% (World Bank Living Standards Measurement Study, 2001). The official languages of Kosovo are Albanian and Serbian. However, in cities that have a concentration of at least 5% of the total population who use a particular language, then that language can become an official language within that municipality. For example, Prizren has three official languages: Albanian, Serbian, and Turkish. Kosovo does not have universities or colleges that provide sign language interpreter training programs. However, the Faculty of Philology at the 58 SELMAN HOTI AND SUSAN EMERSON University of Prishtina offers a 4-year course with two majors combined, including Albanian language and literature, English language and literature , German language and literature, Russian language and literature, and Turkology. But in semesters five and six, students must decide if they want to study to become translators and spoken interpreters or to become language teachers (University of Prishtina, Pasqyra, 2005–6). The heavy presence of the United Nation’s mission in Kosovo after the war led to a sharp rise in the need for spoken language interpreters. Many people were employed without interpreter training. It was only in late 2006 that the Kosovar government established an independent national accreditation body, the Kosovar Accreditation Agency. Unfortunately, it has not been able to function appropriately due to the lack of the expertise in different fields. A SURVEY OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY In early 2001, the Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD) conducted a survey of the Deaf community in Kosovo. According to the survey, there were no trained interpreters who worked with the deaf in Kosovo. However, there was one interpreter who had deaf parents who was working at the University of Prishtina and one interpreter working at the Prishtina Deaf Club. During the survey, a seminar was held with representatives from the Deaf community where they identified priorities for the Deaf community. Based on these priorities, a funding application was submitted to FAD with three main objectives: 1. Organizational training to build the capacity of the Deaf community and to encourage their clubs, and to have a functioning and representative organization for the Kosovar Deaf community. 2. Basic-level interpreter training to begin to provide equal opportunities for Deaf citizens and enable them greater independence in Kosovo. 3. Sign language work to increase the status of the Kosovar Sign Language by producing information and training related to sign language. The Kosovar project received funding to implement these three main objectives, and the project team consisted of: Colin Allen, organizational advisor (Australia); Ramadan Gashi, Deaf liaison officer (Kosovo); Sheena Walters, interpreter trainer (Australia); and Selman Hoti, local interpreter trainer. The team carried out another survey of the 12 Deaf clubs in Kosovo (The Organizational Training Project for the Kosovar Deaf Com- KOSOVO 59 munity, 2004). This survey collected information about sign language interpreters in Kosovo and investigated the viability of conducting a basiclevel interpreter training program. THE EMERGENCE OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER TRAINING This training program was organized and implemented in 2005...