INTRODUCCIÓN A LA INTERPRETACIÓN – UMSA – C.LL.M.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION

Definition of key terms:
Signed languages: Signed languages are visual-gestural languages. Signed languages evolve
naturally in deaf communities, and signers use conventional and mutually agreed-upon
symbols (that is, signs) to communicate with each other. Signed languages have their own
grammar and lexicon, not based on the spoken language of the country or region where the
community is located. Signed languages are not universal. They are real languages, with a
complete set of linguistic structures, complex and highly nuanced, and are as sophisticated as
natural spoken languages.

Signed language acronyms: National and regional signed languages are commonly referred to
in the form of acronyms, for example: BSL is British Sign Language; LSF is Langue de Signes
Française (French Sign Language), and so on.

Signed language interpreting: It is the facilitation of communication between parties who do

not share the same language. Frequently the interpretation occurs between signed and spoken
language users (e.g. deaf and hearing people); however, at times signed language interpreters
will also work between different signed languages, for example, interpreting from Auslan
(Australian Sign Language) to ASL (American Sign Language), or trilingually between two spoken
languages and a signed language (e.g. between English, Maori, and NZSL – New Zealand Sign
Language). Signed language interpreters are typically hearing, although deaf interpreters are
becoming increasingly common in some countries, often specializing in working between
signed language pairs and bringing an innate understanding of signed languages and of deaf
culture to the work, as deaf people themselves.

Bimodal: Signed language interpreters work bimodally in that they typically operate between a
signed language (using a visual-gestural modality) and a spoken language (using an aural-oral
modality). Spoken language interpreters, on the other hand, operate unimodally, whereby
both working languages are perceived by the same sensory system (audition).

Deaf/deaf: In referring to deaf people belonging to a linguistic & cultural minority known as
the Deaf community, the ‘D’ may be capitalized to accord respect and deference. When
referring simply to audiological status, the lower case ‘d’ as in ‘deaf’ is more common.

Deaf-blindness: kind of disability that compromises people’s vision and hearing in different
levels, also called dual-sensory or multi-sensory impairment. It affects the two channels of
communication humans use for remote information reception. A deafblind doesn’t necessarily
have to be completely blind & deaf. This happens when the residue of one of these senses
can’t compensate for the loss of the other, i.e., when low hearing can’t make up for visual loss
or when low vision can’t balance hearing loss. Interpreting methods: a. Tactile: interpreter
provides a modified ASL that is signed into the deafblind person’s hand; b. Protactile
interpretation: fully tactile language, interpreter provides information through touch.
1
 INTRODUCCIÓN A LA INTERPRETACIÓN – UMSA – C.LL.M.

American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL is a visual-gestural language. With signing, the brain processes linguistic information
through the eyes. The shape, placement, and movement of the hands, as well as facial
expressions and body movements, all play important parts in conveying information.

Sign language is not a universal language — each country has its own sign language, and
regions have dialects, much like the many languages spoken all over the world. Like any spoken
language, ASL is a language with its own unique rules of grammar and syntax. Like all
languages, ASL is a living language that grows and changes over time.
SL is a language completely separate and distinct from English. It contains all the fundamental
features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order.
While every language has ways of signaling different functions, such as asking a question rather
than making a statement, languages differ in how this is done. For example, English speakers
may ask a question by raising the pitch of their voices and by adjusting word order; ASL users
ask a question by raising their eyebrows, widening their eyes, and tilting their bodies forward.
Fingerspelling is part of ASL and is used to spell out English words. In the fingerspelled alphabet,
each letter corresponds to a distinct handshape. Fingerspelling is often used for proper names or
to indicate the English word for something.
ASL is used predominantly in the United States and in many parts of Canada. It is accepted by
many high schools, colleges, and universities in fulfillment of modern and “foreign” language
academic degree requirements across the United States.

Interpreting American Sign Language

A qualified interpreter is one who can, both receptively and expressively, interpret
accurately, effectively, and impartially, using any necessary specialized vocabulary. ASL
interpreting occurs in two ways: simultaneously and consecutively.
Conference sign language interpreting
Sign language interpreters work between a spoken and a signed language or between two sign
languages. Conference sign language interpreters work in language teams of two or more (they
take turns of about every 15-20 minutes), depending on the duration of the program. During
the conference or the event, the sign language interpreter stands next to the speaker facing
the room and the participants. The deaf participant can then have a good view of the speaker,
the presentation and the interpreter. Additional sign language interpreters are needed when
interpretation services are required during the breaks or the social part of the program.

Fingerspelling

Conference sign language interpreting, EU

2
 INTERPRETACIÓN I – Notes 3.

¿Qué son las lenguas de señas?

Las lenguas de señas poseen sus propias dinámicas de exposición física. Se caracterizan por ser
visuales, espaciales, manuales, gestuales, conceptuales y ágrafas (que carecen de escritura).
Poseen una gramática propia, completa y compleja, que evoluciona constantemente. No
dependen de ninguna otra lengua.

No son universales ya que las lenguas de señas de cada país son diferentes. Hay más de 300
lenguas de señas en el mundo. No solo utilizan las manos, sino también el cuerpo, las
expresiones faciales (o rasgos no manuales) y el espacio.

El lenguaje es la capacidad exclusivamente humana para crear lenguas o idiomas. La lengua es el

idioma de cada país o grupo humano, es decir, un sistema lingüístico dotado de convenciones y
reglas gramaticales que utiliza una comunidad de habla para comunicarse.

Al nombrar el sistema lingüístico de la comunidad Sorda el término correcto es lengua de señas.

Diversidad en la comunidad sorda

Es importante saber que la comunidad lingüística sorda es heterogénea. No todas las personas
sordas requieren las mismas herramientas de accesibilidad. Por ello, es importante proporcionar
formas diversas de acceso a la información:
• Interpretación de lengua de señas argentina-español (LSA-E)
• Modulación clara para quienes practiquen lectura labial
• Subtitulado descriptivo
• Aro magnético para quienes utilicen implantes cocleares o audífonos

Lengua de señas argentina (LSA):

(http://www.fhycs.unam.edu.ar/carreras/wpcontent/uploads/2018/02/Cuaderno-Lengua-
de- Se%C3%B1as)
La Lengua de Señas es una lengua natural, es la lengua de la Comunidad Sorda
Argentina y no es universal, es decir que cada país posee su propia lengua de señas que
se adquiere y se transmite de generación en generación. La característica más
relevante es la de utilizar un canal de transmisión alternativo, en lugar del canal auditivo
fonológico que usan las lenguas habladas, utiliza el canal viso-gestual. En la Lengua de
Señas se utiliza todo el cuerpo; en general lo que más “llama la atención” es el movimiento de
las manos, pero existen en esta lengua muchos elementos que están presentes en todo el
cuerpo del hablante, que tienen implicancias gramaticales en la lengua. La Lengua de Señas
crece en el seno de esta comunidad, desarrollándose como lengua natural. Se transmite de
generación en generación a través de un proceso de socialización que se da dentro de las
asociaciones de sordos, generalmente entre pares. Tiene una organización gramatical que
sigue principios de otras lenguas pero que, sin embargo, presenta patrones de estructuración
únicos para cada Lengua. La misma no es internacional y su carácter regional, hace que existan
diferencias en las señas. “La Lengua de Señas Argentina no es una representación manual del
español, sino que consta de una estructura independiente, es entonces una lengua natural que
posee todas las propiedades que los lingüistas describen para las lenguas humanas, una
3
 INTERPRETACIÓN I – Notes 3.

estructura gramatical tan compleja como la de cualquier lengua hablada, y la misma

organización estructural que cualquier otra lengua” (Massone y Machado, 1991). Aprender la
lengua de la comunidad sorda nos pone en el lugar del otro, pudiendo colaborar con su
inclusión dentro de la sociedad.
Características de la Lengua de Señas:
∼ Completa: Se puede decir todo
∼ Viva: Se modifica permanentemente con el uso de la comunidad Sorda
∼ Difícil: No es la representación gestual del discurso hablado
Elementos de la Lengua de Señas:
∼ Movimiento
∼ Lugar en el espacio
∼ Orientación
∼ Configuraciones manuales
∼ Rasgos No manuales

[Wikipedia] El origen de la LSA se remonta a las primeras escuelas para sordos de Bs As, entre
1880 y 1910. Surgieron por iniciativa del Instituto Nacional de Sordomudos.
El LSA tiene una sintaxis distinta al español, lo cual ha causado conflictos con la comunidad
sorda cuando docentes, artistas o intérpretes ajenos a la comunidad realizan señas en el
orden gramatical del español, lo cual se denomina "español señado" (transliteración).
El orden canónico del español es sujeto–verbo–objeto mientras que para el LSA es sujeto-
objeto-verbo (en ambos casos se aceptan algunas desviaciones). En LSA el verbo va siempre
luego del sujeto y el objeto y si la oración es una pregunta, esta se expresa al final. El sujeto
tácito y los artículos no existen en LSA.

4
 INTERPRETACIÓN I – Notes 3.

Comparing signed and spoken language interpreting

The professional practices of spoken and signed language interpreters are slightly different
in terms of language modality, interpreting mode, and directionality.
Spoken language interpreters work unimodally, that is, the two languages between which they
interpret are in the same mode: the languages are audio-verbal languages that are produced
and heard one word at a time in a linear fashion. Signed language interpreters, however, work
bimodally. Signed languages are not visual representations of the spoken word, but have their
own grammatically distinct structures that are capable of complex and abstract expression,
equivalent to (but different from) any spoken language. So signed language interpreters work
between two languages that function in different modalities: a spoken language (linear), and a
signed language, which is visual-gestural and simultaneously incorporates the use of various
articulators including the head, facial features (eyes, eyebrows, mouths, lips, cheeks),
shoulders, body, both hands and fingers, and the space in front of their body to co-construct
lexical (content) signs and convey temporal and grammatical information.

Bimodal interpreting also has an influence on the interpreting mode used by signed language
interpreters. In order to avoid the audio ‘clash’ between two spoken languages being used at
the same time, spoken language interpreters typically work simultaneously in conference
settings when appropriate equipment is available, and in consecutive mode in face-to-face
dialogic communication in community settings. Occasionally simultaneous whispering
(chuchotage) is used in smaller conferences or seminars. For signed language interpreters,
however, one language is silent so there is no interference between the two working
languages. For this reason, signed language interpreters commonly work simultaneously in all
contexts.
This comparison between unimodal and bimodal practices of spoken language and signed
language interpreters is made with the assumption that the signed language interpreters can
hear, and thus are working between a spoken and a signed language. However, there are some
signed language interpreters that do work unimodally between two signed languages. These
are deaf interpreters who work in a variety of contexts.

Deaf interpreters work in conference settings either by reading from written speech-to-text
autocue (teleprompter), or by ‘reading’ the message in another signed language where the
hearing interpreter is in a relay* function. In community settings, deaf interpreters typically
work from another relay interpreter. For example, a spoken English presentation may be relayed
from English into BSL by a hearing interpreter, and then interpreted from BSL into American
Sign Language (ASL) by the deaf interpreter for the American conference audience.

[* Relay interpreting (or indirect interpreting): During relay interpreting, the interpreter listens
to the source language speaker and renders the message into a language common to all the
other interpreters. These other interpreters then render the message to their target language
groups.]

5
 INTERPRETACIÓN I – Notes 3.

What provides the most interesting point of comparison with spoken language interpreters,
however, is the fact that deaf interpreters working in community settings (e.g., medical) often
work intra-lingually within one signed language. A deaf interpreter is typically employed in these
settings along with a hearing interpreter when the hearing interpreter is unable to effectively
communicate directly with a deaf client, e.g., where the client uses idiosyncratic signs or
gestures, or ‘home signs’ which are unique to a family; uses a foreign sign language; has minimal
or limited language skills; is deafblind or deaf with limited vision; uses signs particular to a
given region, ethnic or age group that are not known by the hearing interpreter; or is in a mental
state that makes ordinary interpreted communication especially difficult. Deaf people’s
experience of making themselves understood non-verbally, their first-hand knowledge of
diverse communication and personal backgrounds in the Deaf community, and their ability to
conceptualize experiences and ideas through the eyes of a deaf person can give them a
repertoire of visual communication skills that hearing interpreters cannot necessarily emulate.
In these contexts, the deaf interpreter takes the message from a hearing interpreter, who is
signing in an established sign language (such as BSL), and reframes the message into a
different form within the same signed language. For example, a doctor speaks in English /
relayed from English into BSL by a hearing interpreter / interpreted from BSL into a more basic,
visual form of BSL by the deaf interpreter for a deaf patient who has limited language skills.

Interpretación en lengua de señas

Equipo de interpretación: El equipo debe estar formado por intérpretes de LSA-E y una persona
asesora en lingüística cultural, rol ocupado por una persona sorda. Este último es responsable de
monitorear la producción de la interpretación en LSA y facilitar señas precisas, además de la
preparación previa. Se ubica estratégicamente frente al intérprete. El trabajo se realiza en equipo,
con relevo cada veinte minutos.

Proceso de interpretación: La interpretación no es un proceso mecánico que implique un pasaje de

una lengua a otra, palabra por palabra. Consiste en la activación de una serie de mecanismos
intelectuales, la aplicación de técnicas y estrategias específicas para transmitir el mensaje de la
forma más fiel y neutral posible.

La interpretación consiste en general de tres etapas básicas: preparación previa, interpretación

propiamente dicha y evaluación.

1. Preparación previa: recopilación de información para el estudio de vocabulario técnico sobre la

temática a tratar. Acuerdo de estrategias y técnicas de interpretación entre el asesor lingüístico
cultural y el equipo de ILSA-E. Generar acuerdos internos (modalidad de apoyo, relevos, etc).

2. Interpretación propiamente dicha: cada miembro del equipo lleva a cabo las tareas antes
descritas. El tiempo recomendado es de 15 a 20 minutos por cada turno por un período de 2 o 3
horas máximo, de prolongarse es necesario incrementar la cantidad de intérpretes, con el fin de

6
 INTERPRETACIÓN I – Notes 3.

garantizar el rendimiento y la calidad, como así también la salud física y mental de los
profesionales. A continuación, se explicita la cantidad de intérpretes por equipo de interpretación:
• 1 o 2 horas de interpretación: dos intérpretes LSA-E y un/a lingüístico/a cultural
• 3 o 4 horas de interpretación: tres intérpretes de LSA-E y un/a asesor/a lingüístico cultural
• Más de 4 horas: se convoca a dos equipos de interpretación
• Más de 7 u 8 horas: se convoca a tres equipos de interpretación

3. Evaluación: reflexión global del trabajo realizado. Evaluación de estrategias de comprensión,

producción y de resolución, identificación de problemas: velocidad, terminología, etc.

signo de intérprete