November 18, 2014
Sign Language Interpreter Professional Development Workshop Series 2014
Pathways into sign language communities
As part of the JDH’s Discourse Knowledge Mobilisation Lab, the three workshops in this series of sign language interpreter professional development were designed for participants to reflect on the pathways through which sign language users have become members of various (signed and spoken) language communities and how participation in these communities is, at times, mediated through interpreters.
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Workshop 1: Pathways into sign language communities: Reflections on becoming interpreters
Tuesday, March 4th, 2014, 16:30-18:30
Puutarhurintalo, Seminaarinmäki, JYU
This first workshop began with a brief introduction by Sarah Compton (American Sign Language interpreter and researcher) on the concept of ‘new speakers/signers’ and how it calls into question traditional concepts of ‘native speakers/signers’ and ‘non-native speakers/signers’. The remainder of the workshop included hands-on activities and discussions that considered the following questions:
- How did we become ‘signers’ of FinSL/FinSSL and enter the sign language community?
- How did we enter the interpreting profession?
- How do we view our position within the interpreting and deaf communities?
- How are we positioned by others within the field (e.g., other interpreters, clients, interpreting agencies)?
- How does the pathway through which we enter these communities influence our roles/ participation in them?
The languages of the event were primarily Finnish and English. Refreshments were generously provided by SVT. Certificates of attendance were awarded.
Special thanks to the agencies sponsoring interpreter participation:
Oy Mokoma ab
Via Sign Language Sector Cooperative
Organizers: University of Jyväskylä’s Department of Languages, Jyväskylä Discourse Research Hub, Peripheral Multilingualism Project (Academy of Finland), Finnish Sign Language Centre, and SVT.
Flyers for the event were available to download using the links below:
(Finnish version) https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5y03VAebbUcdi1PS2hha2RtNjA/edit?usp=sharing
(English version) https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5y03VAebbUcMDBaZDZTTDRaZzQ/edit?usp=sharing
Series organizer: Sarah Compton (sarah.e.compton@jyu.fi)
Workshop 2: Opening up ‘Linguistic Mudes’: Making the Case from Multiple Perspectives
Saturday, April 26th, 2014, 10-15:30
Puutarhurintalo, Seminaarinmäki, JYU
In this second workshop, led by Sarah Compton (American Sign Language interpreter and researcher), we took up the concept of ‘linguistic mudes’ – a significant moment in time/event that opens up an entry point into a community — to consider how our life trajectories influence the ways in which we participate in and are positioned within various communities. Building on this concept, we considered a set of common scenarios interpreters encounter as they navigated the communities in which they work and live.
In order to reflect on these scenarios from multiple perspectives, we held a ‘moot court’ where participants worked together to build the strongest case both arguing for and against the possible responses to the scenarios. Throughout the workshop, we considered practical applications of the concepts and arguments within our interpreting practice.
Given the nature of the hands on activities, onsite participation was required and limited to the first 24 registrants.
The languages of the event were primarily Finnish and English. Certificates of attendance were awarded. Light refreshments were provided by SVT.
Special thanks to the agencies sponsoring interpreter participation:
Oy Mokoma ab
Organizers: University of Jyväskylä’s Department of Languages, Jyväskylä Discourse Research Hub, the Peripheral Multilingualism Project (Academy of Finland), Finnish Sign Language Centre, and SVT.
Flyers for the event were available to download using the links below:
(Finnish version) https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5y03VAebbUcYk5GYk9DYmRrQjQ/edit?usp=sharing
(English version) https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5y03VAebbUcYkVEUVlFd3IwTzg/edit?usp=sharing
Series organizer: Sarah Compton (sarah.e.compton@jyu.fi)
Workshop 3: Considering the interaction order in interpreter-mediated exchanges
Tuesday, November 18, 2014, 17:00-20
Puutarhurintalo, Seminaarinmäki, JYU
In this third workshop, led by Minttu Laine (Finnish Sign Language interpreter), we discussed the interactive aspects of interpreting. Setting aside the questions of message equivalency in an interpretation, the workshop focused on how the interpreted interaction is mediated by the actions of each of the members.
The workshop opened with an introduction to the interactional aspects of interpreting. We then took a practical look at an excerpt from a video-recorded interpreter-mediated exchange. We discussed our observations and our own experiences.
Given the hands on nature of the workshop, onsite participation was required and limited to the first 12 registrants.
The languages of the event were primarily Finnish, Finnish Sign Language and English. Certificates of attendance were awarded. Light refreshments were provided by SVT.
Organizers: University of Jyväskylä’s Department of Languages, Jyväskylä Discourse Research Hub, the Peripheral Multilingualism Project (Academy of Finland) and SVT.
Series manager: Sarah Compton (sarah.e.compton@jyu.fi)