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Article published In: Unpacking Sign Language Interpreting: Special issue of the Journal on Translation and Interpreting Studies 17:3 (2022)
Edited by Hilde Haualand, Maartje De Meulder and Jemina Napier
[Translation and Interpreting Studies 17:3] 2022
► pp. 406–428

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Barrier-free and interpreter-free

Deaf signers and hearing sign language interpreters’ perspectives on an ideal world (Belgium, Flanders)

ORCiD logo with link | Trinity College Dublin | University of Warwick
Published online: 23 March 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.21025.hey
Abstract
Globally, deaf associations and sign language interpreters’ organizations support the idea that interpreting services are equivalent to access and inclusion for deaf people. Researchers have challenged this assumption by pointing to ‘the illusion of inclusion’ (Russell, Debra. 2007. “Inclusion or the illusion of inclusion: A study of interpreters working with deaf students in inclusive education settings.” Critical Link 5: Interpreters in the Community Conference, Sydney, Australia, 12–14 April 2007.; Russell, Debra, and Betsy Winston. 2014. “Tapping into the interpreting process: Using participant reports to inform the interpreting process in educational settings.” Translation & Interpreting 6(1): 102–121. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; De Meulder, Maartje, and Hilde Haualand. 2021. “Sign language interpreting services: A quick fix for inclusion?” Translation and Interpreting Studies 16(1): 19–40. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar), the ‘institution of access’ (Brunson, Jeremy. 2011. Video Relay Service Interpreting: The Intricacies of Sign Language Access. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar), and the fact that interpreters are needed but not wanted (. 2019. “Reflective discussion panel.” InDialog 3: Interpreter Practice, Research and Training: The Impact of Context, Antwerp, Belgium, 21–22 November 2019.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Sheneman, Naomi. 2020, May 9. Interpreters are the uninvited guests in deaf people’s private lives [Blog post]. Retrieved from [URL]). This article explores whether sign language interpreting services are the ideal solution when providing access to communication, information, and services for deaf signers. It presents the perspectives of three deaf employees of the Flemish deaf association and four hearing Dutch–VGT (Flemish Sign Language) interpreters on what constitutes their ‘ideal’ world. By addressing this topic, interviewees considered whether in this ideal world sign language interpreting services would still exist and expressed their views on topics such as communication, access, (in)equity, and inclusion.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Researcher’s position
  • Participants, method, and analysis
  • Findings
    • An ideal world is free of barriers and of interpreters
    • Interpreters are needed
    • Communication through brainwaves
    • Communication as if there were no interpreter
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (41)
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Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Heyerick, Isabelle
2024. Book review: Jihong Wang, Simultaneous Interpreting from a Signed into a Spoken Language: Quality, Cognitive Overload, and Strategies. Interpreting and Society 4:1 ► pp. 101 ff. DOI logo

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