Call for regulation of sign language interpreters

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Written by Christine Allen

Thursday, 22 July 2010

A cork sign language interpreter has called for the complete regulation of the profession as he said the voices of deaf people in Cork are not being properly heard. Inaccurate legal, medical and educational sign language interpretations means that the testimony of deaf people could literally be getting lost in translation. Cormac Leonard is an accredited interpreter, who interprets for the Cork Deaf Association.

"There are around 6,000 people in Ireland who have Irish Sign Language as their main language. Deaf people are now being encouraged to take part in society more, such as college courses and employment."

However, he said that profiteering unqualified interpreters were working in Cork. "Despite the presence of qualified and accredited interpreters, individuals with no training or qualifications are practicing as signers or interpreters and, in many cases bringing the profession into disrepute," he said.

Dismissed

In 2008, charges were dismissed in a case where a young deaf woman in Kanturk was allegedly the victim of a violent attack. Judge Michael Pattwell dismissed the case against two sisters after it emerged that a statement had been taken from a deaf witness for defence without an interpreter on the night of the incident.

The judge also stated that an interpreter used at a previous court sitting had not been properly trained or qualified. "This is an example of how services are not aware of the need to use qualified and accredited interpreters.

"It is not sufficient to just be someone with good sign language - issues around translation, cultural difference, interactional management, and above all a solid grounding in ethics and professionalism including confidentiality, are essential," he said. "Deaf people are reluctant to criticise these cowboy interpreters and in many cases the bodies providing the service refuse to use a professional interpreter. Ethics are always an issue as quite often, unqualified interpreters tell deaf people what to do and give advice and what to say. This is so wrong."

According to Mr Leonard, legal and medical bodies that do not know sign language cannot accurately assess the quality of the service. "And so a vicious circle ensues, and marginalisation of vulnerable people is embedded into the system," he said.

At present, the only recognised qualification in Ireland for interpreters is the four-year degree in the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin. "Interpreters at present have no professional body, the Irish Association of Sign Language Interpreters having closed in 2007 for a variety of reasons," said Cormac. But discussions are underway to establish a new group and lay down standards for interpreting in courts, hospitals and for public bodies.

Cormac is one of three interpreters who are working for change through the website www.corkinterpreter.com. He added that UCC and CIT, however, had strict policies when hiring interpreters for their deaf students. "It is vital that interpreters don't just translate word for word, but understand the context and cultural meaning of the message.

"This is a problem as deaf people never want to kick up a fuss, so they will never complain," he added.

Comments (1) »

Deaf intern
written by Alfred, February 01, 2011

As a Deaf Kenyan, from the aboved articles, I see the linguistic minority (Deaf community) faced the situations as same as ours in Kenya.

Yes, time is high for calling for regulations to control such cases so as to make access to information easy for the Deaf world.

We still research more on how to establish the regulations to be put in place to promote the professionalism in the Sign Language interpretation service in all aspects of life.

Hope your input would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

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