Online Translation Seminar: “Brothers from Another Mother? Examining the Relationship between Signed Language and Spoken Language Interpreting”

Abstract:

“Brothers from another mother” is urban slang used to describe people who feel as close as brothers, but who obviously have different mothers. Do signed language and spoken language interpreters share this type of tight relationship? Historically, signed language and spoken language interpreting have functioned largely independent of one another, but this separation has narrowed over time. In this presentation, I explore the similarities and differences between spoken and signed language interpreting by discussing our respective histories, educational backgrounds, credentialing, and research. I note unique aspects of signed language interpreting, including directionality preference, linguistic modality, and work settings. In conclusion, I propose that, despite our different lineages, signed and spoken language interpreters are more like close brothers, rather than distant relatives.