Provisions for Quality Sign Language Interpreting

Abstract

High-quality sign language interpreting is one of the key factors in the inclusion of people with hearing loss in the social environment and access to information. Ensuring the quality of sign language interpreting is a relatively new phenomenon in world practice. In Russia, we are at the beginning of understanding this issue, forming quality criteria and implementing guarantee mechanisms. The study raises the question of what are the current conditions for ensuring the quality of translation of Russian sign language. In order to solve this problem, sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts. On the basis of these interviews, a thematic analysis and systematization of the existing problems in ensuring the quality of interpreting were carried out. The main problems of ensuring the quality are the following: the problem of professional training, the problem of the status of the language, the problem of 'mixing roles,' and the problem of 'separation of powers' of organizations. All four problems are rooted in history, in the earlier stages of development of sign language interpreting in Russia. There is an acute shortage of interpreters, which is why people who only know sign language are allowed to interpret without any special requirements for qualification or training. Not many universities train advanced students; there are difficulties in the organization of sign language teaching. The traditions of 'sign language interpreting' are preserved, which assume that interpreters also perform the functions of social workers. The issue of 'separation of powers' between organizations representing the social order in interpreting for a person with hearing loss, organizations providing interpreting services, and quality control organizations remains controversial. In conclusion, the possible ways of resolving the accumulated contradictions are briefly explained, which will allow the formation of some system of ensuring the quality of sign language interpreting.