This survey course provides an introduction to the profession of sign language interpreting. Course content includes an overview of the history of the profession and professional organizations, interpreter role metaphors, the philosophy of practice within the field, and various work settings and protocols. Additionally, demand control schema is introduced as a critical analysis framework to uphold the values which serve the Deaf community and the linguistic and cultural values established in the field.

The act of interpretation is a complex cognitive challenge. Isolating and mastering specific subtasks of the interpreting process is critical for the synthesis of these subskills in the process of translation and interpretation. This course is an introduction to the cognitive processing skills necessary for translation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation. The course includes an overview of theoretical models of translation and interpretation, the development of basic processing subskills that provide a foundation for translation and interpretation, and practice activities for the integration of these tasks in an 8-step discourse analysis process for translation and consecutive interpreting. Course content includes interpreting and translation theory, message analysis, visualization, shadowing, paraphrasing, dual task training, and text analysis.

This course introduces the English-to-ASL and ASL-to-English interpreting process with a focus on text analysis and consecutive production of an equivalent target language message. Compression and expansion strategies are introduced. Students develop interpreting management strategies and diagnostic assessment skills. Students interpret monologic and dialogic inquiry and narrative text formats while learning the interpretation process. Students also learn and integrate the features of biomechanics for interpreters to practice safe work habits.

Students will develop the ability to produce an equivalent simultaneous ASL message from an English source message. This course integrates inquiry and expository texts in both dialogic and monologic formats. Specific discipline areas include interpreting in healthcare, employment, and finance settings. Within those discipline areas, students will have the opportunity to interpret in authentic environments with both Deaf and hearing consumers. Students will continue to develop text analysis skills, applying them to translating and simultaneous interpreting. Students are exposed to self-employment business practices within the interpreting field. Biomechanics and self-care issues will continue to be discussed.

In this course students will advance their skills in simultaneously interpreting from ASL to English. Monologues and expository texts on specific topic areas will be the focus of this course. A significant portion of the interpretation work in this course will take place utilizing speakers and audience members in authentic environments. Students will learn to manage the physical setting (logistics) and to select and use appropriate technology when applicable. Students will continue to hone their English and ASL vocabulary and interpretation analysis skills; in addition, they will develop team interpreting skills and increase stamina.

This capstone course offers students an opportunity to integrate content areas in the program curriculum and investigate current issues and controversies in the field of interpreting. The course content and activities will vary depending on current issues, literature developments, and students’ interests, but students will be given guiding research tools through research development with a critical approach to interpreting-related issues.