Shifts in signed media interpreting
A corpus study
Ella Wehrmeyer | North-West University
This study offers a unique contribution through the construction of an annotated text-based sign language
interpreting corpus and its application in analyzing shifts (defined as deviations from source semantic content), which in turn
enables researchers to identify and categorize interpreter strategies and norms. The corpus comprises ten half-hour news
broadcasts in English and their simultaneously signed interpretations into South African Sign Language. The analysis of shifts
shows that interpreters mainly strive to produce a fluent output, combatting cognitive overload through condensation, use of
synonyms and omission. However, they also cater for target language norms through attention to discourse features and syntactic
reformulation and by addressing perceived target audience knowledge gaps through explanations. Time constraints limit full
deverbalization and repair strategies, and Deaf communicative norms occasionally conflict with interpreting norms. Although most
shifts could be related to interpreter strategies and norms, the interpreters occasionally made syntactic errors, hindering
comprehension.
Keywords: corpus-driven interpreting studies, signed language interpreting, interpreting strategies, South African Sign Language, simultaneous interpreting
Published online: 14 October 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijcl.18059.weh
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijcl.18059.weh
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