Communication without boundaries thanks to sign language interpretation services

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 400 million people across the globe suffer from impaired hearing. Every person has the right to access information, regardless of their physical abilities. Sign language interpretation is one of the tools that ensure communication equality for deaf and hearing-impaired people.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the concept of sign language interpretation, learn who needs it, and what types of such service exist.

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What is sign language interpretation

Sign language interpretation is a service that allows people with hearing impairments to receive information, engage in conversations, and communicate with others with the help of professional sign language interpreters. These professionals interpret sign language, body language, and speech into sign language or written text, providing full access to information and communication.

This type of interpretation is more complicated than other kinds of language-related services. Sign language interpretation specialists have to control their speed while maintaining the intended meaning of the speech, otherwise the audience will have a hard time understanding the message.

Just like written or spoken languages, sign languages have unique sentence structures, grammatical patterns, and lexicon. The position of the hands in relation to the body can be as important as the sign itself. Hence, professionalism and experience of interpreters are of utmost importance.

When do we need sign language interpretation

Sign language interpretation is essential not only for those with hearing impairments, but also for everyone who interacts with them in different areas of life. For example:

• Education

Hearing-impaired students can benefit from sign language interpretation during lectures and workshops to understand the topic and interact with professors and classmates.

• Medicine

Sign language interpreters help hearing-impaired patients understand doctors’ advice and medical instructions.

• Business

Sign language interpretation can be useful at business meetings, conferences, and other events requiring effective communication.

• Social events

Public meetings, political debates, and other social events become accessible to people with hearing impairments with the help of sign language interpretation.

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Types of sign language interpretation

There are several types of sign language interpretation:

• Live interpretation, when sign language is interpreted during a real-time conversation.
• Video interpretation is used to provide the service remotely.
• Speech-to-text interpretation means that spoken words are displayed as text on a screen for easier comprehension.

Do sign languages differ from country to country?

More than 300 different sign languages are used globally. But sign languages have no relation to spoken or written languages of the same area. Usually, they do not reflect or represent them.

For example, while Americans and Brits speak different dialects of English, they do not share a common sign language. Irish Sign Language (ISL) originates from French. Besides, men and women used to have their own ISL dialects for a while due to the fact that many Irish deaf students studied in Catholic schools, which separated students by gender. Over time, however, these differences have diminished.

Ukrainian sign language is also derived from French sign language, just like Dutch, Russian, AmSlang (American Sign Language), and Quebec sign languages.

Requirements for sign language interpreters

The task of a sign language interpreter is to help a hearing-impaired person feel like a fully integrated member of society. Along with interpreters working in a specific field (culture, politics, medicine, education, etc.), there are interpreters of foreign sign languages.

This profession is of great social importanc, but it’s quite challenging due to intense physical and mental activity. Sign language interpreters spend a lot of time on their feet, controlling their every movement and gesture, following a strict dress code of dark colors and no bright manicure or accessories so that nothing distracts or confuses the audience.

A sign language interpreter must possess the following qualities:

• responsibility;
• attentiveness;
• good memory;
• intelligence;
• excellent fine motor skills;
• stress resistance.

Where to order sign language interpretation services

Sign language interpretation services are provided by specialized agencies, medical and educational institutions, and other organizations, including translation companies like MK:translations. Moreover, there are apps and web platforms that allow you to receive them remotely.

Sign language interpretation is not just one of the interpretation services – it is a chance for deaf and hearing-impaired people to enjoy their private and social life to the fullest. It expands communication and learning opportunities, making our world more inclusive and equal for all.

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