David Howell (2003) notes some of the obstacles colleges face by discussing the closing of the SL Interpreter program at Grant MacEwan Community College: "Last week, Grant MacEwan College announced its sign-language interpretation program will end when the current class of 10 students graduates this month. 'It's a high-cost program with low demand,' college spokeswoman Michelle Leveille said at the time. The cut is part of an effort by the college to trim spending by $2 million in the coming year" (Cityplus, June 5 2003. Following the trend to save money, and the subsequent reduction in government funding for such programs, many other Canadian colleges have closed their SL programs, for example: Sheridan College, Ontario, St. Mary's University, Nova Scotia, and Cambrian College, Ontario.
Further Obstacles for SL Interpreting Graduates
Students who do graduate face another obstacle when commencing their careers-lack of field experience, certification does not translate into a seasoned interpreter ready for the discipline. The low number of recent graduates, through no fault of their own, find themselves ill-prepared to act as SL Interpreters.Graduated SL Interpreters desire programs geared to assisting graduates in field work. To this end, many go onto post-secondary studies to earn the necessary credentials to be successful in their field. To this end, they desire extensive knowledge of the Deaf culture, English and ASL or Canadian Sign Language (CSL). According to Humphrey et al., the average professional SL Interpreter holds a "Bachelor's or Master's degree" (369). However, the authors point out that the success rate for post-graduates mirrors those of undergraduates, roughly ten percent of those originally enrolled.
The lack of government, business and private funding for the advancement of educating, equipping and paying qualified SL Interpreters negates the needs, desires and rights of Deaf persons striving to live a full, balanced life in a dominant hearing culture.
SL Interpreters' roles and responsibilities
According to Ron Hahn (1996), most SL Interpreters "possess strong interpreting skill[s]," that enable them to develop and establish "his/her own reputation" (12). Acting as accountable professionals, SL Interpreters are responsible for facilitating communication between sign language users (Deaf and hard of hearing) and non-sign users (hearing). After all, the word, interpreter, refers to a person who translates between two or more people with alternative ways of communicating or who speak different languages.Qualified interpreters seek to bridge and join the two worlds together-hearing and Deaf. Although SL Interpreters' responsibilities center on translating information to hearing and Deaf clients, "language problems create the potential for enormous tension among interpreters, school officials, and Deaf students" (Lane et al., 1999: 259). It is the SL Interpreters' responsibilities to ensure that the information is communicated clearly to both parties, including ASL vocabulary and the structure of transmission.
In regards to the problems in transmitting information to both parties, one of my interviewees, Bob, an experienced SL Interpreter, responds: "Often times with interpreting assignments there is a clear beginning, middle and end to my role as an interpreter" ("Interview," 19 February 2006). Bob's statement reflects how relevant the relationships between SL Interpreters and Deaf clients strive to follow a clear, linear path to ensure that the translation of information is transparent. This supports Lane et al.'s argument that all SL Interpreters, while working with culturally Deaf clients, should have "the skill involved [that] requires a much more comprehensive knowledge of ASL" (258).
The knowledge and expertise of SL Interpreters is especially needed when Deaf clients find themselves in critical situations that require clear communication. For example, when Deaf clients are in situations dealing with the law, children's aid or medical emergencies.
To become an interpreter, a person must be culturally sensitive and willing to act as a mediator between the Deaf and hearing worlds. When a person becomes an interpreter, s/he is the aware of the communication occurring in both worlds-English and ASL-whereas the other parties do not.
