Nigel Howard

Nigel Howard is an instructor at Douglas College in the Sign Language Interpretation Program and is also an instructor at the University of Victoria.  He has a BA in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and attained a Post-Graduate certificate in Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol, England.  Nigel has been a Deaf Interpreter for the past 18 years working in ASL, British Sign Language, International Sign and at times Japanese Sign Language.  Over the past 20 years, he has given a wide variety of courses and workshops throughout the world on topics such as interpreting development and professionalism, Deafhood, medical interpreting, Deaf interpreters, International Interpreting and Deaf youth/community Development.  He is actively involved with the betterment of the interpreting profession, of both Deaf and non-Deaf interpreters. Nigel is currently the North American Representative for the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) and also a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Interpreter Education.

Exploring the Concepts of non-Deaf and Deaf Space as Occupied by Deaf and non-Deaf Sign Language Interpreters.

A new line of thought is developing around the place of Deaf people in the world.  The idea is one of Deaf space and draws from the discipline of human geography (Mathews, 2006, Gulliver, 2009).   Space can be thought of as both internal (perceived) and external (environmental) (Robins & Aksoy, 2001). Deaf space is created when Deaf people come together to communicate.  It is closely linked with Deaf cultural identity.  Deaf knowledge produces Deaf space and in turn, Deaf knowledge flourishes within these settings.
What then, are the implications of this for a bilingual person, such as an interpreter, in and out of Deaf space?
This paper will explore the perspectives of Deaf and non-deaf interpreters when in hearing and Deaf spaces.  The implications of being in one’s own space and that of another culture will be analysed.  Perceptions, from within and external to the spaces will be described.  Elements including the power base, ownership of the message and efficiency of interpretation will be contrasted in a matrix format.  Cultural aspects such as socialisation among interpreters when in and out of their “home” environment will be discussed.  Comparison will be made of the expectations of others on Deaf and non-deaf interpreters depending on the space in which they are working. Data was initially gathered through case studies and is being expanded through ethnographic research methods.