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Sociology of Interpreting: Examining VRS as a Case Study

This presentation discusses the concept of a sociology of interpreting, exploring the social structures that influence the interpretation process, their effects, and how this influence is carried out. Through the lens of institutional ethnography, the study examines Video Relay Service (VRS) as a case study, using participant observation, interviews, and analysis of texts to gain insights. The findings shed light on the importance of context, the role of interpreters, and the impact of policies on interpreting behavior.

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Sociology of Interpreting: Examining VRS as a Case Study

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  1. 6/9/2010 TowardaSociologyofInterpreting JeremyL.BrunsonAssistantProfessorofSociology GallaudetUniversityVRS2010Presentation • Overview • Introduction • –TraditionalfociinSignLanguageInterpretingResearch • Whatasociologyofinterpretingwouldlooklike. • Institutionalethnographyasanapproachofinquiry • ApplyingIEtothefieldofinterpretingthroughanexaminationofVRS. • Conclusion/Questions TraditionalStartingPlaceandFociofSignLanguageInterpreting Research • What woulda Sociology ofInterpreting LookLike? • Itwouldanswerthreequestions: • Whatarethesocialstructuresthatinfluencetheinterpretationprocess? • Whatarethegeneralizingeffectsofthesesocialstructures? • Howisthatinfluencecarriedout? Applying • InstitutionalEthnography • Feminism • Standpoint(Smith1987;1990a;2005;DeVault&McCoy,2002;DeVault2006). • RulingRelations(Marx[1976];Smith1987;1990a;1990b; 1999;2005;2006;G.Smith1988). • Texts(Smith1990a;McCoy1995;1998;2006) • Work(Smith1990b;deMontigny1995;DeVault2007;Diamond1992;Hochschild1979;1983;1990; • Generalizabilityvs.GeneralizingEffect(Smith2006) • Ourparticipationinsociety’s(andourown)organization • InstitutionalEthnography:UsingVRSasanExample • Mystudyproblematic: • “Weareprovidingaccess.”

  2. 6/9/2010 • BackgroundInformation • Ihaveworkedfor3differentVRSproviders,in5differentcenters,locatedin4differentstates. • MyfocushereexaminesdatacollectedwhileIworkedforoneprovider. • MyStudy • Methodology • Setting • Interpreters • Texts • DeafPeople • Conclusion • Methodology • Participantobservations • Autoethnographic • Interviews • FocusGroups • ExaminationofTexts(notatextualanalysis) • Setting • Architecture • Technologies • Spaceasacommodity • Full-timeinterpretersgettoclaimtheirspace • Interviews • RecruitmentofInformants • 25Interpreters • 5ManagerialStaff • FocusofInterviews • 1.5hoursinlengthonaverage • Mosttookplaceatinterpreters’homeorawayfromthecenter • Allinterpreterswerecertified • Themeswereidentifiedusingaopen-codingandthen focusedcodingprocess. InterpreterExcerpt Ithinktheroleofinterpretersingeneral,notonlybysignlanguageinterpreters,isgreatlyunderstated.Ithinkinterpretersarereally,whatIcall,thegruntsofbuildingculturalunderstanding.Ifitwasn’tforthosesmalllittleinteractionsthatinterpretershelpfacilitatebetweentwosetsofpeopleortwoindividualswhocomefromdifferentexperienceswe[asasociety] wouldbejustsoseparate.(Estelle)

  3. 6/9/2010 InterviewExcerpt Thecallercameuponmyscreen.Hewaswearingawhiteturbankindofthing.Iwassearchingforanykindofcluetowhatthecontextwas.Whenthe hearingpersonansweredthephone,thecallerspelledhisname.Isaidtothehearingperson,“Hi,it’sYamez.”Thehearingpersonstartedtorepeatthename,“Yamez?Yamez?”IrealizedIhadprobablysaiditwrong.Istartedtoplacetheemphasisondifferent syllables.IknewitwasYamezbutIjustdidn’tknowhowtosayit.Afterwhatseemedlike30minutesbutwasreallyjustareallylongminute,thehearingperson said,“James,isthatyou?”Iaboutdied.(Sarah) InterviewExcerpt Videorelaycentersarenowhiringnewbie[interpreters]whohaveneverinterpretedinthecommunitytoworkintheircenters.While[signlanguageinterpretingtrainers]havebeenworkingto emphasizetheimportanceofknowingthecontextforseveralyears,wearenowseeingvideorelayservice[providers]tellingthesenewbie[interpreters]thatthecontextisnotimportant.TheyjustwantrobotsthatwillpickanEnglishwordforeverysign.Whatamess.(Julia) InterviewExcerpt ThecallercameuponmyscreenandItriedtodomy introduction.Youknow,ThankyouforcallingEaseCommunication,Inc.VRS,Iaminterpreternumber4...Sheinterruptedme.Shesaid,“Sameoldthing.Idon’tneedtoknow,justmakethecall.”Itoldherthat IwouldbutthatIhadtogivehermynumber.Shedidn’twantit.IhadtotellherthattheFCCrequiredmetotellher.(Brenda) InterviewExcerpt WhenIknowthepersonisgoingtoberude,I interpretmorestrictlytowhatIsee.SoIdon’tworktoputitintoEnglish.Now,Idon’tthinkpeoplehavetothankme.Iamgettingpaid.ButwhensomeoneisjustnicethenIwillworktomakethemessageflowlikeaconversation.(Tyler) InterviewExcerpt Doyouwanttobeacompanyknownforgoodcustomerservice?Goodcustomerservicetakestime.IfIwanttodeveloparapportwiththisperson,andthewayIdoitmightbedifferentthanhowsomeoneelsedoesitanditmightbeokforme,andifyoumeasuretheamountoftimeittakesforustodevelopthisrapportandtheamountoftimeittakesmeisgoingtobedifferentthantheamountoftimethatittakesanotherperson.Thenwhat?Ifitdoesn’tmeetyourtarget,areyouaskingmetochangethewayIestablishthisrapportwiththem?Ok,thentellmehowyouwantmetodothat?(Estelle) • So whydoit? • FinancialMotive:TheRoyalTreatment • SkillEnhancement:Sign-to-VoicePractice • ConsumerPool:“Iwanttogowherenobodyknowsmyname.”

  4. 6/9/2010 • Identifying theTexts • Theseinterpretersallrefertopolicies,intheformoftexts,astheirjustificationfortheirbehavior. • Weneedtorememberthattextsarebeing“activated”(McCoy1995)atdifferentmomentsindifferentlocations.Eachtimetheyareactivatedthepersonactivatingthemisinterpretingthemthroughaparticularlens. • Theworkofsignlanguageinterpretingisinvisibleforthemostpart.Textsmakeitvisible. TheTextual Organization ofInterpreting inVRS Ame cansW hDisabili e Ac Func onally Equivalent RID Code ofP ofessionaConduc FCCReguations/Ru ngExpandsRelay obecome more unc onally equivalent P oducivityLog (Demonstration of access” nape cen age ActivityLog (Demonstration ofwork VariousScripts(Standadization Timecard KudosCerificaes The ImpactofthisCoordination • FocusGroups • Demographics • Adults • Themes • EnjoyVRS • EqualFootingwithnon-deafpeople • Invisiblelabor • EmotionWorktogainaccess • Conclusion • Weneedtobegintoteachcurrentandfuture interpreterstoseetheworkofinterpretingaspartofalargersocialinstitution.OnethatIhavecalled“institutionofaccess”(Brunson2008).Bydoingthis, interpreterscanidentifytheinfluencethisinstitution,throughtextsthatpassbetweentranslocalsocialstructures,exertsoverusinordertocounterorpromotethistypeoforganization.Wecanthendeterminethetrajectoryofthefieldratherthanhavingitdeterminedforus. Questions/Comments? Thankyou.

  5. 6/9/2010 Bibliography Available upon request.

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