(Deaf) Interpreters on television: challenging power and responsibility

This article focuses on how Deaf and hearing interpreters in Flanders cope with issues of power and responsibility, based on one specific situation where those issues are manifest: Deaf and hearing interpreters working in sign language broadcasting. The article first outlines the emerging profession of Deaf interpreters, in general as well as in Flanders: why are Deaf people working as interpreters and what exactly do they do in which situations. In order to discuss the opportunities and challenges this new profession entails, both for Deaf interpreters themselves as well as for hearing interpreters and the Deaf community, we use one specific case study. In 2011, the Flemish public broadcasting company VRT conducted an experiment with a Deaf and hearing interpreter. This experiment brought about a powerful debate both within and between the Flemish Deaf community and the (hearing) interpreter community. Insights from and consequences of the experiment will be shared in the paper. Indeed, it is not only Deaf and hearing interpreters who need to (learn to) cope with power and responsibility, but also very much the public broadcaster itself, whose role cannot be underestimated. In conclusion, we will have a look at future challenges concerning training for Deaf and hearing interpreters, and how this training can incorporate issues of power and responsibility.status: publishe