Shifts in signed media interpreting

Abstract

Abstract This study offers a unique contribution through the construction of an annotated text-based sign language interpreting corpus and its application in analyzing shifts (defined as deviations from source semantic content), which in turn enables researchers to identify and categorize interpreter strategies and norms. The corpus comprises ten half-hour news broadcasts in English and their simultaneously signed interpretations into South African Sign Language. The analysis of shifts shows that interpreters mainly strive to produce a fluent output, combatting cognitive overload through condensation, use of synonyms and omission. However, they also cater for target language norms through attention to discourse features and syntactic reformulation and by addressing perceived target audience knowledge gaps through explanations. Time constraints limit full deverbalization and repair strategies, and Deaf communicative norms occasionally conflict with interpreting norms. Although most shifts could be related to interpreter strategies and norms, the interpreters occasionally made syntactic errors, hindering comprehension.