In late November last year, we let you know about an event called Who Needs Languages? The purpose of this event was to raise awareness of linguistic diversity in Scotland and foster better understanding of Scotland’s language needs. More than 30 people came and made the event a great success. Every speaker was keen to […]
Category: Sign Language
What that means to me: The Tireless and Tiresome Search for Meaning
Part II Should empathic responses be an expected skill of the community interpreter? As part of our development as interpreting professionals, we should actively seek to develop empathy for people and in our practice, display empathy – even to ourselves. Our emotional reactions to the people we work with are best not repressed but considered […]
BSL Interpreting: A Profession with Potential
On Friday, we announced the beginning of undergraduate BSL courses here at Heriot-Watt. This is the first time that BSL has been taught at undergraduate level at a Translation and Interpreting school. To celebrate this breakthrough, here are three excellent reasons why BSL interpreting is a profession with potential. 1. There is lots of work […]
LINCS Lines Up British Sign Language
From 2012, undergraduate students at Heriot-Watt will be presented with an opportunity never before available in the UK: to study British Sign Language (BSL) in a Department specialising in translation and interpreting. (Click here for details.) Why might you find this exciting? Here are six good reasons. 1. It’s cool to sign. Don’t believe me? Checkout […]
What that means to me: The Tireless and Tiresome Search for Meaning
Part I “This is a conservation area and so there’s no bins or double-glazing.” This is just one of the many sentences spoken to me since moving to Edinburgh two months ago where I had no idea what the person meant. And, mind you, English is my first language! What that means to me: I […]
Upcoming Event: Who Needs Languages? A Dialogue
Today, over 100 languages are spoken in Scotland. While English dominates trade, education and politics; the future of Scotland’s other “native” languages: Gaelic, Scots and BSL remains uncertain. As a result of immigration and growing international economic and cultural links, newer language communities have also found a welcoming home in Scotland. Against this backdrop, Heriot-Watt […]
Deaf in the Story
Thanks to all who participated in the ‘Deaf in the Story’ knowledge exchange event organized by Heriot-Watt University’s BSL:UPTAKE project at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh yesterday. Wasn’t it great? We’re grateful to the Edinburgh Beltane project http://www.edinburghbeltane.net/ for the prize which enabled us to set up this event. We took the event to […]