http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEcsOApQAZU Jemina Napier: I work here at Heriot-Watt in the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies (LINCS). My expertise is in doing research on, and teaching, sign language interpreting, and I also work as a sign language interpreter. Since arriving at Heriot-Watt University I have discussed with my BSL team colleagues the idea of having […]
Category: Sign Language
Orkney Can Wait
The first time I met a Deaf person was in 2006 as a PhD student. I was asked to help out with BSL exams in Heriot-Watt, to make sure examiners were there and to look after the candidates. The Deaf examiner made me think how inspiring it was for someone to overcome a disability and […]
Signs and Wonders
After an exciting and successful opening year, Heriot-Watt’s undergraduate degree in Sign Language Interpreting will welcome a new group of students in September 2013 (and, at the same time, applications will open for the 2014 intake). We’ve designed the programme to take advantage of LINCS’ decades of experience in educating spoken language interpreters to the […]
Putting a Smile on The Public Face of Languages
If you are a translator, interpreter, sociolinguist, anthropological linguist or any other kind of linguist, there is a lot to get annoyed about. Courses are closing, rates are (in places) dropping, respect is on the wane and hardly a day goes by without some newspaper publishing a story about some new gadget that will entirely […]
Equality for Deaf People
The next EdSign lecture will take place at Heriot-Watt University on 22nd May: ‘Equality for Deaf People’ by Colin Allen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf Wednesday 22nd May 7pm – 8.30pm Where: (PLEASE NOTE THE ROOM CHANGE, THE EVENT WILL NOW BE IN) Mary Burton Building, Room MBG20, at Heriot-Watt University Directions […]
An Unheard of Adventure
As readers of this blog may be aware, LINCS has established interests not only in translation and interpreting, but also in intercultural studies. Of growing significance in this respect is research about cultural heritage. The heritage of speakers of English, French, Arabic and so on is well understood – though many questions inevitably remain to […]
Spitting the Dummy at Government Inaction
Records of British Sign Language may date back to the 16th century, but it took until 18th March 2003 for formal governmental recognition to be secured for the language anywhere in the UK. Ten years later, many Deaf (and hearing) people – including Heriot-Watt’s staff and students with an interest in this community – are […]
Responsible Interpreting pt. 2
A few days ago, we posted the first part of my interview with Robyn Dean, sign language interpreter and researcher. This week, in the second part, we talk about whether research is any use to practicing professionals and why even busy professionals can help shape the future of their profession.
Responsible Interpreting pt. 1
The recent controversy over the Ministry of Justice interpreting contract has brought to the fore just how much interpreting suffers from a lack of status. In this two part interview with sign language interpreter and researcher, Robyn Dean, I had the chance to discuss with her how her work on interpreter ethics might help strengthen […]
A Year and a Bit of Blogging About Research
On 1st October this year, LifeinLINCS celebrated a year since its launch. Since then we have covered a whole range of topics from subtitling to court interpreting and from getting a career in translation and interpreting to minority language rights and why people would put careers on hold to go and do research. It has […]