A comparative analysis of challenges associated with English and Kiswahili source texts in Kenyan sign language interpretation: a case study of KTN news
Abstract
The study entailed a comparative analysis of challenges associated with English and Kiswahili
source texts into KSL target language in news interpretation. News interpretation into KSL is a
new phenomenon in the sign language interpreting profession in Kenya and involves both
English and Kiswahili source texts. The study aimed
at establishing the relative closeness of the
KSL meaning transmitted to the deaf viewer from English and Kiswahili source texts, the
challenges presented to the KSL interpreter by English and Kiwahili source texts and the reasons
for the observed differences. The study used Cartford’s (1965) theory of equivalence. The
research was initiated by identifying the median mo
nth since the inception of KSL interpretation
of news until the time of commencing this study. Subsequently, 7 days were sampled from that
month and news items from the selected dates for both English and Kiswahili. Consent was
obtained from the TV station. Thereafter, the corresponding KSL interpretations of the identified
source texts were watched and glossed. A structured
interview with the two interpreters involved
in KSL interpretation was undertaken. This was fol
lowed by analysis of the texts and the
corresponding KSL interpretation followed by analysis of the face to face structured interviews.
The study has established that interpreting from English source texts allowed the interpreters to
transmit to deaf viewers a slightly higher closer meaning to that of the source text than
interpreting from Kiswahili source texts, the study
also established the challenges interpreters
encounter and the reasons for the challenges
Publisher
University of Nairobi