Enhancing Standards

A Roundtable on Sign Language Interpreting in Europe

A pivotal roundtable discussion, held the 11 December, brought together key stakeholders in the field of sign language interpreting across Europe. Hosted by efsli (European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters), the virtual event tackled pressing issues around interpreter training, professional standards, and inclusion for deaf and deafblind communities.

This enriching conversation featured voices from organisations such as EUD (European Union of the Deaf) and EDBU (European Deafblind Union), with efsli moderating the dialogue. Here's what unfolded:

🎙️ Setting the Stage

Charlotte, efsli's manager, opened the session by highlighting the event's goal: fostering collaboration among interpreting organisations and community stakeholders to improve advocacy and professional standards. Stressing transparency and engagement, she emphasised the necessity of collective action to address shared challenges.

🎓 Training Gaps and Opportunities

Isabelle Lombard, efsli's vice president, shed light on the fragmented landscape of interpreter training in Europe. From short courses to master's programmes, the disparities are stark. Lombard underscored the need for harmonisation, particularly in integrating deaf-led curriculum contributions and ensuring that training is inclusive rather than hearing-centric.

👐 Inclusion in Practice

Frankie Pickron (EUD) and Frank Trigueros (EDBU) brought forward critical community perspectives:

• Frankie Pickron: Highlighted the importance of culturally rooted interpreter training and stronger community engagement to counteract declining ties between interpreters and deaf communities.
• Frank Trigueros: Advocated for specialised training for interpreters working with deafblind individuals, including tactile communication techniques. He applauded Nordic countries' models but lamented the lack of such systems elsewhere.

Tragically, disparities in funding and governmental support leave the deafblind community underserved. Trigueros called for greater integration of lived experiences in curricula, urging efsli and other bodies to champion this.

🤝 Bridging Gaps

The panelists explored ways to address systemic issues. Among the actionable steps discussed:

1. Fact-finding missions to map existing interpreter training programmes and highlight good practices.
2. Building networks between deafblind and interpreter organisations, leveraging Nordic countries' expertise.
3. Advocating for deaf and deafblind educators to play leading roles in training programmes.

Siegrid Leurs (efsli) argued for better alignment between spoken and sign language interpreting pathways, ensuring accessibility for all, including deaf interpreters.

📈 Raising the Bar

As discussions turned to professional development, panelists recognised the tension between quantity and quality in interpreter training. With some countries focused on increasing interpreter numbers, ensuring rigorous standards remains a challenge. Frankie Pickron stressed the need for interpreters to strive for C2-level fluency in their working languages, aligning with the Common European Framework of Reference.

💡 A Call to Action

The session concluded with a rallying cry for collaboration. efsli proposed a joint project to establish benchmark standards for interpreter training, incorporating feedback from national and European organisations. This initiative aims to build a foundation for consistent, high-quality training programmes across Europe.

👥 Community First

As the CRPD slogan goes: “Nothing about us without us.” This roundtable demonstrated the importance of centering deaf and deafblind voices in every stage of interpreting services, from training to practice. With actionable steps outlined, efsli and its partners aim to lead the charge for transformative change.

This insightful dialogue marked a significant step in addressing systemic gaps and fostering solidarity across Europe's interpreting landscape. Stay tuned as efsli advances its advocacy to achieve a future where high standards and inclusion are the norm.

Until next time,
The efsli Team

PS: You can rewatch the roundtable on Facebook Live by following this link.