The State of Trilingual Interpreting: Understanding the Work, Mobilization,

and Leadership

Rafael Treviño, NIC-AEdwin Cancel, NIC, ED:K-12, BEI Trilingual Master

Conference of Interpreter TrainersCharlotte, NC

October 20, 2012

• Part I: Trilingual Interpreting Defined• Part II: NCIEC Focus Group Study• Part III: Implications for Educators

TRILINGUAL INTERPRETING DEFINED

Part I

Trilingual Interpreting

• Why• What• Who• Where• How

What: Not this…

Trilingual Interpreting

English ASL Spanish

…rather, this.

Trilingual Interpreting

English-speaking hearing consumer

(ESHC)

Variety of English

Deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind consumer

(DHHC)

American

Variety of ASL

Hispanic/Latino

Variety of ASL

Spanish-speaking hearing consumer

(SSHC)

Variety of Spanish

Who: Not this…

Variety of English

Variety of Spanish

Intimate

Informal

Consultative

Formal & Frozen

Intimate

Informal

Consultative

Formal & Frozen

…rather, this…

Variety of English

Variety of Spanish

Intimate

Informal

Consultative

Formal & Frozen

Intimate

Informal

…or this.

Variety of English

Variety of Spanish

Intimate

Informal

Consultative

Formal & Frozen

Consultative

Formal & Frozen

Where

• Video (VRS; VRI)• Educational (K-12)• Healthcare; Mental health• Vocational Rehabilitation• Religious Events• Conferences• Legal• Abroad

How: Mostly the same…

• DHHC• American,

or• Latino

ASL Variety

• Trilingual Interpreter

Interpretation• ESHC

English Variety

• DHHC• American,

or• Latino

ASL Variety

• Trilingual Interpreter

Interpretation• SSHC

Spanish Variety

…except maybe this…

• DHHC• Latino

ASL Variety

• Deaf Interpreter

Interpretation• Trilingual

Interpreter

Interpretation

• ESHC

English Variety

…and definitely except this.

Trilingual Interpreter

DHHCAmerican/Latino

SSHCESHC

ESHC asks SSHC a question

ESCH• Psych.• Active

DHHC• Daughter• Passive

SSHC• Mother• Active

ChallengesWith the What• Varieties of spoken Spanish• Varieties of Deaf cultures and signed languages in

other countries

With the Who• Vocabulary and styles of higher registers • Knowledge about paradigms in Spanish-speaking

countries (Law, Politics, Education, Pop Culture, Healthcare, Deafness)

With the How• Consecutive interpreting (e.g. note-taking)• Communication management (i.e. turn-taking)

NCIEC FOCUS GROUP STUDYPart II

Introduction

“As an [ASL-English] interpreter, you almost have to try not to be influenced by so many

resources. As a trilingual interpreter, you have to go out of your way to find support.”

-- Practitioner

Foundational Knowledge

“Trilingual interpreters should be aware of the missionary influences on the native Latin

American signed languages that might have been influenced by Western signed languages.

Make sure trilingual interpreters become scholars in culture and history.”

-- Deaf consumer

Language, Culture & Communication

“Si a tí te toca un intérprete que es mexicano y mi hija o alguien te está diciendo algo, y él te lo

dice en un modismo mexicano y uno es venezolano, te quedaste en la luna”.

-- Spanish-speaking hearing consumer

Consumer Assessment

“…if you interpret in an educational setting you should know what classrooms look like [in consumer’s home culture]. […] I think that

knowledge is very helpful in terms of being able to help the student participate successfully in

class.”-- English-speaking hearing consumer

Interpreting Practice

“There’s some assumption that the knowledge of Spanish and the experience as an interpreter

means that there will be some automatic transference.”

-- Hiring entity

Professionalism

“Sin menospreciar a los que son puramente bilingües, manejando el inglés y el sign

language, sabemos que con ellos es más frío, pues llega ahí, hace su trabajo, recoge su papel

y se va”.-- Spanish-speaking hearing consumer

Future Direction

“Aunque sea por lo menos en Texas, ya existe una forma de identificarse; me parece

fantástico”.-- Spanish-speaking hearing consumer

IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATORSPart III

2009-10 REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SUMMARY

THE HISPANIC POPULATION: 2010(U.S. CENSUS)

52.0 million“The Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2011, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 16.7 percent of the nation's total population. In addition, there are 3.7 million residents of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.”

How educators can help

• Be a talent scout• Be collaborative• Be creative• Be an academic advisor• Be diverse

Organizations and Resources

• Mano a Mano• NCIEC• WASLI• NMIP• RID• RID local chapters

ASL & Spanish Immersion Programs!–Puerto Rico, June 27-30, 2013

Thank you!

• Rafael Treviñorafael.trevino@me.com

• Edwin Cancelcancele@mail.wou.edu