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