La lengua de signos: aspectos traslativos y sociolingüísticos desde un observatorio italiano

This article aims to show how the sign language interpreter and the interpreting of spoken to signed language (and vice versa) have evolved in the contemporary era on the basis of two factors: 1) the change in the sociocultural and sociolinguistic situation of the deaf community, as a result of the recognition that SL is a language just like any other, and due to the dignity and prestige which it has acquired in contexts which were formerly inaccessible, thanks to the work of interpreters; 2) the linguistic-translational theories of the second half of the twentieh century, which have destroyed the traditional approach to interpreting (“charitable” interpreter or helper when providing service), and which have brought about the development and application of new models in the process of interpreting of SL. As a result of research in linguistics and translation studies, there is a growing awareness of the ways in which sign languages work: what is now required is a rethinking both of the role of the interpreter and of the professional interpreting services requested by users. The authors approach the topic from a diachronic and comparative perspective, starting from the sociolinguistic context of Italy, and taking into account that of other European countries.