An Approach to the Empirical Analysis of Sign Language Interpreted Television Drama

This study investigates sign language interpreted television drama through the development of a multimodal annotation tool, enabling the empirical analysis and assessment of the in-vision sign language interpreter in television drama. The provision of in-vision sign language interpreters in television drama is part of a growing area of demand for interpreters working in the field of audio-visual translation. By their very presence within the television frame, it is clear that the interpreter becomes part of the semiotic web; it appears, however, that they are failing to demonstrate an awareness of the multimodal nature of the audiovisual text, or a true understanding of the genre in which they are working. I have integrated perspectives from a number of disciplines which include audiovisual translation, film studies, and multimodality, to develop the annotation scheme, labelling specific features of the drama and rendition, to be used in ELAN, a platform that supports the development of a multimodal analysis tool. I have used the tool to analyse a corpus of interpreted dramas, thus testing the robustness of my approach and providing insights into current interpreting practice. The analysis shows that the delivery of the interpretations raises a number of issues that appear to contradict the conventions and norms found in television drama, audiovisual translation, and British Sign Language. These issues are discussed, and their impact on construction of the target language is demonstrated, and how this, in turn, alters the viewer’s relationship with the drama. As the first in-depth empirical investigation of sign language interpreted drama, this thesis has a considerable impact in understanding not only current approaches, but also those required. The analysis of the case studies highlights how the underpinning theories have implications both in the teaching of and for the profession of sign language interpreted television drama, and in the wider profession in general.