Situation and needs of interpreters working with deaf, migrant, refugee and asylum seeking victims of gender-based violence in the Spanish context

Abstract

This article analyses some of the responses to a questionnaire developed in the framework of the JUSTISIGNS2 European project, which aimed to understand the situation and needs of interpreters working with deaf, migrant, refugee and asylum seeking victims of gender-based violence. The analysis has particularly focused on the case of Sign Language interpreting in Spain. In this regard, a selection of items from the questionnaire has been made which, in the opinion of the authors, can best contribute to the understanding of the context in which interpreter-mediated exchanges take place in the case of deaf victims. The data have been presented, for most of the questions, contrasting those obtained from the total number of responses with those referring specifically to Spanish Sign Language interpreting. Both oral and sign language interpreters highlight the need for specific training as a fundamental tool for better assistance to gender-based violence victims.

Keywords
interpretation; gender-based violence; deaf women; sign language