Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Demands Faced by Sign Language Interpreters at University of Education, Winneba

Received: 21 July 2023    Accepted: 9 August 2023    Published: 28 October 2023
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Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the Demands for Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) at University of Education, Winneba. This study employed an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design to answer the research questions. The researcher first conducted quantitative research, analyzed the results and then built on the results to explain them in more detail with qualitative responses. Out of a target population of 14 respondents, eight (8) were purposively sampled for this study due to the practical skills they had acquired in Sign language, including assistance given to the deaf at the University. Core issues include environmental, interpersonal, paralinguistic, and intrapersonal demands. The two main instruments used to gather data were a 24-item questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale and interview guide. Descriptive statistics involving simple percentages, mean, standard deviations and thematic approach were computed and used for the analysis. The findings indicated that Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) expressed strong concerns about the obstructions they encountered during an interpreting assignment, such as the speaker's accent, power dynamics and authority, the use of technical vocabulary and interpreting for long hours without rest. Therefore, it is recommended that there is a need to encourage SLI to go for further studies in the area of interpreting. Besides, the University can employ and retain experienced Sign Language Interpreters to work as interpreters for deaf students.

Published in American Journal of Education and Information Technology (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17
Page(s) 104-116
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sign Language, Interpreter, Demands, Environmental, Interpersonal, Paralinguistic Intrapersonal

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Afua Ntoaduro, Grace Yeboah, Patience Langee, Abraham Yeboah, Rosemary Acquaye, et al. (2023). Demands Faced by Sign Language Interpreters at University of Education, Winneba. American Journal of Education and Information Technology, 7(2), 104-116. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17

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    ACS Style

    Afua Ntoaduro; Grace Yeboah; Patience Langee; Abraham Yeboah; Rosemary Acquaye, et al. Demands Faced by Sign Language Interpreters at University of Education, Winneba. Am. J. Educ. Inf. Technol. 2023, 7(2), 104-116. doi: 10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17

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    AMA Style

    Afua Ntoaduro, Grace Yeboah, Patience Langee, Abraham Yeboah, Rosemary Acquaye, et al. Demands Faced by Sign Language Interpreters at University of Education, Winneba. Am J Educ Inf Technol. 2023;7(2):104-116. doi: 10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17,
      author = {Afua Ntoaduro and Grace Yeboah and Patience Langee and Abraham Yeboah and Rosemary Acquaye and Prosper Anthony Mensah and Abraham Gyamfi},
      title = {Demands Faced by Sign Language Interpreters at University of Education, Winneba},
      journal = {American Journal of Education and Information Technology},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {104-116},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajeit.20230702.17},
      abstract = {This study aimed at exploring the Demands for Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) at University of Education, Winneba. This study employed an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design to answer the research questions. The researcher first conducted quantitative research, analyzed the results and then built on the results to explain them in more detail with qualitative responses. Out of a target population of 14 respondents, eight (8) were purposively sampled for this study due to the practical skills they had acquired in Sign language, including assistance given to the deaf at the University. Core issues include environmental, interpersonal, paralinguistic, and intrapersonal demands. The two main instruments used to gather data were a 24-item questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale and interview guide. Descriptive statistics involving simple percentages, mean, standard deviations and thematic approach were computed and used for the analysis. The findings indicated that Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) expressed strong concerns about the obstructions they encountered during an interpreting assignment, such as the speaker's accent, power dynamics and authority, the use of technical vocabulary and interpreting for long hours without rest. Therefore, it is recommended that there is a need to encourage SLI to go for further studies in the area of interpreting. Besides, the University can employ and retain experienced Sign Language Interpreters to work as interpreters for deaf students.
    },
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Demands Faced by Sign Language Interpreters at University of Education, Winneba
    AU  - Afua Ntoaduro
    AU  - Grace Yeboah
    AU  - Patience Langee
    AU  - Abraham Yeboah
    AU  - Rosemary Acquaye
    AU  - Prosper Anthony Mensah
    AU  - Abraham Gyamfi
    Y1  - 2023/10/28
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17
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    T2  - American Journal of Education and Information Technology
    JF  - American Journal of Education and Information Technology
    JO  - American Journal of Education and Information Technology
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    EP  - 116
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-712X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajeit.20230702.17
    AB  - This study aimed at exploring the Demands for Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) at University of Education, Winneba. This study employed an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design to answer the research questions. The researcher first conducted quantitative research, analyzed the results and then built on the results to explain them in more detail with qualitative responses. Out of a target population of 14 respondents, eight (8) were purposively sampled for this study due to the practical skills they had acquired in Sign language, including assistance given to the deaf at the University. Core issues include environmental, interpersonal, paralinguistic, and intrapersonal demands. The two main instruments used to gather data were a 24-item questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale and interview guide. Descriptive statistics involving simple percentages, mean, standard deviations and thematic approach were computed and used for the analysis. The findings indicated that Sign Language Interpreters (SLI) expressed strong concerns about the obstructions they encountered during an interpreting assignment, such as the speaker's accent, power dynamics and authority, the use of technical vocabulary and interpreting for long hours without rest. Therefore, it is recommended that there is a need to encourage SLI to go for further studies in the area of interpreting. Besides, the University can employ and retain experienced Sign Language Interpreters to work as interpreters for deaf students.
    
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Education, St. John Bosco College of Education, Navorongo, Ghana

  • Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Education, Wesley College of Education, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Education, Wesley College of Education, Kumasi, Ghana

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