Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Find out more at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/internationalperspectives
"Sign Language Interpreting: Education and Professionalization in Norway" | Chapter summary in Norwegian Sign Language (NTS)
Chapter authors: Hilde Haualand and Anna-Lena Nilsson
From “International Perspectives on Sign Language Translator and Interpreter Education”
Edited by Jemina Napier, Stacey Webb, and Robert Adam
Published by Gallaudet University Press
**This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter authors.**
Visual description: A blonde gray gray-haired white woman with glasses, wearing a light blue shirt standing in front of a blue background. There are headings indicating the topic of each sequence she signs in Norwegian Sign Language. The headings are sign language interpreters as a professional group, signed language interpreters vs spoken language interpreters, the early years: collaboration between deaf people and interpreters, sign language interpreting as an individual right for deaf people, and sign language interpreter education and future needs.
Transcript:
Sign language interpreters constitute a profession in Norway. Their work is regulated by laws. There is a mandatory three-year bachelor level education. There are ethical guidelines for the profession. Many sign language interpreters are members of a union. All in all, this makes it a profession.
Sign language interpreting and spoken language interpreting have developed differently in Norway. Sign language interpreting has links to legislation related to disability. Spoken language interpreting has links to people using different spoken languages and the need for interpreting in the public sector, for example in hospitals and with the police. Therefore, the services have developed differently.
Sign language interpreting services started to develop in the 1970s and have continued to do so up until now. Before 1970, it was often people who knew sign language who would volunteer to "help" interpret. Then, the Norwegian National Association of the Deaf and the newly established Norwegian Association of Interpreters joined forces and lobbied for proper, professional interpreting services.
Today in Norway, sign language interpreting services are an individual right. This means that deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf blind persons themselves can decide when they need interpreting. The Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration is responsible for providing interpreters and they also pay for the service. There are a few exceptions to this, but in general it can be said that they have a monopoly on providing sign language interpreting services.
Today, sign language interpreters are trained in three places in Norway: OsloMet, in Oslo; Høgskulen på Vestlanded, in Bergen; and NTNU, in Trondheim. They all offer three-year educations. In Oslo, students must have basic signing skills before entering the program. In all programs, the first year is dedicated to improving students' signing skills and learning about deaf culture and deaf history. The second and third years are more focused on practical interpreting skills and learning how to interpret. Having completed a program, you can then enter the work force as a sign language interpreter. Though there is a mandatory three-year education, there is a lack in variation, and a lack of further and higher education for interpreters. For example, there is no MA program for interpreters. So, interpreters interested in further education need to find their own way. And if they complete further education, this does not give them better pay. So, there is not really that much to motivate them to pursue further studies.
As for future needs, the Norwegian National Association of the Deaf and organizations for sign language interpreters are lobbying for improvements such as more user involvement and more influence from the profession on the organization of services.
Find out more at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/internationalperspectives
"Sign Language Interpreting: Education and Professionalization in Norway" | Chapter summary in Norwegian Sign Language (NTS)
Chapter authors: Hilde Haualand and Anna-Lena Nilsson
From “International Perspectives on Sign Language Translator and Interpreter Education”
Edited by Jemina Napier, Stacey Webb, and Robert Adam
Published by Gallaudet University Press
**This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter authors.**
Visual description: A blonde gray gray-haired white woman with glasses, wearing a light blue shirt standing in front of a blue background. There are headings indicating the topic of each sequence she signs in Norwegian Sign Language. The headings are sign language interpreters as a professional group, signed language interpreters vs spoken language interpreters, the early years: collaboration between deaf people and interpreters, sign language interpreting as an individual right for deaf people, and sign language interpreter education and future needs.
Transcript:
Sign language interpreters constitute a profession in Norway. Their work is regulated by laws. There is a mandatory three-year bachelor level education. There are ethical guidelines for the profession. Many sign language interpreters are members of a union. All in all, this makes it a profession.
Sign language interpreting and spoken language interpreting have developed differently in Norway. Sign language interpreting has links to legislation related to disability. Spoken language interpreting has links to people using different spoken languages and the need for interpreting in the public sector, for example in hospitals and with the police. Therefore, the services have developed differently.
Sign language interpreting services started to develop in the 1970s and have continued to do so up until now. Before 1970, it was often people who knew sign language who would volunteer to "help" interpret. Then, the Norwegian National Association of the Deaf and the newly established Norwegian Association of Interpreters joined forces and lobbied for proper, professional interpreting services.
Today in Norway, sign language interpreting services are an individual right. This means that deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf blind persons themselves can decide when they need interpreting. The Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration is responsible for providing interpreters and they also pay for the service. There are a few exceptions to this, but in general it can be said that they have a monopoly on providing sign language interpreting services.
Today, sign language interpreters are trained in three places in Norway: OsloMet, in Oslo; Høgskulen på Vestlanded, in Bergen; and NTNU, in Trondheim. They all offer three-year educations. In Oslo, students must have basic signing skills before entering the program. In all programs, the first year is dedicated to improving students' signing skills and learning about deaf culture and deaf history. The second and third years are more focused on practical interpreting skills and learning how to interpret. Having completed a program, you can then enter the work force as a sign language interpreter. Though there is a mandatory three-year education, there is a lack in variation, and a lack of further and higher education for interpreters. For example, there is no MA program for interpreters. So, interpreters interested in further education need to find their own way. And if they complete further education, this does not give them better pay. So, there is not really that much to motivate them to pursue further studies.
As for future needs, the Norwegian National Association of the Deaf and organizations for sign language interpreters are lobbying for improvements such as more user involvement and more influence from the profession on the organization of services.
