Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Find out more at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/internationalperspectives
"The Sign Language Interpreting Profession in Flanders, Belgium: Past, Present, and Future" | Chapter summary in Flemish Sign Language (VGT)
Chapter authors: Karolien Gebruers, Kristy Jonckers, Kristof De Weerdt, and Myriam Vermeerbergen
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: Kristof De Weerdt , a tall, white man, signs a summary of the chapter in VGT. He is wearing glasses and a dark sweater, standing in front of a turquoise-blue background.
Transcript:
This chapter reports on the history and the current situation of the sign language interpreting (SLI) profession in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. The professionalization of SLI in Flanders is mostly in line with the evolution of the profession in other Western/European countries. In Flanders, too, the deaf community was actively involved in setting up interpreter training in the 1980s. Additionally, the Flemish deaf association played a role in the establishment of the first professional body of sign language interpreters (SLIs) and in the foundation of the Flemish interpreting agency, with which SLIs are still required to register to date. As of the 1990s, Flemish deaf people have been entitled to a limited number of government-funded interpreting hours in specific settings. Due to advocacy work and legal actions of the deaf association as well as deaf individuals, there has been a slow increase in the number of hours and an expansion of the settings over time.
A milestone was the recognition of Flemish Sign Language (VGT) in 2006, which further supported deaf people in lobbying for their rights. Since the 1980s, there have been two SLI training programs in Flanders, initially educating interpreters at a vocational, and later at an undergraduate, level. In 2008, a third, academic SLI training program was founded at KU Leuven, Antwerp Campus (formerly known as Lessius University College). In September 2020, the Flemish government decided that all future SLIs will need to obtain a master’s degree, implying that the two original training programs will no longer be able to train future interpreters. Note that professionalization has mainly focused on hearing SLIs. As in many other countries, there have always been deaf people who worked as deaf interpreters (DIs), albeit receiving limited interpreter training and work opportunities. Since 2010, DIs have become more visible, carrying out translation work. In 2012, DIs’ visibility increased further when they were recruited by the public broadcaster for the daily news for youngsters on television. However, opportunities increased drastically after having DIs working at the Covid-19 press conferences in 2020, gaining great attention in the public eye. Consequently, and informed by a study conducted in 2018 on deaf interpreters’ needs regarding training, in January 2022 the first 1.5-year training program specifically for DIs was set up, coordinated by KU Leuven, Antwerp Campus, from which 18 DIs graduated in September 2023.
Overall, the process of professionalization has instigated positive change, but challenges remain. Only a small number of SLIs work full-time as interpreters as the working conditions have not been particularly attractive, leading to a shortage of interpreters to cover interpreting requests. In addition, interpreter training needs to keep up with societal evolutions (e.g., technology) and deaf people’s changing expectations regarding SLI services. Currently, there is no system monitoring Flemish SLIs’ quality as continuous professional development training is not compulsory and opportunities are scarce. In sum, multiple issues need to be tackled to continue the professionalization of SLI in Flanders.
Find out more at https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/internationalperspectives
"The Sign Language Interpreting Profession in Flanders, Belgium: Past, Present, and Future" | Chapter summary in Flemish Sign Language (VGT)
Chapter authors: Karolien Gebruers, Kristy Jonckers, Kristof De Weerdt, and Myriam Vermeerbergen
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: Kristof De Weerdt , a tall, white man, signs a summary of the chapter in VGT. He is wearing glasses and a dark sweater, standing in front of a turquoise-blue background.
Transcript:
This chapter reports on the history and the current situation of the sign language interpreting (SLI) profession in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. The professionalization of SLI in Flanders is mostly in line with the evolution of the profession in other Western/European countries. In Flanders, too, the deaf community was actively involved in setting up interpreter training in the 1980s. Additionally, the Flemish deaf association played a role in the establishment of the first professional body of sign language interpreters (SLIs) and in the foundation of the Flemish interpreting agency, with which SLIs are still required to register to date. As of the 1990s, Flemish deaf people have been entitled to a limited number of government-funded interpreting hours in specific settings. Due to advocacy work and legal actions of the deaf association as well as deaf individuals, there has been a slow increase in the number of hours and an expansion of the settings over time.
A milestone was the recognition of Flemish Sign Language (VGT) in 2006, which further supported deaf people in lobbying for their rights. Since the 1980s, there have been two SLI training programs in Flanders, initially educating interpreters at a vocational, and later at an undergraduate, level. In 2008, a third, academic SLI training program was founded at KU Leuven, Antwerp Campus (formerly known as Lessius University College). In September 2020, the Flemish government decided that all future SLIs will need to obtain a master’s degree, implying that the two original training programs will no longer be able to train future interpreters. Note that professionalization has mainly focused on hearing SLIs. As in many other countries, there have always been deaf people who worked as deaf interpreters (DIs), albeit receiving limited interpreter training and work opportunities. Since 2010, DIs have become more visible, carrying out translation work. In 2012, DIs’ visibility increased further when they were recruited by the public broadcaster for the daily news for youngsters on television. However, opportunities increased drastically after having DIs working at the Covid-19 press conferences in 2020, gaining great attention in the public eye. Consequently, and informed by a study conducted in 2018 on deaf interpreters’ needs regarding training, in January 2022 the first 1.5-year training program specifically for DIs was set up, coordinated by KU Leuven, Antwerp Campus, from which 18 DIs graduated in September 2023.
Overall, the process of professionalization has instigated positive change, but challenges remain. Only a small number of SLIs work full-time as interpreters as the working conditions have not been particularly attractive, leading to a shortage of interpreters to cover interpreting requests. In addition, interpreter training needs to keep up with societal evolutions (e.g., technology) and deaf people’s changing expectations regarding SLI services. Currently, there is no system monitoring Flemish SLIs’ quality as continuous professional development training is not compulsory and opportunities are scarce. In sum, multiple issues need to be tackled to continue the professionalization of SLI in Flanders.
