A shared responsibility in the administration of justice: A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors

Jemina Napier; David Spencer; Joe Sabolcec

doi:10.1075/btl.87.09nap

A shared responsibility in the administration of justice: A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors

Jemina Napier
, David Spencer
, Joe Sabolcec

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To date, no research has been conducted on interpreting for deaf jurors, as people are not typically eligible to serve as jurors if they cannot understand the language of the court. This chapter reports one aspect of a pioneering pilot study in Australia, which sought to investigate the capacity for deaf people to serve as jurors in criminal court by accessing courtroom discourse via signed language interpreters. Results of an experimental comprehension test administered to six deaf and six hearing mock "jurors" revealed that levels of comprehension between deaf and hearing participants were similar. Thus it appears that the deaf participants were not disadvantaged by accessing information indirectly via interpreting, and could legitimately serve as jurors, although this needs to be further investigated.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Critical Link 5
Subtitle of host publication	Quality in interpreting – a shared responsibility
Editors	Sandra Hale, Uldis Ozolins, Ludmila Stern
Publisher	John Benjamins Publishing Company
Pages	99-118
Number of pages	20
ISBN (Electronic)	9789027288844
ISBN (Print)	9789027224316
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.87.09nap
Publication status	Published - 2009

Publication series

Name	Benjamins Translation Library
Volume	87
ISSN (Print)	0929-7316

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication
Language and Linguistics
Linguistics and Language
Literature and Literary Theory

Access to Document

10.1075/btl.87.09nap

Cite this

Napier, J., Spencer, D., & Sabolcec, J. (2009). A shared responsibility in the administration of justice: A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors. In S. Hale, U. Ozolins, & L. Stern (Eds.), The Critical Link 5: Quality in interpreting – a shared responsibility (pp. 99-118). (Benjamins Translation Library; Vol. 87). John Benjamins Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.87.09nap

Napier, Jemina ; Spencer, David ; Sabolcec, Joe. / A shared responsibility in the administration of justice : A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors. The Critical Link 5: Quality in interpreting – a shared responsibility. editor / Sandra Hale ; Uldis Ozolins ; Ludmila Stern. John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2009. pp. 99-118 (Benjamins Translation Library).

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abstract = "To date, no research has been conducted on interpreting for deaf jurors, as people are not typically eligible to serve as jurors if they cannot understand the language of the court. This chapter reports one aspect of a pioneering pilot study in Australia, which sought to investigate the capacity for deaf people to serve as jurors in criminal court by accessing courtroom discourse via signed language interpreters. Results of an experimental comprehension test administered to six deaf and six hearing mock {"}jurors{"} revealed that levels of comprehension between deaf and hearing participants were similar. Thus it appears that the deaf participants were not disadvantaged by accessing information indirectly via interpreting, and could legitimately serve as jurors, although this needs to be further investigated.",

author = "Jemina Napier and David Spencer and Joe Sabolcec",

note = "Funding Information: This project was made possible with funding from the Macquarie University External Collaborative Grant Scheme, in collaboration with the NSW Law Reform Commission. The original title of this presentation at the Critical Link 5 conference was: “We find the defendant not guilty”. An investigation of deaf jurors{\textquoteright} access to court proceedings via sign language interpreting. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2009 John Benjamins Publishing Company. All rights reserved.",

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language = "English",

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Napier, J, Spencer, D & Sabolcec, J 2009, A shared responsibility in the administration of justice: A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors. in S Hale, U Ozolins & L Stern (eds), The Critical Link 5: Quality in interpreting – a shared responsibility. Benjamins Translation Library, vol. 87, John Benjamins Publishing Company, pp. 99-118. https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.87.09nap

A shared responsibility in the administration of justice: A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors. / Napier, Jemina; Spencer, David; Sabolcec, Joe.
The Critical Link 5: Quality in interpreting – a shared responsibility. ed. / Sandra Hale; Uldis Ozolins; Ludmila Stern. John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2009. p. 99-118 (Benjamins Translation Library; Vol. 87).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

TY - CHAP

T1 - A shared responsibility in the administration of justice

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AU - Napier, Jemina

AU - Spencer, David

AU - Sabolcec, Joe

N1 - Funding Information: This project was made possible with funding from the Macquarie University External Collaborative Grant Scheme, in collaboration with the NSW Law Reform Commission. The original title of this presentation at the Critical Link 5 conference was: “We find the defendant not guilty”. An investigation of deaf jurors’ access to court proceedings via sign language interpreting. Publisher Copyright: © 2009 John Benjamins Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - To date, no research has been conducted on interpreting for deaf jurors, as people are not typically eligible to serve as jurors if they cannot understand the language of the court. This chapter reports one aspect of a pioneering pilot study in Australia, which sought to investigate the capacity for deaf people to serve as jurors in criminal court by accessing courtroom discourse via signed language interpreters. Results of an experimental comprehension test administered to six deaf and six hearing mock "jurors" revealed that levels of comprehension between deaf and hearing participants were similar. Thus it appears that the deaf participants were not disadvantaged by accessing information indirectly via interpreting, and could legitimately serve as jurors, although this needs to be further investigated.

AB - To date, no research has been conducted on interpreting for deaf jurors, as people are not typically eligible to serve as jurors if they cannot understand the language of the court. This chapter reports one aspect of a pioneering pilot study in Australia, which sought to investigate the capacity for deaf people to serve as jurors in criminal court by accessing courtroom discourse via signed language interpreters. Results of an experimental comprehension test administered to six deaf and six hearing mock "jurors" revealed that levels of comprehension between deaf and hearing participants were similar. Thus it appears that the deaf participants were not disadvantaged by accessing information indirectly via interpreting, and could legitimately serve as jurors, although this needs to be further investigated.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85106150631

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M3 - Chapter

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Napier J, Spencer D, Sabolcec J. A shared responsibility in the administration of justice: A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors. In Hale S, Ozolins U, Stern L, editors, The Critical Link 5: Quality in interpreting – a shared responsibility. John Benjamins Publishing Company. 2009. p. 99-118. (Benjamins Translation Library). doi: 10.1075/btl.87.09nap

A shared responsibility in the administration of justice: A pilot study of signed language interpretation access for deaf jurors

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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