As estratégias utilizadas pelos intérpretes de Libras nas aulas de inglês em escolas da rede pública

Abstract

This research is related to the area of Translation Studies and Sign Language Interpretation, and aimed to analyze sign language interpretation strategies used in English classes of a public school, as well as to investigate the main challenges and adversities found in this process. Novais (2002) and Hortêncio’s (2005) theoretical frameworks related to strategies of interpretation served as theoretical grounds for this study, in which we verified whether these strategies are present within the classroom context, including the possibility of new ones to come through. In order to achieve our aims, we used questionnaires, conducted interviews and observed two English classes: one with the aid of an interpreter with a basic level of English and another with the aid of an interpreter who does not speak English. Results indicate that the main difficulties are: visual materials scarcity, divided attention among hearing and deaf students and the deaf student’s lack of proficiency in Brazilian sign language. Regarding the use of strategies, it was verified that strategies most used by the interpreter without basic knowledge of English were: omission, explicitation and synthesis, on the other hand those most used by the interpreter with some basic knowledge of English were: explicitation, simplification, omission and ratification. The data revealed that the strategy rhetorical questions was not used by the interpreters and it was identified the emergence of a new strategy that was classified as prior interpretation. We reiterate that the teaching/ learning process mediated by a sign language interpreter is still a challenge, since it does not depend only on a person, but on a partnership between school, teachers, interpreters, and students willing to work harmonically; furthermore, it is necessary to provide the process with material and didactics resources to enhance deaf student inclusion.