When I started this blog, I wanted to address the lack of documentation of Kenyan Sign Language, Deaf Culture and History in Kenya and rest of Africa. Back then the cost of hosting a website was inhibiting and not much was available to go by as far as development of applications, websites or programs.
Almost twenty years on and we now have a lot of info on the internet and numerous apps popping up everywhere. There is still struggle with the cost of internet, cost of data used on cellphones and we are yet to benefit from the land to sea cables heralded in the turn of the new millennium as the salvation of the data depraved country.....
Some of the issues impeding the utilization of data in Eastern Africa are cost of gadgets and cost of data - the costs have considerably been getting more and more affordable due to competition and demand/supply dynamics, secondly there is a level of appreciation of the use of data among the population however this is still low.
I would like to share more videos but am constantly aware that the many Deaf Kenyans will not enjoy the music due to the cost involved for downloading and viewing these videos - maybe an offline engagement would work? I have pondered about the idea of a "Caravan of Champions" a bus/truck that would go round the schools for the Deaf and showcase champions from across the country and have a weekend of mentoring and fun with Deaf students.
So as you enjoy the videos know that there are thousands of Deaf Kenyans hoping to enjoy the videos as you do and this can be made possible by you and me joining hands together to make schools for the Deaf in Kenya connected to the internet, have electricity and of course have teachers who know and are fluent native signers of Kenyan Sign Language and not all the gibberish stuff of total communication, lipreading and signed exact English ( I have always wondered why they never did a Signed Kiswahili for schools.....it would be funny to gesture works like tahamaki, jicho pevu, kizungumkuti na mustakhbal)
Enjoy this Video - KSL Cover Huyu Yesu by Mercy Masika & Angel Benard
Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) is a very expressive language. Songs in sign language are therefore equally expressive and many times are more expressive than their purely vocal versions. I was first introduces to this concept while a student and intern interpreter at DOOR Africa then located in Limuru, Kenya.
Since then I have interpreted hundred of songs in private and in public for various audiences. On many occasions I have been encouraged to make these into video formats and make a compilation for the songs - I must admit that I have overthought the idea and many times procrastinated the initialization of this idea. I have wanted to have a crew and do perfect videos, make money while entertaining using signed songs. The perfectionist in me, wanted perfect videos and broadcast quality......Besides I have had my own personal insecurities of how I would be judged or criticized and compared with other performers or put on the spotlight.
Over the years I have had dreams of playlists, mixx tapes/crates of the perfect start and how it will all unfold - I have a liking towards Bongo flavor, R&B and Gospel songs however I have been stretched over the years to interpret Rock, Reggae and even local songs. I may not do all the songs I have wanted since time and space may over take them BUT I am starting.....rough.....raw and spontaneous as they come.
My dear friends who have enjoyed the interpreted songs in my home, church, conferences and clubs I have valued and taken to heart the nudge to make videos and materialize this idea. I am mostly grateful to my friends Faith and Buddy Eldridge to whom I am eternally grateful for their support and push to do these videos in the past few months. There have been other contributors to this Eva my friend and neighbor in Langata, Silvia, Grace, Liz, Raphael, Gideon, and Peninah for sharing the stage at various events and interpreting together, the mentees and mentors from KSLIA for your encouragement and positive comments for making this dream alive.
The cover versions will take various forms and shapes - keep watching and reading here for more....
The
most effective analyses of interpretations give consideration to
message equivalence and to the interactive influences on an
interpretation. This philosophy is heavily reflected in the
contributions to a recent work (Roy 2000b) It is typical, however,
for analysis to concentrate on the identification of errors or
miscues in the form of additions, omissions, substitutions, and
intrusions (e.g., Cokely 1992). Therefore it should be noted early
that the examples cited here are not personal attack on any
individual or undermining the skills of anyone. I felt it important
to acknowledge the positive and negative effects of producing
omissions within an interpretation in that an interpretation can be
considered successful even if omissions are made; but at the same
time, it is important to recognize that omissions can be produced in
error.
As
I have mentioned, studies of interpreting have typically regarded
omissions as errors. But an analysis of an interpreted message cannot
just count the number of errors; it must also measure the success of
communication. In this way, interpreters can identify both the
strengths and the weaknesses of their interpretations. Like many
researchers before me I have have recognized that interpreters may,
on the basis of their understanding of meaning and cultural
relevance, make a conscious decision to produce an omission and that
making certain omissions does not necessarily have a negative impact
on the overall message conveyed in the interpretation.
Interpretation
does not take place in a vacuum; it is a living, evolving, and
changing entity, much the same as language. Two interpreters will
often provide completely different interpreted renditions of the same
piece of text according to various factors that influence their
linguistic choices. Nida (1998) identifies four factors that
interpreters need to consider:
(1) the appropriate
language register to be used in the context;
(2) the expectations of
the target audience members as to the type of translation they expect
to receive;
(3) distinctive
sociolinguistic features of the source text (e.g., language register,
use of technical language, familiarity with content); and
(4) the medium employed
for the translated text (i.e., written, spoken, or signed)
In
giving consideration to these factors, interpreters and students can
analyze their production of interpreting omissions within a context
of omission types and thus improve their metalinguistic awareness of
the interpreting process. By improving their awareness, they will be
in a better position to predict the omission potential of
interpreting assignments and make informed decisions about accepting
those assignments. The process of analysis and identification of
omissions gets interpreters thinking
about their processing, what they have problems with and why, and
also their level of consciousness during an interpretation. This
process can only be done with a solid foundation in interpreter
education especially the theories of interpreting. Without this
foundation it is impossible for practicing interpreters to
internalize the process of errors and how to correct them.
The
omission taxonomy below specifically recognizes that lexical
omissions are produced by interpreters strategically or on purpose,
as well as in error.
1.
Conscious
strategic omissions(CSO)
occur
when interpreters make conscious decisions to omit meaningful
information because omitting it will make the message more effective.
Interpreters use their linguistic and cultural knowledge to decide
which information from the source language makes sense in the target
language, which information is culturally relevant, and which may be
redundant.
2.
Conscious
unintentional omissions (CUO) also
lead to a loss of meaningful information. Interpreters are conscious
of the omission but make it unintentionally because they hear the
linguistic unit and decide to “file it” and wait for more
contextual information or depth of meaning before interpreting it.
Because of further source language input and lag time, however,
interpreters forget the particular
linguistic unit and
omit it.
3.
Conscious
intentional omissions (CIO) occur
when interpreters make an omission that leads to a loss of meaningful
information. Interpreters are conscious of these omissions and make
them intentionally because they don’t understand the particular
linguistic unit (word or phrase) or could not think of an appropriate
equivalent in the target language.
4.
Conscious
receptive omissions (CRO) lead
to a loss of meaningful information and occur when interpreters
cannot properly hear and decipher what the linguistic units are
because of poor sound quality.
5.
Unconscious
omissions(UO)lead
to a loss of meaningful information because interpreters are
unconscious of the omission and do not remember hearing the omitted
linguistic units.
To
non professional interpreters these omissions could sound insouciant,
trivial and bothersome but to the source and receipient of the
message it is very crucial. The intended message, meaning and purpose
may be lost, interferred with and destroyed by the interpreters own
lack of competence. In a court of law, hospital or business deal it
might mean a loss of money, credibility, rights or even life. The
remedies of such omissions include planned, video taped exercises for
the interpreter to self evaluate, have a peer review and a discussion
with an experienced interpreter to guide them in reducing the
omissions and errors.
I
will attempt to classify numerous omissions that fall under the 2, 3,
4, and 5 classes of omissions frequently happening with the news
bulletins on Kenyan Televisions– KBC and KTN, I will also share a
list from watching parliamentary proceedings. I will try and compare
English and Swahili phrases.The examples below taken from a few
bulletin observations reveal that the CIO, UO happens mostly in the
current set of interpretation services offered in Kenya. The
Conscious intentional omissions (CIO) occur
when interpreters make an omission that leads to a loss of meaningful
information. Interpreters are conscious of these omissions and make
them intentionally because they don’t understand the particular
linguistic unit (word or phrase) or could not think of an appropriate
equivalent in the target language. Unconscious
omissions(UO)lead
to a loss of meaningful information because interpreters are
unconscious of the omission and do not remember hearing the omitted
linguistic units.
The
following are the schedule of interpreted Television programs
Kenyan
Television Network
Parliament
Kenya
Broadcasting Corporation
Swahili
English
Eng/Swahili
Swahili
English
Bulletin
7pm
Lunch
time News 1pm
Tuesday
- 2pm
Bulletin
7pm
Lunch
time News 1pm
Bulletin
9pm
Wednesday
9am
Bulletin
7pm
JKL
talk show
Thursday
2pm
Bulletin
9pm
Check
Point Talk show
Words:
Phrases: Vocabulary often omitted during interpretation from spoken
language to sign language
English
words
Insecurity
Protest
Demonstration
Strike
Boycott
Propaganda
Securities
Money
market
Cyber
crime
Hacking
Crime
Robbery
Assassination
Diseases
Blogging
Bicameral
Parliament
Requim
Mass
Share
Index
Break/interlude
Circuit
– rally sports
Ban
Trade
union
Further
a field
Hypothesis
Msamiati
Sugu
Eneo
la tukio
Eneo
la kuegeshea magari
Mashinani
Mdahalo
Kitendo
cha kinyama
Jopo
kazi
Mgaga
na mpwa
Itikadi
Mziki
wa ala
Swadakta
Alamsiki
Mpenzi
mtazamaji
Mau
mau
Maswala
Mizengwe
Ulibwende
Special
Category
Music
– rap, hip hop, genge
Football
commentary
Arguments
Poetry
Debates
Humor
Jokes
Check some interpretations here:
KTN
KBC
What could be the
solution?
Change of attitude of
the interpreters – hear feedback, act on it through practice
Have a Deaf heart –
be fully immersed in Deaf culture, Kenyan Sign Language
Enrich your language
abilities – pick and choose your strong fields and thrive in it
interpreter bubble is
real – work for 15-20min and rest
team interpret with
experienced interpreters/deaf mentors
respect the
client/consumer
charge reasonable
fees
Collaboration with professional bodies e.g. WASLIKSLIA
Interpretation does not take place in a vacuum; it is a living, evolving, and changing entity, much the same as language. I challenge my colleagues to learn, improve, respect the client and have a Deaf Heart!
Written April 2015 by Jack
Owiti, Interpreter and Author the Dancing Interpreter Diaries
"I
started learning Sign Language to be able to share the Word of God
and my testimony with my Deaf brethren."
This
past month of June the Kenyan Deaf community lost one of the founding
members of the interpreter professions in Kenya. Eunice Amolo Kasisi
passed on peacefully in her home the night of 14th June
2014. Many tributes and messages of condolence poured in from the
local and international community that worked with Eunice. Her body was laid to rest 28th June 2014 in her home town of Webuye, Kenya.
Here is a
summary tribute from her family, colleagues and friends:
When
Eunice was 19, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. The same year Eunice
became a Christian, her hearing church started a Deaf congregation.
She became friends with the wife of the minister of the Deaf
congregation. The wife was a sign language interpreter. Eunice was so
touched by the first Deaf church service she attended that she felt
it was the right place for her to serve the Lord.
It
took one year of hours and hours spent with Deaf people for her to
learn Sign Language, and another year to be able to interpret during
some services. In 1990 she started working for the Deaf Church in
Nairobi. She stayed for eight years. In 1998 she went back to school
to learn how to be an interpreter trainer a journey that took her to
Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. She also visited Sweden and Australia as
an interpreter.
During
the earlier years of her interpreting career Eunice worked with
various start up projects within the Deaf community in Kenya. Notably these included: Deaf Safaris, East Africa Deaf Connection later to
re-brand to Global Deaf Connection – GDC that trained several deaf
teachers in their cycle of success program. While working for the
Peace Corps she became one of the 12 founding members of the Kenyan
Sign Language Interpreters Association – KSLIA as the treasurer in
the year 2000 – 2006. Eunice faithfully served the Deaf Kenyan community in various capacities as an interpreter at KSLRP, KNAD, WFD/RSESA, Deaf churches and numerous individuals - we will all miss and remember her zeal, passion and dedication.
In
January of 2003, she started working at DOOR-Africa DCLTC (Deaf
Christian Leadership Training Center) as the Office Manager. In 2007
she also began working as a "hearing facilitator" assisting
the Deaf translation teams. In 2009 she started working full-time as
a Translation Consultant-in-Training. She is very close to being the
very first Kenyan Translation Consultant with a specialty in Sign
Language.
Eunice is survived by Charles:
Husband (hearing) Children: Ian and Meagan (hearing)
2015 and beyond we will miss a friend, a colleague, an administrator, an interpreter, a trainer and a valuable member of the Deaf community in Eastern Africa. Fare thee well, Rest in Peace!
Other tributes
Kapansa Lizzie Kamukwambai have known Eunice during the two years we spent in the RSRLPII. she was such a wonderful person to get along with. Eunice, u will forever live in our hearts. Rest in peace dear sister.
Christine PillahIt's was an honor to have met you personally, being part of my sister's life..it's trully sad but it's all God's doing Rest in Heaven Eunice
It's always sad to lose a friend. My prayers of comfort go out to the family ofEunice Amollo Kasisi, someone with a heart of gold.
David Frederic BushEunice's heart was pure gold. She was willing to help the deaf in Nairobi no matter what the time, the cost or inconvenience. She truly had a servant's heart. Her loss will be felt by many.
R.I.P Eunice Amollo Kasisi l will always remember you as a friend, a good mother and a mentor. I pray that you are happy wherever you are. Gone too soon sister.
