When it comes to interpreting and translating between British Sign Language (BSL) and English, discourse mapping is a critical skill. It is an essential tool that helps interpreters and translators navigate the complex relationship between language structure, meaning, and context. For BSL-English professionals, understanding discourse mapping can greatly enhance their ability to convey not just the words, but the intended meaning, context, and nuances of the source language into the target language.
What is Discourse Mapping?
Discourse mapping refers to the process of identifying the structure of a conversation or text and understanding how different elements of discourse relate to each other. It involves analysing the flow of information, the organisation of ideas, the relationship between different parts of the text or speech, and how context and intention affect meaning. For interpreters and translators, discourse mapping is about recognising these patterns and adapting them in a way that works for the target language and culture.
In the context of BSL-English interpreting and translation, discourse mapping helps professionals manage the differences between the grammatical structures, cultural contexts, and communication styles of both languages. BSL, being a visual-gestural language, operates very differently from spoken or written English. Therefore, interpreters and translators must map the discourse between these languages, identifying the key points and shifts in the original language and ensuring they are accurately reflected in the target language.
Why is Discourse Mapping Important for Interpreters and Translators?
Interpreters and translators frequently face the challenge of not only converting words but also conveying the deeper meaning and intent of the speaker or author. Understanding discourse mapping ensures that the professional can maintain the integrity of the message, aligning it with the expectations of the target audience while considering both cultural and linguistic factors.
1. Handling Complex Information Structures
English and BSL have fundamentally different ways of structuring information. For example, spoken English often follows a linear structure, using conjunctions and subordination to link ideas. In contrast, BSL typically relies on spatial structures and visual cues. By applying discourse mapping, interpreters and translators can break down the original message and reassemble it in a way that follows the structural norms of the target language.
For instance, when interpreting from English to BSL, discourse mapping might involve identifying key points and restructuring them spatially to match the visual nature of BSL. Conversely, when translating from BSL to written English, discourse mapping can help in presenting the ideas in a more linear and text-based format that English readers expect.
2. Maintaining Coherence Across Modes of Communication
Discourse mapping is crucial for maintaining coherence, whether you’re interpreting a live conversation or translating a written document. The task requires a deep understanding of how ideas are connected and how transitions between them should be handled. Mismanaging these connections can lead to confusion, misunderstandings, or a lack of clarity in the target language.
For example, an interpreter working from spoken English to BSL may need to map out how a speaker builds an argument, so that the same logical flow can be visually expressed in BSL. Similarly, when translating written English into BSL, the translator must ensure that the signed version retains the original coherence, despite the differences in modality.
3. Enhancing Cultural Sensitivity
One of the most significant benefits of discourse mapping is its role in ensuring cultural appropriateness. Both BSL and English have distinct cultural nuances that must be navigated carefully. Discourse mapping allows interpreters and translators to recognise cultural cues in the source language and make the necessary adaptations for the target audience.
For example, a common English phrase like "breaking the ice" may need to be reinterpreted in BSL, where a direct visual translation may not make sense. Discourse mapping allows professionals to understand the underlying intent of the phrase and find a culturally appropriate equivalent in the target language.
How Can Understanding Discourse Mapping Improve Work?
1. Improved Accuracy
Discourse mapping leads to more accurate translations and interpretations because it helps professionals grasp the full scope of the message. Rather than translating word-for-word, interpreters and translators can focus on the overall meaning and ensure that key points are emphasized appropriately in the target language.
2. Better Management of Register
The concept of register — the level of formality or informality in language — is vital in both interpreting and translation. Discourse mapping enables professionals to identify and replicate the appropriate register in the target language, which is crucial when working in settings like healthcare, education, or legal contexts. For example, the level of formality in a doctor’s appointment will differ from that in a casual conversation. Mapping the discourse helps professionals adjust the formality accordingly.
3. Enhanced Audience Engagement
Interpreters and translators are not just conveying information; they are also responsible for ensuring that the message resonates with the audience. Discourse mapping allows professionals to tailor the language to suit the needs of the target audience, whether they are Deaf or hearing, formal or informal.
Key Theories and Arguments in Discourse Mapping
Discourse mapping is influenced by several linguistic and cognitive theories, each providing valuable insights into how communication is structured and understood across languages. Below are three key theories that inform discourse mapping and their significance for BSL-English interpreters and translators.
1. Relevance Theory
Developed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson (1986), Relevance Theory posits that communication is a matter of balancing effort and effect. According to this theory, individuals communicate by providing enough information for the audience to grasp meaning without overwhelming them with unnecessary details. It builds on the idea that both the speaker and the listener engage in a cooperative process, where the speaker presents information that is optimally relevant to the listener’s needs and context, while the listener interprets the information by looking for its relevance.
In terms of application in Discourse Mapping for interpreters and translators, Relevance Theory helps explain why simply converting words from one language to another is insufficient. Discourse mapping guided by Relevance Theory means focusing on what is essential and meaningful for the target audience, omitting unnecessary or culturally irrelevant details that might otherwise cause confusion.
In interpreting from English to BSL, a speaker might use the phrase "kicked the bucket" to indicate that someone has passed away. This idiom, while familiar in English, may not carry the same meaning in BSL and could cause confusion if interpreted literally. Instead of signing "kicked the bucket" directly, the interpreter would map the discourse to convey the relevant meaning by using a more direct and culturally appropriate sign in BSL, such as "died" or "passed away," ensuring the message is clear and sensitive to the Deaf audience's needs.
Key Insight: The interpreter’s role is not just to transfer information but to process and filter it, ensuring that what reaches the audience is useful and meaningful in their cultural and cognitive context.
2. Functionalism and Skopos Theory
Developed by Hans Vermeer (1978) the Skopos Theory, which falls under the broader umbrella of Functionalism, focuses on the purpose (or skopos) of a translation or interpretation. Functionalism suggests that every translation or interpretation has a goal or function, and that this function should guide the choices made by the interpreter or translator. Instead of focusing solely on literal accuracy, the focus is on achieving the desired communicative effect for the target audience.
When it comes to applying Discourse Mapping in BSL-English interpreting and translation, Skopos Theory encourages professionals to consider what the message is meant to achieve and adapt the language accordingly. For example, the purpose of a message in a formal speech might be to persuade, while in a medical setting, it might be to inform or comfort. The interpreter or translator must map the discourse to ensure that the communication’s function is maintained across the language barrier, even if this means altering the structure or style of the original message.
For example, if a speaker in English is giving a motivational talk and uses rhetorical questions, discourse mapping allows the interpreter to adjust those elements for BSL, ensuring that the speaker’s intended effect — to engage and inspire — is preserved, even if BSL’s grammar and structure require different strategies.
Key Insight: Understanding the goal of communication helps interpreters and translators move beyond surface-level translation, allowing them to craft messages that achieve the intended impact on the target audience.
3. Cognitive Load Theory
This theory was first developed by John Sweller (1988) who suggests that the theory deals with the mental effort required to process information. It suggests that people have a limited amount of cognitive resources available for processing and understanding new information. When too much information is provided at once, or if the information is too complex, it overwhelms the “listener”, making communication less effective. In interpreting and translation, managing cognitive load involves ensuring that the message is conveyed clearly and in manageable chunks, tailored to the cognitive capacity of the audience. This might be particularly relevant for those working intralingually or with clients who are speakers/users of other signed or spoken languages or have minimal language skills.
With respect to its use in Discourse Mapping, interpreters and translators can use discourse mapping to break down complex information into more digestible parts. For example, if a speaker is delivering a highly technical or detailed explanation in English, the interpreter working into BSL may need to break the content into smaller sections, clarifying each part before moving on. This might involve pausing to sign a complex concept clearly and concisely, (switching to consecutive mode) ensuring that the Deaf audience has time to process the information before the next concept is introduced.
A practical example could be in a healthcare setting where a doctor gives an extended explanation of a diagnosis. Instead of delivering the full message in one go, the interpreter can map the discourse by signing the key elements of the diagnosis step-by-step, allowing the Deaf patient to fully comprehend each stage before proceeding to the next.
Key Insight: Discourse mapping informed by Cognitive Load Theory helps interpreters and translators reduce the mental strain on their audience, enhancing understanding and retention of information.
Practical Applications of Discourse Mapping in BSL-English Interpreting and Translation
To illustrate how discourse mapping works in practice, consider the following scenarios:
- English to BSL Example: Explaining a Job Interview Process: Imagine an interpreter is working in a job interview setting. The interviewer explains in English, “Today we will start with a short introduction about the company, followed by a few technical questions, and we will end with a discussion about your previous work experience.”
Rather than simply translating this word-for-word into BSL, the interpreter could map the discourse based on BSL’s visual structure. They might break the information into three distinct parts, using clear visual markers to represent each section of the interview process:
First, the introduction to the company.
Second, the technical questions.
Third, a conversation about work experience.
The interpreter would also need to ensure that the transition between these sections is clear and that the Deaf client understands what to expect in each phase of the interview. This involves not just a direct translation but a thoughtful reorganisation of the content to match BSL’s modality, which emphasises spatial organisation and visual clarity.
- BSL to Written English: Translating a BSL video into written English requires not only mapping the structure of the BSL discourse but also considering key features such as classifiers, space, and facial expressions, all of which convey meaning in a visual manner. Non-manual features (NMFs), like facial expressions, speed, and repetition, also play a crucial role in communication. These elements convey aspects of mood, emphasis, and intensity, which must be carefully reorganised in written English. For example, NMFs used in BSL to indicate mood or manner—such as a facial expression and speed indicating urgency—might need to be translated using adjectives, adverbs, or repetition in English.
For instance, the BSL sign for "man walk," depending on the NMFs used, could translate to "an angry man walked briskly down the road" in written English. The translator must reorganise these non-manual and visual cues into a linear written format, ensuring the original message's tone, mood, and meaning are accurately conveyed for an English-reading audience.
Conclusion
Discourse mapping is an invaluable tool for BSL-English interpreters and translators. By helping professionals understand the structure, flow, and function of a message, discourse mapping ensures that the meaning is preserved and adapted appropriately in the target language. Whether interpreting a live conversation or translating a written text, mastering discourse mapping enhances accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and audience engagement, making it an essential skill for anyone working in the field of interpreting and translation.
References
Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257–285. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4
Vermeer, H.J. (1978). Ein Rahmen für eine allgemeine Translationstheorie. Heidelberg: Universität Heidelberg.
WILSON, D., & SPERBER, D. (2004). The Handbook of Pragmatics: Blackwell Handbooks in Linguistics. Blackwell. https://www.felsemiotica.com/descargas/Horn-Laurence-R.-and-Ward-Gregory-Ed.-The-Handbook-of-Pragmatics.pdf
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