COMMUNICATION PERSONALITY OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS ON TELEVISION PROGRAMS AND ITS IMPACTS ON PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE WITH HEARING DISABILITIES

Abstract

The objectives of the research are (1) to study the communication personality of sign language interpreters on television programs and its impacts on the perception of people with haring disabilities and (2) to study factors affecting the communication personality of sign language interpreters on such television programs.  This is a quantitative research involving the following: (1) study of videotapes of news program with sign language interpretation service, aired between 1 March 2021 and 30 April 2021, of three TV stations, i.e. Thailand TV Channel 3, Channel 7 HD, and MONO 29 Channel, 7 videotapes each, (2) in-depth interview with 8 sign language interpreters, and (3)  focus group discussion with 12 people with hearing disabilities. 

The finding reveals the following:

1. The communication personality of sign language interpreters with impacts on the perception of people with hearing disabilities can be grouped into (1.1) internal personality, consisting of the interpreter’s confidence and concentration and (1.2) external personality consisting of the interpreter’s facial and eye expression, conveyance of emotion, lip movements while interpreting, face makeup, and hair style.


2. Factors that affect the communication personality of sign language interpreters consist of (2.1) internal factors, including the interpreter’s knowledge of sign language words, knowledge of the news contents interpreted, Thai language skills, and positive external appearances and (2.2) external factors, comprising the program format, news contents, and newscasters, as well as the interpreter’s personality, experience in television programs, earphone and vocal quality, TV station policy, and organization that the interpreter is affiliated with.