Country report 2011
Bundesverband der GebärdensprachdolmetscherInnen Deutschlands e.V.
(Federal Association of German Sign Language Interpreters)
Facts about Germany
Germany comprises an area of 357.000 km2 with a population of 81,8 million people. Given a percentage of 0,01 % of congenitally deaf people, it is assumed that about 80.000 deaf people live in Germany. By a wider definition, the number of hearing impaired people probably amounts to about 180.000 (not including those who suffer from hearing impairment due to old age). Most of the Deaf tend to live in bigger cities like Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Berlin, Cologne, Essen, Leipzig, Dresden, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. The largest deaf population is said to be in the capital, Berlin.
As we do not have a registry for sign language interpreters in Germany and as membership in the interpreters' associations is voluntary, there is no exact data available on the number of sign language interpreters working in Germany. There are probably around 500 sign language interpreters working in Germany now. Due to the availability of formal trainings, the number of interpreters has increased during the last few years. Most of the interpreters work full-time and as freelancers. Recently there seems to be a slight trend towards more steady positions for interpreters, mainly in state organisations.
The German Federal Association of Sign Language Interpreters (BGSD e.V.) represents about 75% of all sign language interpreters in Germany. It is an umbrella organisation which comprises 12 regional associations (most of them connected to a federal state of Germany) plus individual members who are not necessarily regionally organized.
In Germany we have three full-time training programmes for hearing sign language interpreters at university level which lead to a B.A. or a diploma (University of Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg and University of Applied Sciences Zwickau). Although there have been a recommendation by a commission what fundamental education for sign language interpreters in Germany would need and what should be included, the courses do not follow a common curriculum and differ in duration (6-8 semesters) and contents.
As far as M.A. qualifications are concerned, the programmes do differ from each other even more.
- non-consecutive M.A. programme at Berlin University which builds up to a Deaf Studies B.A. Programme and leads to an interpreting degree
- consecutive M.A. programme at Hamburg University for interpreters who want to have a further degree in conference and court interpreting
- a non-consecutive M.A. programme in Idstein for sign language competent persons who strive for a degree in sign language interpreting
For those who have already very good knowledge of German Sign Language and some work experience as sign language interpreters there are various part-time courses which allow them to prepare for an interpreting exam called “Staatliche Prüfung”. By passing the exam they obtain a certificate as sign language interpreters “approved by the State”.
Most important events for our association in the past year
During the last few months, we kept on concentrating on our restructuring process which we already started in 2009. In January 2010 the process came to a stall, because the elected board which was assigned for the time of the restructuring process decided to resign from their posts. Consequently, in 2010 and 2011 we analysed the difficulties the association was confronted with. The results were transferred into a model for a new constitution. On these grounds we want to draft a new structure for our association which we are going to discuss and hopefully conclude on our general meeting in October.
Fortunately, a new board volunteered for election in April 2011. After more than a year with a temporary interim board which consisted of only one person who is not equipped with full competences according to German law, this new board is now taking up work again to some extent.
Most important events for German sign language interpreters in the past year
The first professional education programme in sign language interpreting for deaf students in Germany was established as a cooperation of the Institute for German Sign Language and Communication for the Deaf (IDGS) and the Office of Continuing Education for Academics (AWW) at the University of Hamburg. In April 2011, 16 graduates gained a formal qualification for one of three distinct combinations of languages (German Sign Language/a sign language of a different country, German Sign Language/International Sign or German Sign Language/written German respectively). In a second step, they now have the opportunity to take their exams for the “Staatliche Prüfung”. Hence, we happily welcomed the first deaf sign language interpreters as members of our regional associations of sign language interpreters.
In general we are happy that our Federal Association “survived”. Now we are in the position to strive for further professionalisation of our profession. This is even more important as the demand for sign language interpreters increases, because Deaf persons more and more start to study at universities and also more Deaf children join schools for hearing children together with interpreters. In order to fulfil this increasing demand we are happy that more education possibilities were established.
Goals of our association for the coming year(s)
Our main and fundamental goal at the moment is to establish our new structure and successfully and adapt our constitution to the new needs of the members of the association. After finishing this process, we will be able to take up work as federal association again, striving for professionalisation of the profession. This mainly should concentrate on a legal recognition of our profession, further training possibilities, standards for academic education and financing of interpreting assignments. In addition we are looking forward to a better and deeper cooperation with the German Deaf association.