Country Report: Spain
FILSE (Federación Española de Intérpretes de Lengua de Signos y Guías-Intérpretes)
FILSE is the Spanish Federation for Sign Language Interpreters and Interpreter-Guides for the Deafblind.
General facts about Spain
- Size: 504.780 km²
- Population: 46,661,950 (as of 01.01.09)
- Deaf population: 1,000,000 approx.
- Profoundly deaf: 120,000 approx.
- Hard of hearing: 365,000 approx.
- Problems in perceiving spoken language: 530,000 approx.
Around 150,000 deaf people use Spanish or Catalan Sign Language, but in addition to this, approximately 250,000 hearing people (such as interpreters, families, professionals and students) also use sign language.
Number of Sign language Interpreters
FILSE only knows for sure the number of interpreters who are members of the Sign Language Interpreters Associations which are part of FILSE. This year we expect there are around 500 interpreters affiliated to those Associations.
We estimate the number of qualified sign language interpreters in Spain to be between 4,000-5,000 (no exact figures are available). This figure includes both associated and non-associated members, and individuals who have obtained the official qualification but do not work as interpreters. We estimate that there between 500-1000 working sign language interpreters in Spain (again no exact figures are available).
Training and qualifications
In Spain there are various ways to train as an Interpreter, but there is only one official, legally recognised qualification. This qualification is obtained through the Ciclo Formativo de Grado Superior en Interpretación de la Lengua de Signos (two-year vocational training course), which consists of 2000 hours divided into 11 modules:
- Modern Language (English)
- Sociopsychology of Deaf and Deaf-Blind people
- Body Language (non-verbal communication)
- Spanish Sign Language
- Interpretation Techniques
- Orientation on the labour market
- Linguistics of Spanish Sign Language
- Interpretation Contexts
- International Sign System
- Guide-Interpretation for Deaf-Blind People
- Work placement (3 months) in organizations which employ Sign Language Interpreters (e.g. Deaf Associations, High Schools).
In 2008 a university in Barcelona (la Universitat Pompeu Fabra) began to offer sign language as one of the languages within the translation and interpretation degree program.
The University of Valladolid together with a Madrid University (Universidad Complutense) offers an official European Master specialized in training sign language interpreters for legal settings. As a result of the university reforms arising from the Bologna process, other universities are beginning to offer courses with sign language interpreting content, but there seems to be no co-ordination or regulation of these qualifications.
Important events for 2008-2009
- FILSE continues to consolidate its status as the organization which represents the professional body of SLIs in Spain by maintaining relations with other national level organizations, by participating in working groups set up by governmental bodies and by supporting regional SLI associations in their own dealings.
- A new regional SLI association was set up in Asturias, and FILSE has provided support and consultation to groups of interpreters who want to set up regional associations in Extremadura and Cantabria, where none currently exists.
- FILSE has continued to take part in the drawn out and problematic negotiations for the standardization of SLI qualifications, together with the National Deaf People’s Association (CNSE) and the National Deafblind People’s Association (ASOCIDE), to produce a list of approved qualified SLIs to present to the Ministry of Education and Science. The list has now been submitted and we are waiting to hear what decision the Ministry will take. FILSE has commissioned a report from a legal expert concerning selection procedure used in the public sector to hire SLIs who do not hold an official qualification; this report will be submitted to the Ministry.
- FILSE held its 3rd National Conference in Barcelona in December 2008. This was a three-day event with talks and sessions on various topics related to interpreting, including theory, practice, working conditions and legislation.
- FILSE took part in a training day organized by the regional SLI association in Aragón (AraILSE) in Zaragoza in February 2009.
- The law to recognize Spanish Sign Language as official in Spain was finally passed on 10 October 2007, but little has come of this so far. One of the provisions set out in the text of the law is the establishment of a Centre for the Standardization of Spanish Sign Language. FILSE has been in dialogue with the Royal Trust for Disability, which is the entity in charge of setting up the Centre.
- FILSE signed a joint agreement of collaboration with the National Deaf People’s Association (CNSE), to strengthen the relationship between both organizations.
- FILSE's president, Jose López, was appointed as a member of the Board of the CNSE Foundation. (The CNSE Foundation is the sister organization of the National Deaf People's Association and works in the fields of training, research, employment opportunities and overcoming communication barriers.)
- FILSE attended the 3rd National Sign Language Conference held in Madrid in September 2009 and was invited to take part in a debate on the future of training for sign language professionals.
- FILSE attended the efsli AGM and conference in Voorschoten (Netherlands) in September 2008, represented by FILSE board member Brendan Costello.
- FILSE continues to participate in the WASLI network as a full voting member.
- FILSE attended the First Latin American Meeting of Interpreters and Interpreter-Guides held in Bogotá (Colombia) in July 2009, represented by FILSE board member Lourdes Quintero, who gave a talk on the structure and functions of FILSE. We continue to be involved in the Latin Group of SLI National Associations from Spanish-speaking (established during the WFD Congress in Madrid in July, 2007). The aims of the group are to strengthen links between National SLI Associations from Spanish-speaking countries, to provide a platform to exchange and share information and to make the most of resources within the framework of a common language.
- FILSE has had to downscale a project to establish quality standards in interpreting by means of questionnaire-based data collection. A lack of response from interpreters has meant that we do not have enough data to obtain a clear picture of what the current situation and needs are for Spanish SLIs.
Goals of FILSE for this coming year
- FILSE is planning to organize the 2nd FILSE Forum, a one-day event which will bring together interpreters from all over Spain.
- FILSE is overseeing the organization of a training event which focuses on intepreting in educational settings