TRANSLATION AND SIGNED LANGUAGE: HIGHLIGHTING THE VISUAL-GESTURAL MODALITY

Abstract Linguistic Studies and Sign Language Translation and Interpreting Studies have highlighted the characteristics and effects of the visual-gestural modality. Considering this, we briefly study the translation and interpreting processes that occur between a visual-gestural and a vocal-auditory language, which have been termed intermodal, as opposed to processes that take place within the same language modality (intramodal). We distinguish translation process from the interpreting process, demonstrating that although these processes share several characteristics, they are operationally and cognitively different. Based on this, we reflect on the modality issue regarding the categorization of the intermodal processes, translation and interpreting, and their impacts on them. We have seen that the study of modality and its effects on the translation and interpreting process must be conceived as one of the elements of translation competence for the intermodal translator or interpreter.