Verbal-Visuality and its Effects in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) Interpreting at the Theater

ABSTRACT In this article, we examine the activity of simultaneous interpreting from Portuguese to Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) in the theatrical sphere, based on a dialogue between interpreting and theater studies, and theoretical formulations by Bakhtin and the Circle. Our objective is to investigate verbal-visual discourse and its sense effects on Libras interpreting by means of a qualitative analytical-descriptive study of two theater performances in which Sign Language Translators and Interpreters (SLTI) interpreted them so as to guarantee communication accessibility to deaf people. We investigated elements that influenced SLTI enunciations while interpreting in sign language, taking into account the texts that circulate in the theatrical sphere. These texts constitute a verbal-visual totality which creates an indissoluble whole directly influencing their forms of production, circulation, and reception.