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DISLI What To Learn
DISLI What To Learn
January, 2018
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Diploma in Indian Sign Language Interpretation
1. Aim
The Diploma in Indian Sign Language Interpretation aims to train professional quality
interpreters for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The diploma will enable the trainees
to acquire knowledge, skills and competencies in interpreting Indian Sign Language into other
spoken languages and vice versa.
2. Objectives
The main objective of the programme is to train Indian Sign Language interpreters to provide
communication access to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in various settings in real life.
The reservation and relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PWD and other categories shall be as per the rules
of the Central Government/ State Government, whichever is applicable.
6. Attendance
Minimum 75% attendance in theory and 80% attendance in practical is required. Since DISLI is
a skill-based course, a high level of attendance in practical classes is required to develop
competency in the skills.
7. Examination
There will be internal assessment and final external examination at the end of each semester for
the courses taught. The examination for theory papers shall be conducted in English/Hindi. In
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view of the technical nature of the course and the field, the medium of instruction shall be
Indian Sign Language and English. Regional center instructors if fluent in regional language
may use that regional language along with Indian Sign Language. The practical examination
shall be to judge the signing skills in Indian Sign Language and translation/voicing skills in
English/Hindi or at least any other spoken language.
Credit and Grading System: Scheme of Examination will be as per National Board of
Examination in Rehabilitation or Examining Body.
8. Certificate
Certificates shall be issued by the examining body nominated by the RCI. For the DISLI
programme, RCI has nominated Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC)
as the examination body.
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The distribution of courses according to semester is as follows:
Marks
Course
Course Title Hours
code Internal External Total
SEMESTER I
DISLI P1 Basic Communication 420 120 80 200
90
(70
DISLI TI Deaf, Deafness and
classroom 20 30 50
Communication options
+ 20 self-
study)
90
(70
DISLI T2 Deaf Culture, History,
classroom 20 30 50
Identity and Sign Language
+ 20 self-
study)
Total 600 160 140 300
SEMESTER II
DISLI P2 Advance Communication 420 120 80 200
90
(70
DISLI T3 Indian Sign Language
classroom 20 30 50
Linguistics
+ 20 self-
study)
Fieldwork I 90 50 - 50
Total 600 190 110 300
SEMESTER III
DISLI P3 Basic Interpretation 420 120 80 200
90
(70
DISLI T4 Interpretation –Principle,
classroom 20 30 50
Practices and Ethics
+ 20 self-
study)
Fieldwork II 90 50 - 50
Total 600 190 110 300
SEMESTER IV
DISLI P4 Advance Interpretation 420 120 80 200
Internship 180 100 - 100
Total 600 220 80 300
TOTAL (4 semesters) 2400 760 440 1200
In semesters II and III, the aim of the fieldwork is for students to gain exposure and experience.
Semester II Fieldwork I – Students will be required to visit associations, institutes, NGOs, etc.
that work with D/deaf. They will observe the activities that take place and communicate with
Deaf people. Students should also attend Deaf programs/events that give them opportunities to
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interact with Deaf people in real life situations and develop proficiency in signing. The
fieldwork can be incorporated with course P2. The assessment of 50 marks can be done on the
basis of a portfolio prepared by trainees. The portfolio will contain in report of observations,
case study assignment, etc. Teachers can design assessments specific to their situation.
Semester III Fieldwork II - Students will observe real-life interpreting in different types of
situations and do basic interpreting at associations, NGOs, etc. The assessment of 50 marks
would be done on the basis of a portfolio prepared by trainees of reports of observations and
experience gained, be in the form of reports of observations and experience gained, or
challenges faced in interpreting and possible solutions. The fieldwork can be incorporated with
course P3.
Semester IV Internship - Students will be placed at D/deaf associations, NGOs working with the
D/deaf, and other institutions with D/deaf people and complete 180 hours for internship. They
will be required to interpret in different situations and maintain a daily log of
activities/observations/etc. This daily log will be a part of the assessment. In addition, students
will submit a report of the experience gained.
The fieldworks and internships will be managed by the practical paper teachers.
10. Intake capacity: The intake for each year of the program will be 15 to 20 seats.
11. Certification as Registered Personnel
It is mandatory for every rehabilitation professional / personnel to obtain a “Registered
Personnel / Professional Certificate” from the Rehabilitation Council of India to work in the
field of special education in India. As continuous professional growth is necessary for the
renewal of the certificate, the rehabilitation professional / personnel should undergo in-
service programme periodically to update their professional knowledge. The training
institution/ organization should ensure that all passed out students are registered with the
Council.
A successful student will be registered as an “Indian Sign Language Interpreter”.
13. Infrastructure
The following infrastructure is must for a batch of 15 students.
1.0 Staff
1.1 Core faculty:
a) Indian Sign Language Master Trainer - 2 (Deaf): Graduate with DISLI/ Certificate in
C Level/ DTISL with 4 years experience
b) Indian Sign Language Instructor - 2 (Deaf): 12th pass with DISLI/ Certificate in C
Level/ DTISL
c) ISL Interpreter – 1: Graduate with DISLI/C level with minimum 4 years interpreting
experience. The Interpreter’s responsibilities will be to interpret for the Master
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Trainer and Teacher when teaching theory papers and to help develop the students
listening, and voicing skills.
ISL will be taught only by the Deaf ISL Master Trainer or Deaf ISL Instructor.
To run one batch at a time, one Master Trainer (Deaf), one Instructor and one
Interpreter are required.
If an institute has two batches, i.e. one batch in the second year and one batch in the
first year, then two Master Trainers (Deaf), two Instructors and one Interpreter are
required.
The coordinator of the DISLI course will be Master Trainer (Deaf) preferably.
Guest faculty may be invited to teach theory and practical courses if required.
2.0 Equipment
S. N. Items Quantity
1 Video Camera (Professional) 1
2 Video Camera (Handycam) 2
3 TV/ LCD / Projector 2
Portable hard drive for data
4 storage (minimum 1 TB 1
capacity)
5 Computer with internet and Printer 2 sets
6 Classroom furniture for 15-20 students 2 sets
7 Office furniture
3.0 Space
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Practical Courses
Basic Communication
Hours: 420
Unit
Unit description Hours Marks
No.
PART A
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
PART B
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
1. Express kinship, household articles, school, food, professional and monetary terms
2. Fingerspell and count
3. Express time and directions
4. Recognize and use vocabulary related to festivals, social life, place and transportation
5. Recognize and use simple technical terms used in school subjects, telecommunication,
government and legal setups
6. Demonstrate ways to converse with Deaf people
7. Develop a strong vocabulary base in ISL for basic communication
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2.5 Food, Profession and Work terms, Money, Measures
2.6 Calendar items, Time, Directions
2.7 Short stories
2.8 Interrogatives
Teaching strategies
1. At the basic level, topics are to be taught without use of written English and more use of
visuals like pictures, picture stories, videos, etc. For example, to teach adjectives, pictures of
faces with different expressions can be shown and students can be asked to guess how they
will sign the expression. Similarly, to teach noun topics like household things, animals, etc.,
pictures of the objects should be shown and the signs discussed. This will help to reduce
reliance on English/ Hindi/ spoken language.
2. To sign sentences also, pictures should be used instead of asking to translate from English to
ISL. Students can use sentences to describe the objects in the pictures. Students should also
be asked to bring their own pictures which can be used to practice in class.
3. To teach sentences, and grammar, translation activities with written sentences/texts can be
used. Students can be asked to create their own simple written texts on various topics (eg.
my home, my family, etc.) and then sign the text in class.
4. Teachers should try to develop visual receptive skills in students by asking questions and
communicating with them on various topics, and students should try to understand the signs
even which they have not been taught.
5. Students should be encouraged to develop visual language expressive skills by expressing
what they see in the pictures (even if they have not been taught the signs), and by describing
picture stories.
6. Teachers should use a balance of visual activities and translation activities to teach ISL
communication.
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Advanced Communication
Paper Code: DISLI P2 Marks: 200
Contact Hours: 420
Unit
Unit description Hours Marks
No.
PART A
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
1. Demonstrate one-handed English manual alphabet for Deaf-blind individuals
2. Exhibit skills to sign complex and abstract terms
3. Demonstrate skills to sign by changing roles in different contexts
4. Exhibit skills of paraphrasing
5. Demonstrate skills to sign in an expert and professional manner
UNIT 1: ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
120 50
Grammar
1.1 English Manual Alphabet (one-handed) for Deaf-blind
1.2 Degree of colour, size and shape, handling objects
1.3 Advanced level of picture description and picture stories
1.4 Dialogues and role play
Sign language grammar: Non-manual features, Complex adjectives/
1.5
verbs
1.6 IF clauses, and WHEN sentences, possession
1.7 Complex sentences
1.8 Polysemy and homonymy
PART B
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
1. Demonstrate use of advanced terms in Indian Sign Language
2. Identify and interpret the terms used at high school level
3. Identify and interpret technical terms used in computer science, commerce and
corporate industry
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4. Compare and contrast some of the regional variations of ISL
Teaching strategies:
1. More complex visual pictures should be shown and practised. Students should develop
higher level of description and explanation skills.
2. To practice ISL comprehension skills, students should watch videos by Deaf signers
(example, on YouTube, Facebook, Whatsapp, etc.) and then sign what they understood.
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Basic Interpretation
3. Expressive skills:
Practice in expression of subject matter from sign language to spoken language
(sign to voice)
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Practice in expression of subject matter from spoken language to sign language
(Voice to sign)
To practice interpreting in speech and in sign language using the knowledge
gained from two areas of skill activities i.e. receptive and listening.
Development of three skill areas mentioned above is best done consecutively in every unit of
practice. Each unit will contain different unique setting of language delivery i.e. monologue,
dialogue by two or more persons in different circumstances both formal and informal. There
shall be 10 such units offering variety of settings to give opportunities for development of
three skill sets. Each unit will offer 15 hours of practice for three areas of skill development
above. A total of 150 hours will be spent on three areas skill development at these stage.
The part ‘B’ of practical module will contain 50 hours of introduction and demonstration to
different types of interpreting situations in both ways of interpretation i.e., sign to voice and
voice to sign:
1. One to One interpreting
2. Consecutive interpreting
3. Simultaneous interpreting
4. Relay interpreting
5. Tactile interpreting – used with Deafblind individuals
There will be a number of texts both in spoken and signed modalities for interpreting
practice. Their interpreting practice will be supervised and assisted by experienced
interpreters along with Master trainers/ ISL teachers who are Deaf.
The parts ‘A’ and ‘B’ are not separate parts to be covered one after one. The part ‘B’ is in
fact to be used during the practice of three skill development areas covered in the part ‘A’.
Markers will be included at appropriate stages to access contents in the part ‘B’.
Internal assessment can be done in several ways. For example, one assignment could require
students to observe other seasoned interpreters in action. They could also be assigned mentored
interpreting assignments which will provide the opportunity to gain feedback from seasoned
interpreters.
Unit
Unit description Hours Marks
No.
PART A
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
1. Justify the need for good listening skills
2. Develop skills to work on annotation software tools
3. Demonstrate competency in reading and understanding signs
4. Demonstrate basic skills in consecutive and simultaneous sign language interpreting
5. Recognize the basics of reverse interpreting and tactile interpreting
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Listening comprehension (Voice): Level 2 – Multi
1.2 participant setting (meetings, dialogues, conversation, etc.) 25
2.4 Note-taking 10
PART B
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
1. Describe Deaf culture and D/deaf psychology
2. Express in native signing skills
3. Develop & demonstrate interpreting skills required in an education setting
4. Develop & demonstrate competency in listening and comprehending recorded speech
5. Develop & demonstrate competency in interpreting recorded speech
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Advanced Interpretation
Paper Code: DISLI P4 Marks: 200
Contact Hours: 420
Introduction:
Part ‘A’ of this module will consists of more texts of signed and speech modalities of higher
level of complexities/ difficulties for observations, imitations and numerous texts for exercise
in enhancing and polishing up the expressive skill area for both signing and voicing over.
There will be such 10 units with 10 hours for each. A total of 100 hours will be dedicated to
the part ‘A’ of advanced interpreting practical module. The main focus will be accurate uses
of ISL grammar with respect to placement, directions, movement of objects (classifiers)
within the signing space.
Range of activities to be included will be story telling (abstract in nature), poetry, theatrical
work both interpreted in ISL and in spoken language.
Part ‘B’ of this module will be dedicated to field work i.e. real-life interpreting experiences
observing seasoned interpreters, Deaf signers in various situations / set ups and doing the
interpreting assignments under the supervision of seasoned interpreters and Deaf trainers. At
the end of each assignment, the trainee will be provided with feedback for further
improvement.
Field work and assignments from part ‘B’ can be distributed throughout practical of part ‘A’.
Total time of 100 hours will be allotted to field work and assignments. Internal assessment
can be done in several ways. For example, students could be given interpreting assignments
with experienced interpreters which will provide the opportunity to gain feedback from
seasoned interpreters.
Trainee interpreter shall be asked to interpret in the various set ups to gain an experience and
to challenge their skills [receptive, listening and expressive skills]
Classroom interpreting
Interpreting in a conference, workshop
Community interpreting
Interpreting for events organized by Deaf [World Deaf Day Celebrations]
Religious interpreting
Legal interpreting
Interpreting for a Counselling session
Interpreting for a Parent-Teacher meeting
Interpreting for a Business Meeting / Business Review
Medical interpreting-taking a Deaf person for a check-up/ treatment
Interpreting a movie
Tactile Interpreting
Relay Interpreting – foreign SL to ISL by Deaf signer and this being further interpreted in
ISL or voice
Team interpreting
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Unit
Unit description Hours Marks
No.
PART A
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
1. Display techniques of Relay, Telephone and Team interpreting
2. Express interpreting skills in Relay, Telephone and Team interpreting
3. Exhibit competency in tactile interpreting for the deaf blind
4. Describe the use of prosody in sign language interpreting
5. Exhibit the metrical aspect of sign language interpreting
UNIT 1: INTERPRETING SKILLS (ADVANCED) 100 50
1.1 Relay interpreting 25
1.2 Telephone interpreting/Video interpreting 25
1.3 Team interpreting 25
1.4 Classroom interpreting 25
PART B
Objectives: On completion of this practicum, the learners will be able to:
1.Gain exposure to real-time interpreting platforms
2.Demonstrate competency in content-related and contextual signing skills
3.Undertake sign language interpreting in different settings from experts
4.Develop competency in interpreting at different platforms
5.Develop competency in specific professional-related fields
UNIT 3: SUPERVISED PRACTICAL SESSIONS 120 50
3.1 Supervised Interpreting in a secondary school/ university setting 35
3.2 Supervised Interpreting at court 25
3.3 Supervised Interpreting at Hospitals / Clinics 25
3.4 Supervised Corporate Interpreting 35
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Theory Courses
References
Paul, P. V. (2009). Language and Deafness. Jones and Bartlett, Boston.
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Communication Options and Students with Deafness. (2011). Rehabilitation Council of India,
New Delhi.
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Deaf Culture, History, Identity and Sign Language
Paper Code: DISLI T2 Marks: 50
Hours: 90
OBJECTIVES:
4.1 Myths and facts about sign languages and D/deaf communities
4.2 Diversity in sign language communities
4.3 Sign languages, education and literacy
4.4.Role and significance of technology for communication and learning
among Deaf Community
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References
Bhattacharya, T., Grover, N. and Randhawa, S. (eds). 2014. The People’s Linguistic Survey
of India Volume 38: Indian Sign Language(s)
Kyle, J.G. and Woll, B. 1988 Sign Language- The study of deaf people and their language.
Snoddon, K. 2012 American Sign Language and Early Literacy – A Model parent child
program.
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Indian Sign Language Linguistics
Paper Code: DISLI T3 Marks: 50
Hours: 90
OBJECTIVES
References
Bhattacharya, T., Grover, N. and Randhawa, S. (eds). 2014. The People’s Linguistic Survey
of India Volume 38: Indian Sign Language(s)
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Crystal, David. 2010. The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press.
Gertz, Genie and Patrick Boudreault. 2016 (eds). The Sage deaf studies encyclopedia. Los
Angeles, USA: Sage Publications.
Lucas, Ceil. 2004 (ed). The sociolinguistics of sign languages. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press. [Chapters 3, 4, 5]
Nussbaum, Debra Berlin, Susanne Scott, and Laurene E. Simms. 2012. The ‘why and ‘how’
of an ASL/English bimodal/bilingual program. Odyssey Spring 2004: 14-19.
Pfau, Roland, Markus Steinbach, and Bencie Woll. 2012 (eds). Sign Language: An
International Handbook. Berlin, Germany: De Gruyter Mouton.
Sutton-Spence, Rachel, and Bencie Woll. 1998. The Linguistics of British Sign Language: An
Introduction. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Valli, Clayton, and Ceil Lucas. 2000. Linguistics of American Sign Language: An
Introduction. Washington, DC, USA: Gallaudet University Press.
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Interpretation – Principle, Practices and Ethics
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References
Cokely, D. 1992. Interpreting- A Sociolinguistic Model. Burtonsville, MD: Linstock Press.
Nicodemus, B & Emmorey, K. 2013. Direction asymmetries in spoken and signed language
interpreting. Biling: Cambridge. Vol. 16 (3). [Pages 624–636]
Roy, Cynthia B. 2000. Innovative practices for Teaching Sign Language Interpreters. Gallaudet
University Press: Washington DC.
Terry, Janzen. 2005. Topics in signed language interpreting: Theory and Practice. Amsterdam:
John Benjamins. [Pages 96-99]
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