Betty's Contributions to the Field

Contributions to the Field of Interpreting by Betty M. Colonomos

Below you will find reference to traditional publications- printed, formal documents, informative and scholarly articles, chapters in a book compilation, books, etc. Some of those printed materials, including the TBC News and articles in other publications, are available here in digital format. Some copyrighted materials on the IMI (Integrated Model of Interpreting) are also shared as resource material.

Additionally, as technology expands our concept of publications to include information on websites, such as recorded speeches in both spoken and signed languages, references to such from BMC are available here.

You're also welcome to participate in the Seeds to Sow vlog, where thoughts on various topics are raised for discussion in ASL. These are designed to elicit dialogue with interpreters and the Deaf Community. There is also an opportunity for interpreters to work into written English, by submitting translations of the vlogs.

A history of BMC would be incomplete without mentioning the Foundations of Interpreting Seminar Series and the Etna Project.

 

Thank you, Betty!

These are but some of the highlights of Betty's impact on the field over the decades.

The information here has been compiled by a handful of Betty's colleagues. It is our desire to make visible to others her commitment to our field. We have been and continue to be grateful beneficiaries working to further develop our practice within the pedagogy used in BMC seminars, from Foundations of Interpreting to the Etna Project, IMI to Vygotksy, and so much more!

Betty Colonomos: Impacting the Interpreting Field for Decades

  • 1982
    The Reflector: Reflections of an Interpreter Trainer
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    Published in The Reflector: A Journal for Sign Language Teachers and Interpreters, Volume 2, Winter, 1982. This in-depth analysis of Interpreter Training as it was in the early 1980's still has relevance to programs today. After emphasizing the need for programs to provide a model of the many tasks in the interpreting process, Colonomos' further insights highlight the need to be aware of deficits students bring with them into programs, including language fluency in both ASL and English.
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  • 1982 - present
    Foundations of Interpreting Seminar Series
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    This seminar series focuses on components of the Integrated Model of Interpreting in a low-stress, highly interactive environment. Participants learn how to convey equivalent messages by working through graduated texts and activities beginning in consecutive mode in earlier modules and moving to simultaneous modes of interpreting in later modules. Working on skills in small groups, such as text analysis, back translations and collaborative interpreting, participants develop tools for understanding and improving their own processes. Participants will also develop the language necessary to discuss the interpreting task using non-evaluative, non-judgmental language with each other and integrate strategies for continuing their own improvement Since 1982, Betty has refined this seminar series to foster discovery of the cognitive tasks of interpreting, offered approaches to actively being a reflective practitioner, and provided tools to talk about those with our peers.
    Read more
  • 1983-1987
    Chair, National Evaluation System Study Committee (NESSC), RID, Inc (1983-87)
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    Years of service on national committees on standards and evaluation of interpreters.
    Read more
  • 1984
    A Semantic Look at Sign Glosses
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    Published in The Reflector: A Journal for Sign Language Teachers and Interpreters, Volume 9, Spring, 1984. A look at the problems with glossing sign, some semantic and grammatical functions of adjectives and verbs, and their importance for 2nd language learners.
    Read more
  • 1987
    Recipient of the Mary Stotler Award from CIT
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    Mary Stotler was a cherished interpreter in the Seattle area who was well respected in the Deaf and interpreting communities. She was a founding member of CIT and served on its board. A well respected interpreter and interpreter educator, her influence was felt both in the Northwest and in the nation. An award was established in her honor. Betty was the second recipient of this award.
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  • 1988 - 1993
    TBC News 1988-1993
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    From the Premiere Issue of TBC News, March, 1988... "The TBC News will Keep you up-to‐date with information about ASL, Deaf Culture, interpreting, education, and advocacy. We’ll let you know what’s going on in this country and other parts of the world. And we’ll suggest ways to make your work more effective. Best of all, The TBC News will be there every month to let you know you are not alone, but part of a growing network of Deaf activists and hearing supporters who are becoming more visible every day." Click on Read More to see the collection of TBC News made available to the public as a resource.
    Read more
  • 1990
    The Performance of Nonnative Speakers of American Sign Language: A Question of Proficiency
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    The pilot study reported here investigates the performance of three experienced ASL signers' interaction with a native user of ASL on a common topic. A number of grammatical and discourse features are examined. From: LaBara, A. and L. M Bailey (Ed) Issues in L2: Theory as Practice/Practice as Theory. Delaware Symposium 7 (1985) Norwood, NH: ABLEX Publishing, 1990
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  • 2002 - present
    Etna Project Retreat Series
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    This retreat series focuses on components of the Integrated Model of Interpreting in a low-stress, highly interactive environment, meeting for substantial amounts of time over the course of several months. Meeting this way brings a group of interpreters together in a shared space where they spend large portions of time in structured activity. But there is also ample time to socialize, play, exercise, and engage in dialogue about work and what we are learning. This happens naturally by engaging in activity and conversation together, including during our free time. The retreat offers the opportunity to reflect on your learning over the course of months, to engage with a community of like-minded colleagues in a shared learning environment. Since 2002, the Etna Project has generated an alumni of reflective practitioners eager to be engaged in their own learning and that of others.
    Read more
  • 2012
    Process Mediation as Mentoring
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    Process Mediation as Mentoring, written by Betty M. Colonomos and Lianne Moccia, is one chapter in this compilation. Mentorship in Sign Language Interpreting acknowledges the contributions of mentoring to the sign language interpreting profession, especially those groups, organizations and programs that have made significant contributions to mentoring interpreters. The 15 chapters in this volume reflect the progress and impact of mentoring in its many forms, theories and models for mentoring programs. Through innovative collaboration with the authors of each chapter, the editors have provided an educational tool that has moved beyond simple implementation of mentoring projects and programs to structured evaluations and informed assessments of the impact of such programs. From: Winston, B. and Lee, R. G. (Ed) Mentorship in Sign Language Interpreting (2013) RID, 2013 This chapter is available for you to read here on the BMC website.
    Read more
  • 2013
    Sign Language Interpreters and the Quest for a Deaf Heart
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    "But what about ‘Deaf heart’? In my travels and conversations with many interpreters, codas, and members of the Deaf Community it has become clearer that we still are not adequately capturing the qualities and behaviors of Deaf-heart interpreters. It is not about laws, services, ethics (at least from majority/privilege perspective), or training. It is something that can’t be taught. It is difficult to explain, yet palpably absent. "The internalization of a Deaf heart must come from the interpreter’s own sense of justice and morality." Published on the Street Leverage website
    Read more
  • 2013
    Sign Language Interpreters Fostering Integrity
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    Betty Colonomos presented, Sign Language Interpreters Fostering Integrity, at StreetLeverage - Live 2013 in Atlanta. Her talk explored how sign language interpreters operate with integrity and the professional mechanisms needed ensure the highest standards are upheld. Watch the recorded presentation, made possible by Street Leverage.
    Read more
  • 2016
    Seeds to Sow
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    You are invited to participate in an open dialogue forum between the interpreting community and the Deaf Community using ASL as the primary language for discussing issues we face together. I have posted some topics in ASL asking for input from both communities in ASL. You are invited to comment on a post or generate a new topic. All submissions are to be in ASL and will be moderated before making public. Please join me at the Seeds to Sow vlog (as of 2022, now a Facebook group).
    Read more
  • 2018
    Mastery in Mentoring: Lifelong Learning
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    In this article published in the RID 2018 VIEWS, Kelly Decker and Betty Colonomos dialogue about mentorship with the aim of developing mastery in our work as interpreters. While acknowledging that mentorship with a goal of achieving a level of performance has a place in our field, they put forward the argument that reflective practitioners engage in dialogue and inquiry that create opportunities for continued learning throughout our careers. From 2018 VIEWS Article in ASL (watch it on YouTube)
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  • 2019
    RID Motion to define interpreting
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    The motion to define interpreting presented at the 2019 RID Conference in Providence, RI, was submitted by Betty. The motion passed overwhelmingly. And at long last, RID is driven by its membership to define interpreting.
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  • 2020 - present
    Covid moves us online!
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    The 2019-2020 Etna Project Maryland group had 4 long weekend sessions planned; December, February, April, and June. With the arrival of Covid in March, disruption of our remaining plans made for some real challenges. Knowing that the long weekend retreat style format of Etna could not be replicated online, Betty (with the support of colleagues) shifted gears to bring this group a Zoom-friendly schedule of coming together weekly from our own homes during pandemic. Throughout 2020 and 2021, BMC has transitioned to offering online seminars to continue offering high quality professional development. BMC is offering the always popular Foundations of Interpreting series online. More trainings are being offered in ASL where Deaf, Coda, and hearing interpreters have an abundance of opportunities, and at reduced cost for Deaf, BIPOC, and students. Check out our online offerings!
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Scholarship Fund for BIPOC Interpreters

BIPOC interpreters face challenges to be valued and recognized for their contribution to the field. BMC values these interpreters, offering scholarship funds for every seminar through donations from the interpreting community, BMC, and other supporters. We invite participation from our BIPOC colleagues.

Click here to contribute to the BIPOC Interpreter Scholarship Fund.

Scholarship Fund for Deaf Interpreters

Seminars conducted in ASL are designed to ensure that Deaf Interpreters have opportunities and choice of high quality professional development. Donations from the larger interpreting community and other supporters allow BMC to provide access to seminars for our Deaf Interpreter colleagues at lower cost.

Click here to contribute to the Deaf Interpreter Scholarship Fund.

Foundations of Interpreting

The Foundations of Interpreting Seminar Series provides insights into The Integrated Model of Interpreting and the processes we engage in while interpreting. Click here for more information on the series as well as a schedule of current seminars being offered.

Link to the Foundations of Interpreting page on Facebook!

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