ABSTRACT
This paper offers an overview of sign language (SL) interpretation provision in 20 cities/countries in Asia, covering issues such as the availability of services, institutional support, and the challenges confronting the hearing and deaf interpreters. Our discussions are based on published studies, online information, questionnaire findings as well as individual interviews. Cities/countries covered in this paper include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. 1 Overall, these cities/countries vary a great deal in the quality and accessibility of SL interpretation. Our findings suggest that financial support and the active participation of governments in terms of promotion and legislation are pivotal in the provision of SL interpretation in Asia.
