Flyer - Gallaudet University

Spoken and Signed Language Prosody
Brenda Nicodemus, PhD
Three ways to participate: On site, online,
GURIEC Learning Community
Goal: The participants will learn about the form and
function of prosodic cues in spoken and signed languages.
Who: You! Looking for those within the GURIEC region
who want to explore the topic of prosody as part of the
interpreting process.
When: LIVE: Feb 13 th 2:00 – 4:00 PM EST
LIVE STREAMED VIDEO: Feb 13 th 2:00 – 4:00 PM EST
GURIEC LEARNING COMMUNITY: Feb 22nd –
March 3rd , 2012
CEU values:
0.2 CEUs earned for viewing the Live/Streamed
presentation on Feb 13th or within the Learning
Community and completing the post-test.
0.2 CEUs earned for participating in the Learning
Community activities and completing the required
number of discussion postings.
Cost: Free to participants!
POC: Mary Henry Lightfoot, guriec.gallaudet.edu
Where: Live: Gallaudet University, EMG Library, room B111
Up to 0.4
RID
CEUs
RID CEUs are awarded
after completion of
learning activities on the
GURIEC Learning
Community site, which is
available Feb 22-March 3,
2012.
You decide when and
where you complete the
online activities … This
provides optimum
flexibility!
Questions? Contact Mary
Lightfoot –
Mary.Lightfoot@gallaudet.edu
All programming is provided using
American Sign Language and
English. Please contact GURIEC
if additional accommodation is
needed.
Gallaudet is an Approved RID CMP
Sponsor for Continuing Education
Activities. This Professional Studies
program is offered for up to 0.4 CEUs at
the Little/None Content Knowledge level
after completion of GURIEC Learning
Community Activities

Streaming and Learning Community Information to be provided with registration
information
How? Registration opens via the GURIEC website
For Additional Information: Go the GURIEC’s website: http://guriec.gallaudet.edu or
email: guriec@gallaudet.edu
Session Information:
Course Description:
The word “prosody” is being used with increasing frequency by interpreters, but what does it
really mean? Prosody is a rich system of linguistic features that both shapes the organization of
discourse and enhances our ability to process human language. The use of prosody is universal
to all languages, spoken and signed. In spoken languages, prosody is characterized by intricate
patterns of intonation, stress and rhythm. In signed languages, prosody has been observed and
described in the use of facial expressions, eye blinks, body leans, head nods, and velocity of sign
movement. Interpreters are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of prosody on their
work, and current performance evaluations are assessing the presence of prosodic cues in
interpretation. In this presentation we will compare the prosodic systems of spoken and signed
languages, discuss the functions of prosody in language, and report findings of a research
project that analyzed the use of prosody by highly experienced interpreters in their ASL
interpretations.
Course Objectives:
Participants will:
Discuss various aspects of prosodic markers in spoken and signed languages.
Ask questions regarding prosodic markers.
Engage in dyadic talk with specific thought questions given by the presenter.
Learn the forms and function of prosody in languages (both spoken and signed).
Identify the prosodic cues in spoken languages.
Identify the prosodic cues in signed languages.
View and identify prosodic cues created in ASL interpretation.
See modeled interpretations by hearing and Deaf interpreters of the same source
language text.
Learn the characteristics of prosodic cues at utterance boundaries, including form,
frequency, duration, and number.

Presenter Biography
Brenda Nicodemus
Brenda Nicodemus, PhD, is currently a Visiting Professor in the Department of Interpretation at
Gallaudet University. She has worked professionally as an interpreter since 1989 and holds the
certifications (CI, CT, NIC-A) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She holds a
doctorate in Educational Linguistics from the University of New Mexico. Brenda has taught
interpreting at various postsecondary institutions and has presented both nationally and
internationally. Her publications include Prosodic Markers and Utterance Boundaries in
American Sign Language Interpreting (Gallaudet University Press, 2009) and with co-editor,
Laurie Swabey, Advances in Interpreting Research (Benjamins, 2011).
Sponsorship: The Gallaudet University Regional Interpreter Education Center (GURIEC)
is providing this event as part of its mission of outreach within its region and as part of a
national effort to increase the number of qualified interpreters within the US.
Target Audience: Sign language interpreters, interpreter educators, and other GURIEC
stakeholders
Cancellation Policy: There is no fee for this training, however, if you will cancel your
registration, please email: guriec@gallaudet.edu
Reasonable Accommodations: If you require a reasonable accommodation for this event,
please contact Mary Lightfoot, guriec@gallaudet.edu at least 5 days prior to the event.