Research project Sign language interpreting in stand-up comedy
This project focuses on Florian Tirnovan, a deaf comedian who works with sign language interpreters in front of a hearing audience that does not know sign language.
The purpose the project is to gain an understanding of how sign language interpreting works within the field of comedy. Interpreters play a major role in conveying humor to a hearing audience that does not share a language with the comedian.
Project description
Since Florian Tirnovan relies on the interpreters’ competence to interpret his material from sign language into spoken language, this project examines the linguistic and interpersonal challenges involved in interpreting comedy across different languages and modalities.
Stand-up comedy presents unique interpretation challenges because it depends on timing, cultural references, wordplay, and audience feedback. One of the main areas of interest in this study is to examine how linguistic and semiotic elements are translated from sign language into spoken language for a hearing audience.
In addition, the project aims to explore how Florian Tirnovan works with audience feedback, a critical component of live stand-up comedy. Hearing comedians often adjust their performances in response to audience reactions (laughter, applause, or silence). How this feedback is processed and utilized by Florian Tirnovan – particularly through interpreters – raises important questions about the performative and interactive aspects of comedy.
The research project will also investigate how Florian Tirnovan and the interpreters collaborate to ensure a successful performance.
The research consists of two parts:
- The working relationship between Florian Tirnovan and the sign language interpreters.
- The adaptation strategies used by the comedian to modify comedic material in order to engage a hearing audience unfamiliar with the comedian’s primary language.
Project members
Project managers
Nora Duggan
Senior lecturer
