For the First Time, Linguists Describe the History of Russian Sign Language Interpreter Training
A team of researchers from Russia and the United Kingdom has, for the first time, provided a detailed account of the emergence and evolution of the Russian Sign Language (RSL) interpreter training system. This large-scale study spans from the 19th century to the present day, revealing both the achievements and challenges faced by the professional community. Results have been published in The Routledge Handbook of Sign Language Translation and Interpreting.
Today, at least 240,000 people across Russia use Russian Sign Language. However, a shortage of professional interpreters persists, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. This deficit poses serious obstacles to the full integration of deaf people into public life and limits their access to education. To better understand the causes of this problem and explore possible solutions, an international team of scholars examined the history of sign language interpreter training in Russia.
Until 2012, Russian Sign Language was not officially recognised as a language and was regarded merely as a means of interpersonal communication. Yet the history of sign language interpreting in Russia dates back to the 19th century, when the differences between Russian and Russian Sign Language were first described. The earliest training courses for sign language interpreters were organised in the 1930s, but the teaching methods and the status of these specialists changed repeatedly due to political and social factors. For a long time, interpreters were trained through short-term courses, often without the involvement of deaf instructors, which hindered the field’s professional development. Nevertheless, even this level of training helped deaf people take part in the life of the hearing community.
‘The collapse of the USSR led to a dramatic decline in the number of interpreters—from 5,500 to about 520 by 1998,’ the researchers note. Since then, major efforts have been made to restore and improve the quality of interpreter education.
The researchers traced the various stages in the development of sign language interpreter training—from short Soviet-era courses to modern university programmes. Particular attention was paid to the programmes at Moscow State Linguistic University and Novosibirsk State Technical University, which now offer full four-year bachelor’s degrees in the field.
During the study, the researchers examined archival documents, publications, and conference materials on sign language dating back to the 19th century. They also used data from questionnaires and follow-up surveys completed by members of the professional community. This allowed them to analyse first-hand accounts of the profession’s development and current state, assess the present situation, and identify the most effective approaches to interpreter training.
According to the authors, the official recognition of Russian Sign Language in 2012 was a turning point. It enabled the establishment of specialised university programmes, thereby improving the quality of interpreter training and expanding professional opportunities.
However, despite the progress achieved in large cities, the researchers identified serious regional disparities. While Moscow and Novosibirsk have the conditions necessary for comprehensive interpreter education, the situation in many other parts of the country remains far more difficult. There is still a shortage of qualified specialists, and existing programmes often consist of short-term or distance courses that fail to meet the real needs of deaf people.
An important outcome of the study was confirming the need for active participation of deaf instructors in interpreter training. Survey results showed that involving native signers significantly improves the quality of education and helps overcome outdated perceptions of sign language as a secondary means of communication.
‘Today, our main goal is to expand training beyond major cities and transform the prevailing view of sign language as a secondary means of communication. It is crucial not only to increase the number of qualified professionals but also to raise public awareness of sign language,’ emphasised Valeria Vinogradova, co-author of the study and a Research Fellow at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain.
The research began in the late 2010s under the supervision of Anna Komarova and Tatyana Davidenko, prominent figures in the deaf community who actively advocated for the education and promotion of sign language in Russia. After their passing, the study was continued and completed by their colleagues—linguist and cognitive neuroscientist Valeria Vinogradova (HSE Centre for Language and Brain) and British sign language specialist Bencie Woll (University College London).
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