Anna-Lena Nilsson
Anna-Lena Nilsson
Professor of Signed Language and Interpreting, Head of programme for signed language and interpreting
anna-lena.nilsson@ntnu.no
About
I am professor of Signed language and interpreting at the Department of Language and Literature, and the program leder for the Section for Signed language and Interpreting Studies. I have a PhD in Signed Language Linguistics from the Department of Linguistics at Stockholm University, and am a trained Swedish Sign Language/Swedish/English interpreter.
In our BA-program in Norwegian Sign Language, I mainly teach in courses on language, communication, professional ethics, and interpreting theory.
Research interests:
- Sign Language Linguistics, with a special interest in sign language discourse produced during simultaneous interpretation.
- Corpus-based approaches to signed language research.
- Discourse structure and cohesion in signed language.
- Signed language interpreting, and how interpreters and the deaf community can cooperate and encourage mutual trust.
- M2L2-learning of signed languages
• Since 2014 I have been working in Trondheim, and my main research here has been on how sign language interpreters move their whole body in space – described as the embodiment of conceptual metaphors – and on the M2L2-acquisition of Norwegian Sign Language by our interpreting students. I am also interested in the relationship between interpreters and the deaf community, and in how research results can reach more people.
Selected research projects
• I have recently conducted a study in cooperation with Dr Rachel McKee, from Auckland, New Zealand, running parallel projects in Norway and New Zealand. The project was called "Interpreters as Agents of Language Policy".
• Our department is involved in a network for signed language corpora in the Nordic countries: https://www.ntnu.no/web/isl/nordisk-tegnsprakkorpus
• During 2012–2014 I ran the research project Use of Signing Space in Simultaneous Sign Langauge Interpreting., which was financed by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet).
• During 2010-2012 I was one of the researchers involved in the EU-financed project MEDISIGNS - Medical Sign Language & Interpreter Training: http://www.medisignsproject.eu/MEDISIGNS/About_MEDISIGNS.html
Partners included experts from Ireland, Cyprus, Poland, Sweden and the UK.
Membership of editorial boards
Member of the editorial board of Deaf Worlds, 2003–2005.
Member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Interpreter Education from 2009–.
International work
I am a member of the Registration Panel of The Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (www.risli.ie), and a member of the ISO Expert Group of WASLI (The World Association of Sign Language Interpreters) which provides expert advice to Technical Committe 37 Language and Terminology of the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO).
Currently, I am the external examiner for the European Master in Sign Language Interpreting program: https://www.eumasli.eu/#:~:text=EUMASLI%20%E2%80%93%20European%20Master%20in%20Sign,interpreters%20from%20across%20the%20world
Publications
2022
-
Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole;
Anible, Benjamin Donald;
Hodge, Gabrielle;
Jantunen, Tommi;
Leeson, Lorraine;
Mesch, Johanna;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2022)
A cross-linguistic comparison of reference across five signed languages.
Linguistic Typology.
Academic article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2022)
EFSLI-konferensen 2022: Var fanns svenskarna?.
Tolktrycket.
Feature article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2022)
Kerstsin Björk. 1949-2022.
Tolktrycket.
Feature article
2021
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2021)
Svar til Helge Edland.
Døves Tidsskrift.
Reader opinion piece
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Haualand, Hilde.
(2021)
‘We hope to encourage more dialogue’.
NEWSLI.
Popular scientific article
2020
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Bø, Vibeke;
Vonen, Arnfinn Muruvik;
Hjulstad, Johan;
Ringsø, Torill;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole;
Anible, Benjamin Donald;
Urdal, Gro Hege Saltnes;
Agerup, Charlotte Helene;
Slowikowska, Beata;
Torbjørnsen, Inger Birgitte;
Nyhus, Marianne Pilskog;
Kermit, Patrick Stefan;
Løkken, Marita;
Amundsen, Guri;
Halvorsen, Rolf Piene.
(2020)
Når fagfolks manglende kunnskap om språk hindrer hørselshemmede barns utviklingsmuligheter – et tilsvar til Skaug (2020).
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
volum 20 (3).
Article
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2020)
Hva er en god tolk og er en tolk alltid den beste løsningen?.
Døves Tidsskrift.
Popular scientific article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2020)
From Gestuno Interpreting to International Sign Interpreting: Improved Accessibility?.
Journal of Interpretation.
volum 28 (2).
Academic article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Haualand, Hilde.
(2020)
Vad är en bra tolk och är en tolk alltid det som behövs?.
Tolktrycket.
Popular scientific article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Haualand, Hilde.
(2020)
Vad är en bra tolk och är en tolk alltid det som behövs?.
Dövas Tidning.
Popular scientific article
2019
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2019)
Working with Active Interpreters: A Commentary about Interpreting Terminology and Concepts.
International Journal of Interpreter Education.
Feature article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2019)
Att vara "en bra tolk" – förr, nu och i framtiden.
Konferensvolym STTF:s årsmötes- och fortbildningshelg februari 2019..
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2018
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Raanes, Eli.
(2018)
Tolking - språkarbeid og profesjonsutøvelse.
Gyldendal Akademisk. 2018. ISBN 978-82-05-49528-9.
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Att tolka från ett tecknat till ett talat språk.
Tolking - språkarbeid og profesjonsutøvelse.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Expressing time through space: Embodying conceptual metaphors in an L1 vs. an L2 signed language.
Translation and Interpreting Studies.
volum 13 (1).
Academic article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Foreward.
Sign Language interpreting- Theory and practice.
Foreword
-
Raanes, Eli;
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Tolker og tolking - en introduksjon.
Tolking - språkarbeid og profesjonsutøvelse.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2017
-
Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2017)
Describing spatial layouts as an M2 signed language learner.
Sign Language and Linguistics.
volum 20 (1).
Academic article
2016
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2016)
Embodying metaphors: Signed language interpreters at work.
Cognitive Linguistics.
volum 27 (1).
Academic article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2016)
Interpreting from signed language into spoken language: The skills and knowledge needed to succeed.
To say or not to say – challenges of interpreting from sign language to spoken language. Proceedings of the 23rd EFSLI Conference, Warsaw, Poland, 11th–13th September 2015..
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Journal publications
-
Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole;
Anible, Benjamin Donald;
Hodge, Gabrielle;
Jantunen, Tommi;
Leeson, Lorraine;
Mesch, Johanna;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2022)
A cross-linguistic comparison of reference across five signed languages.
Linguistic Typology.
Academic article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2022)
EFSLI-konferensen 2022: Var fanns svenskarna?.
Tolktrycket.
Feature article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2022)
Kerstsin Björk. 1949-2022.
Tolktrycket.
Feature article
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2021)
Svar til Helge Edland.
Døves Tidsskrift.
Reader opinion piece
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Haualand, Hilde.
(2021)
‘We hope to encourage more dialogue’.
NEWSLI.
Popular scientific article
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Bø, Vibeke;
Vonen, Arnfinn Muruvik;
Hjulstad, Johan;
Ringsø, Torill;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole;
Anible, Benjamin Donald;
Urdal, Gro Hege Saltnes;
Agerup, Charlotte Helene;
Slowikowska, Beata;
Torbjørnsen, Inger Birgitte;
Nyhus, Marianne Pilskog;
Kermit, Patrick Stefan;
Løkken, Marita;
Amundsen, Guri;
Halvorsen, Rolf Piene.
(2020)
Når fagfolks manglende kunnskap om språk hindrer hørselshemmede barns utviklingsmuligheter – et tilsvar til Skaug (2020).
Norsk tidsskrift for logopedi.
volum 20 (3).
Article
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2020)
Hva er en god tolk og er en tolk alltid den beste løsningen?.
Døves Tidsskrift.
Popular scientific article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2020)
From Gestuno Interpreting to International Sign Interpreting: Improved Accessibility?.
Journal of Interpretation.
volum 28 (2).
Academic article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Haualand, Hilde.
(2020)
Vad är en bra tolk och är en tolk alltid det som behövs?.
Tolktrycket.
Popular scientific article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Haualand, Hilde.
(2020)
Vad är en bra tolk och är en tolk alltid det som behövs?.
Dövas Tidning.
Popular scientific article
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2019)
Working with Active Interpreters: A Commentary about Interpreting Terminology and Concepts.
International Journal of Interpreter Education.
Feature article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Expressing time through space: Embodying conceptual metaphors in an L1 vs. an L2 signed language.
Translation and Interpreting Studies.
volum 13 (1).
Academic article
-
Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2017)
Describing spatial layouts as an M2 signed language learner.
Sign Language and Linguistics.
volum 20 (1).
Academic article
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2016)
Embodying metaphors: Signed language interpreters at work.
Cognitive Linguistics.
volum 27 (1).
Academic article
Books
-
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena;
Raanes, Eli.
(2018)
Tolking - språkarbeid og profesjonsutøvelse.
Gyldendal Akademisk. 2018. ISBN 978-82-05-49528-9.
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Part of book/report
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2019)
Att vara "en bra tolk" – förr, nu och i framtiden.
Konferensvolym STTF:s årsmötes- och fortbildningshelg februari 2019..
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Att tolka från ett tecknat till ett talat språk.
Tolking - språkarbeid og profesjonsutøvelse.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Foreward.
Sign Language interpreting- Theory and practice.
Foreword
-
Raanes, Eli;
Haualand, Hilde;
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2018)
Tolker og tolking - en introduksjon.
Tolking - språkarbeid og profesjonsutøvelse.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Nilsson, Anna-Lena.
(2016)
Interpreting from signed language into spoken language: The skills and knowledge needed to succeed.
To say or not to say – challenges of interpreting from sign language to spoken language. Proceedings of the 23rd EFSLI Conference, Warsaw, Poland, 11th–13th September 2015..
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Teaching
Courses
Media
2022
-
Academic lectureFerrara, Lindsay Nicole; Anible, Benjamin Donald; Hodge, Gabrielle; Jantunen, Tommi; Leeson, Lorraine; Mesch, Johanna; Nilsson, Anna-Lena. (2022) A cross-linguistic comparison of reference across different signed languages. Sign CAFE 2 . University of Catania; Ragusa, Sicily. 2022-10-13 - 2022-10-15.
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Popular scientific lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2022) Kan man tolka allt?. Teckenspråk i fokus 2022 . Teckenspråksforum, Göteborgs stad; Göteborg. 2022-05-12 - 2022-05-12.
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Popular scientific lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2022) Tolkning = tillgänglighet? Tillgänglighet = tolkning?. Teckenspråk i fokus 2022 . Teckenspråksforum, Göteborgs stad; Göteborg. 2022-05-12 - 2022-05-12.
2021
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena; Haualand, Hilde. (2021) Allies for change: how can interpreters and deaf people work together?. Nordic Seminar . Diaconia Univ. of Appl. Sc. (Diak) & Humak Univ. of App. Sci; Turku (Zoom). 2021-01-29 - 2021-01-30.
2020
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Academic lectureFerrara, Lindsay Nicole; Anible, Benjamin Donald; Hodge, Gabrielle; Jantunen, Tommi; Leeson, Lorraine; Mesch, Johanna; Nilsson, Anna-Lena. (2020) A cross-linguistic comparison of reference across different signed languages. HDLS . University of New Mexico; Virtual. 2020-11-21 - 2020-11-23.
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Popular scientific lectureHaualand, Hilde; Nilsson, Anna-Lena. (2020) Tolk - inkludering i praksis eller en nødløsning?. Fagkveld . Tolkene i Akademikerforbundet; Oslo. 2020-02-27 - 2020-02-27.
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Popular scientific lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena; Haualand, Hilde. (2020) Tolking; inkludering i praksis eller en nødløsning?. Fagkveld/Fri faglig fredag . Oslo Døveforening og Tolkene i Akademikerforbundet; Oslo. 2020-02-27 - 2020-02-27.
2019
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Popular scientific lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2019) Att vara "en bra tolk" – förr, nu och i framtiden. STTF 50 år . Sveriges teckenspråkstolkars förening; Göteborg. 2019-02-23 - 2019-02-24.
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Academic lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2019) From Gestuno interpreters to International Sign interpreters: Improved accessibility?. World Association of Sign Language Interpreters Conference . World Association of Sign Language Interpreters; Paris. 2019-07-18 - 2019-07-19.
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2019) Hvordan kan alle få et ord med i laget i et flerspråklig arbeidsmiljø?. Tegnspråk 2019 . Signo; Litteraturhuset, Oslo. 2019-05-15 - 2019-05-15.
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2019) Is it ok to make your living from the Deaf community without being a part of it?. European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters Conference . Sveriges teckenspråkstolkars förening; Malmö. 2019-09-07 - 2019-09-08.
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Popular scientific lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2019) Å være en god tolk – før, nå og i fremtiden. Fagdag Tolkeforbundet . Tolkeforbundet; Bergen. 2019-03-16 - 2019-03-16.
2018
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2018) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – continuing to develop your skills. Nordic Seminar 2018 "Theory in practice - Practice in theory: Bridgning the gap between researchers and practitioners" . Sveriges teckenspråkstolkars förening (STTF); Umeå. 2018-02-22 - 2018-02-25.
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2018) Hva gjør en professor i tegnspråk og tolking?. Tiltredelsesseminar . Institutt for språk og litteratur, NTNU; Trondheim. 2018-08-17 - 2018-08-17.
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Academic lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena; Myriam, Vermeerbergen. (2018) "Signed Language Linguistics: Taking Stock" Part 1 – Introducing the (history of the) field. International Congress of Linguists ICL20 . The Permanent International Committee of Linguists; Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). 2018-07-02 - 2018-07-06.
2016
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PosterNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2016) Expressing time through space: Embodying conceptual metaphors in an L2. ISGS7 International Society for Gesture Studies Conference . International Society for Gesture Studies; Paris. 2016-07-18 - 2016-07-22.
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Academic lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2016) Teaching L2-interpreters to embody conceptual metaphors: A way to future-proof signed language interpreting?. Critical Link 8 . Heriot Watt University; Edinburgh. 2016-06-29 - 2016-07-01.
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena; Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole. (2016) Meaningful use of space: easy or hard for hearing L2 learners?. TISLR12 . La Trobe University; Melbourne. 2016-01-04 - 2016-01-07.
2015
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2015) Att tolka mellan två språk i två olika modaliteter. STTF:s årsmötes och fortbildningshelg. . Sveriges teckenspråkstolkars förening.; Härnösand. 2015-03-14 - 2015-03-15.
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Academic lectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2015) Interpreting from Signed Language into Spoken Language: The skills and Knowledge Needed to Succeed. European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters Conference 2015 . European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters; Krakow. 2015-09-12 - 2015-09-13.
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena. (2015) Meningsskapande och mottagaranpassning. STTF:s årsmötes- och fortbildningshelg. . Sveriges teckenspråkstolkars förening; Härnösand. 2015-03-14 - 2015-03-15.
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LectureNilsson, Anna-Lena; Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole. (2015) Depicting from experience: learning to give directions in space. The Fifth Conference of the Scandinavian Association for Language and Cognition (SALC V) . NTNU; Trondheim. 2015-08-18 - 2015-08-21.
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InterviewRaanes, Eli; Bjerkli, Georg; Nilsson, Anna-Lena. (2015) Tolkeutdanning gjennom 20 år. NRK-tegnspråknyhetene [TV]. 2015-06-05.
2014
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Academic lectureRaanes, Eli; Ferrara, Lindsay Nicole; Nilsson, Anna-Lena. (2014) “Why was that funny?”: Exploring humor and language in Norwegian Sign Language. NORKOG Kognitivt sommerseminar 2014 . Universitetet i Tromsø; Tromsø. 2014-07-20 - 2014-07-21.