Interview with Ricardo Ernani Sander: living history of Libras translators and interpreters

Abstract

Translation and interpretation of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) has followed a trajectory of quick advances in Brazil. However, when it comes to its historical record, we have a more significant amount of ocurrences of informal reports, in the form of videos and, at most, some lectures. However, the formal written record, in journals, of this course, is still scattered and scarce. Even with the fact that the generation that started training Libras Translators and Interpreters (LTIs) is still alive, their reports remain, in their majority, restricted to private talks to small groups. With the intention of collaborating towards a solidification of our history, this interview was done with one of the pioneer LTI trainers in our country. In this autobiographical testimony, the interviewee reports his trajectory as an LTI and educator, and his important participation in several historical events, as in the translation of the first code of ethics utilized by Brazilian LTIs, for example. We hope that, with this initiative, there can be an impulse for the historical rescue of an area of so much relevance in our field.