Rachel Mapson

Dr. Rachel Mapson is a Lecturer in Sign Language Interpreting at Queen Margaret University (QMU), working part-time alongside her role as a self-employed registered British Sign Language/English interpreter. She holds a PhD from the University of Bristol (2015), focusing on linguistic politeness interpretation between BSL and English. Her expertise includes pragmatic analysis, multimodal communication, and interpreter training in healthcare, education, and arts settings.

Education:

• PhD in Interpreting Studies, University of Bristol (2015)
• Interpreter training, University of Bristol

Research Interests: Dr. Mapson explores how interpreters navigate politeness and cultural nuances in BSL-to-English translation, with a focus on qualitative methodologies like semi-structured interviews and discourse analysis. Her work bridges linguistic theory and practical interpreting challenges in diverse professional environments.

Teaching & Leadership: As Programme Leader for the MSc in Advancing Practice in Signed/Spoken Language Interpreting at QMU, she designs modules on interpreting theory, healthcare/educational interpreting, and communication skills for interdisciplinary audiences.

Professional Background: With 23+ years of interpreting experience across medical, academic, and workplace settings, Dr. Mapson also has prior experience in course administration and program management within private-sector HE partnerships.