question about interpreter - Page 2

Gobae · 12-21-2004, 09:24 AM

Geeze, you'd think interpreters would be smarter than this. I mean, so what, ASL has multiple signs for the same thing. It's not like English doesn't have multiple words for the same thing.

If this same interpreter came from MA are they going to ask us 'hearies' to change "shake" to "frap", "sub" to "grinder", or "soda" to "pop"?

**Reba** · 12-21-2004, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gobae

Geeze, you'd think interpreters would be smarter than this. I mean, so what, ASL has multiple signs for the same thing. It's not like English doesn't have multiple words for the same thing.

If this same interpreter came from MA are they going to ask us 'hearies' to change "shake" to "frap", "sub" to "grinder", or "soda" to "pop"?

Good points.

I am a "grinder and soda" person married to a "blimpies and pop" person, and we live in a "sub and Coke-Cola (not Coca-cola)" state, so I know exactly what you are talking about.

Sign flexibility for terps is important. In just one day I might sign "truck" four different ways, depending on the client's preference. Go with the flow!

HoneyShot · 12-21-2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

HoneyShot,

Wow, that was a bad attitude terp. You handled the situation very well, very patiently, and very firmly. Good for you!

The terp was off-base. Even if the rest of the Deaf community in your area uses a different sign, she should accept that YOU use a sign that is acceptable for you, and she should adapt to that.

Terps have to adapt their signs for different clients all the time. Terps have to be flexible. I have interpreted for clients that are different ages, from different states, different educational backgrounds, different ethnic groups, so they have various signs. Sometimes it is hard to remember who uses what, but the client usually reminds me, then no problem. I never tell a Deaf client, "that is a wrong sign", or "that is an old sign". Sometimes I will show someone a new sign and ask, "have you seen this sign before?" or "which sign do you prefer?"

The terp was wrong to tell you to use the sign that is common to the community. If other Deaf in your community have a problem about your signs, it is up to them to complain to you, not the terp's responsibility.

Thanks Reba.

The one she used was more common for overall in this country, but most Deaf in my community use same sign as me, though I think many of them maybe learned it from me or my family using it. So they don't have any problems with it at all, it was just her finding the shock that she doesn't know everything!

The sign I prefer is used many places here and overseas including in Israel, so it's not like it's only me that use it. Other Deaf who have contact with Jewish people here (in New Zealand) use same sign, she was just wanting me to use what many other people still use if they don't know of different signs or that the other one is hurtful to some people. She was new to town from bigger city and thought she knows best because of that. Using that old sign which is officially meant to be try to phase out here, is like calling somone a slur. So I felt I needed to speak up about it, so I was very glad that she understood and appologised in the end and learn something new.

JesKlu · 12-23-2004, 11:51 AM

There are different ways of signiing a word. Sometimes there are like 5 different signs for one word. Everyone has their own style of signing.

Margie · 01-07-2005, 08:34 PM

Hi Daniel,
I've known sign langauge now for 30 yrs, and I'm also do interpreting too.
No one has the right to correct your girlfriends signs.
If she doesn't know a sign then she can ask the deaf person to show her the sign.
Its always good to learn signs, and the deaf are the best to learn from.
Tell your girlfriend to "Keep on Truckin"!!
LOL
Margie

maryks · 01-14-2005, 04:55 PM

I like Gobae's answer about hearies not correcting "soda or pop" and things like that. I'm a terp. ASL is not my first language, but it is my deaf friend's language. I have no more right to correct her sign than I would to correct a Frenchman's French.

stringbean · 01-14-2005, 06:06 PM

I am a 'hearie' but from what I have learned, I have been told not to question deaf on their signs. It is your language, we 'hearies' cannot say what is right and what is not.

krnaslterp · 03-26-2005, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

The interpreter should not correct a Deaf person's signs. If it is a sign that the terp doesn't know, or if the terp uses a different sign, the two of them should have a polite discussion to find understanding. The terp could say, "That is a new sign for me. I usually use this other sign for that concept. Can you please show me again, and give me some sentence examples how to use it? I will try to remember to use your preferred sign next time. Thank you for showing me something new."

The terp can use that Deaf's sign for that person. The terp can use other signs for other Deafs, if they prefer. There is much variation in signs, depending on regions, person's age, formal or casual, etc. Terps need to be flexible.

I am a terp, and I learn something new every day!

A big amen to that! I am a relatively new interpreter, but my hubbie is Deaf and I would never correct him or any of our friends, let alone a consumer! What nerve! Hubbie and I were discussing this issue today ( before I read this post) and I told him that is like going to a foreign country and correcting the native speakers!

Kelly

**Interpretrator** · 03-27-2005, 01:47 PM

The only time I might change a sign from what my client prefers is if it's going to be a big strain on me while interpreting. I can't think of a specific example, but I remember one time when my client preferred me to use a fingerspelled loan sign for something that was going to be said constantly during a lecture, and so I indicated that I would prefer to use another sign, which was just going to be less stress on my hand during an hour and a half of interpreting by myself.

The client was fine with it. But of course I didn't tell them that their sign was WRONG, just that I was going to use a different one. I think that's about the extent of what an interpreter should do; it's one thing to say "Oh, I've always seen that signed differently" than "That sign is WRONG." My limited experience gives me no right to correct someone...even if they are, for example, using the sign FLOWER to mean the word "flour." If that's what they want, that's what they get.

12-21-2004, 09:24 AM	#31 (permalink)
Gobae Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 133	Geeze, you'd think interpreters would be smarter than this. I mean, so what, ASL has multiple signs for the same thing. It's not like English doesn't have multiple words for the same thing. If this same interpreter came from MA are they going to ask us 'hearies' to change "shake" to "frap", "sub" to "grinder", or "soda" to "pop"? __________________ Gobae - The Blacksmith Re:Living History Blog Ancient Celtic Clans

01-07-2005, 08:34 PM	#35 (permalink)
Margie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 207	I'm an interpreter myself Hi Daniel, I've known sign langauge now for 30 yrs, and I'm also do interpreting too. No one has the right to correct your girlfriends signs. If she doesn't know a sign then she can ask the deaf person to show her the sign. Its always good to learn signs, and the deaf are the best to learn from. Tell your girlfriend to "Keep on Truckin"!! LOL Margie

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12-23-2004, 11:51 AM	#34 (permalink)
JesKlu Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 95	There are different ways of signiing a word. Sometimes there are like 5 different signs for one word. Everyone has their own style of signing.

01-14-2005, 04:55 PM	#36 (permalink)
maryks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 19	I like Gobae's answer about hearies not correcting "soda or pop" and things like that. I'm a terp. ASL is not my first language, but it is my deaf friend's language. I have no more right to correct her sign than I would to correct a Frenchman's French.

01-14-2005, 06:06 PM	#37 (permalink)
stringbean Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 53	I am a 'hearie' but from what I have learned, I have been told not to question deaf on their signs. It is your language, we 'hearies' cannot say what is right and what is not.

03-27-2005, 01:47 PM	#39 (permalink)
Interpretrator Crime fighter Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,440	The only time I might change a sign from what my client prefers is if it's going to be a big strain on me while interpreting. I can't think of a specific example, but I remember one time when my client preferred me to use a fingerspelled loan sign for something that was going to be said constantly during a lecture, and so I indicated that I would prefer to use another sign, which was just going to be less stress on my hand during an hour and a half of interpreting by myself. The client was fine with it. But of course I didn't tell them that their sign was WRONG, just that I was going to use a different one. I think that's about the extent of what an interpreter should do; it's one thing to say "Oh, I've always seen that signed differently" than "That sign is WRONG." My limited experience gives me no right to correct someone...even if they are, for example, using the sign FLOWER to mean the word "flour." If that's what they want, that's what they get.