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education � standards � excellence
VVIIEEWWSSA MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE REGISTRY OF INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ JUNE 2007
RID
NEWW
EBSI
TE
LAUNCH
ESpage
s:23
Topic of the Month:
Interpreting Culturally Sensitive Informationin VRS Settings
Mary Henry Lightfoot, CI and CT, Maryland
Continued on Page 17.
Technology, Distance andVideo Interpreting
Video relay service (VRS),
after seven years of use, is
becoming a mature form of
virtual communication. Interpreters now
interpret for deaf and hearing consumers
from many different parts of the country,
from rural and urban areas, and from
many different cultural groups. We are
attempting to open the dialogue about
specific cultural features of language,
effectiveness of interpreting and strate-
gies for enhancing the interpreting of
cultural components of language. With
VRS becoming a mature industry, we as
interpreting professionals need to
explore ways to better serve consumers,
including consumers of color, using the
service.
This spring, a session was held at the
Deaf People of Color Conference which
allowed deaf consumers of color, as well
as interpreters, to talk about cultural fea-
tures of language, attitudes toward inter-
pretation of information and approaches
to the task. In addition, a survey regard-
ing interpretation of cultural features of
language was sent via e-mail, as well as
disseminated as to participants at the
Deaf People of Color Conference. Both
deaf consumers and interpreters were the
target audiences.
DDeeaaff PPeeooppllee ooff CCoolloorrCCoonnffeerreennccee
The Deaf People of Color
Conference, held March 29 - April 1,
was a groundbreaking conference
“directed by and held for Deaf people of
all ethnic/racial backgrounds: African-
American, Latino, Asian, and (Native)
American Indian, biracial, multiracial.”
There were two full days of work-
shops about cultures of Deaf people of
color as well as a day long leadership
preconference workshop. Approximately
200 participants attended the conference.
Included with the workshops was a
session regarding interpreting: Video
Relay Service Interpreting: Tools for
Effective Dialogue with Culturally
Sensitive Content. The workshop
explored cultural competency issues with
VRS interpreting. Participants discussed
intercultural and intracultural situations
through a series of questions and scenar-
ios. In addition, video clips were fea-
tured with Deaf people of color, inter-
preters and experts talking about view-
points of interpreting culturally sensitive
information.
Rich discussions led to tools that we,
as interpreters, can use when working
with deaf consumers of color in VRS
settings.
Coalition for AccessibleTechnology Launched!
Karen Peltz Strauss, Legal Consultant to CSD
Developments in the Area ofVRS and 9 -1-1
Donna Platt and Richard Ray
With today’s expanding technology,people have various options for com-munication methods. People who aredeaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearingand individuals with a speech disabili-ty are following along with thesetrends and are rapidly migrating fromtraditional TTY to more advancedtelecommunications methods, both forpeer-to-peer communications and forrelay services. These newer Internet-based modalities include, but are notlimited to, internet relay, wirelessrelay, video relay service (VRS) andInternet-based captioned telephone.
Interpreters are getting their COATs on for equal access!
A brand new coalition of disabili-
ty organizations called the Coalition
of Organizations for Accessible
Technology (COAT) has just been
created to push for federal legislation
that will ensure full access by people
with disabilities to evolving high
speed broadband and other Internet
protocol (IP) technologies. Launched
this past March, COAT already con-
more
page: 12
more
page: 38
www.rid.org 17
FFrroomm DDeeaaff CCoonnssuummeerrss ooff CCoolloorr::*Note that the information below is
from the workshop and interviews. It isnot meant to represent viewpoints of allDeaf persons of color. � Interpret culturally sensitive infor-mation regardless of the interpreter’scomfort level with what is being said.Information is coming from the com-munication participants, not the inter-preter. Thus, if information is commu-nicated that the interpreter feels isoffensive, remember that the inter-preter is not initiating the communica-tion. Consumers do not want theinterpreter to filter information, dis-tilling the cultural components of lan-guage.�When the interpreter is not familiarwith information being discussed orsigns being used, ask for clarification.Do not eliminate this content or sub-stitute the information with anotherconcept. An example was given of adeaf person who uses American SignLanguage (ASL) but is calling a fami-ly member in Puerto Rico and uses alocal sign for BEACH.Miscommunication resulted when theinterpreter did not ask for clarifica-tion.� Do not assume that your culturalunderstanding of information is thesame as the participants. An examplewas given of the concept of family, lafamilia, in Latino cultures, which isdifferent than what is portrayed inU.S. mainstream culture. The mem-bers, attitudes and behaviors may bedifferent with concepts that we oftenhold as universal.� Become aware of cultural featuresof language so that interpretationincludes more than the words, butappropriately reflects the deaf partici-pant. �VRS interpreters should begiven training about cultures ofDeaf people of color and aboutinterpreting cross culturally.�VRS interpreters should seekout cultural information about
Deaf people of color through vari-ous forms of media: DVD materi-al, events held by Deaf people ofcolor such as the Deaf People ofColor Conference.�VRS interpreters should seekout cultural information abouthearing people of color throughvarious forms of media: booksincluding fiction and non-fiction,movies, television programming,radio stations and interpreters ofcolor interpreting organizations.
�With recognition of cultural fea-tures of communication, interpretersshould also continue to improve ASLreceptive skills as well as finger-spelling receptive skills. Consumersreported that some interpreters had toask for repetition many times andcould not understand their language.
FFrroomm IInntteerrpprreetteerrss ooff CCoolloorr::�Work on an attitudinal level.Heighten respect for the cultures ofDeaf people of color. Reflect on yourown view of Deaf people of colorand hearing people of color. If onedoes not have an understanding ofthe culture, do not try to mimic Deafpeople of color through improperword choice or inflection.
�When an interpreter is a person of
color and interpreting intraculturally,there can be transference of one’scultural experience with the commu-nication. Interpreters should be awarethat although the participants may beof the same cultural group, theirexperiences may be different.
FFrroomm aa DDiivveerrssiittyy EExxppeerrtt::�We need to open our understand-ing of interpreting from a bilingual –bicultural model to a multiculturalmodel, recognizing that Deaf peopleof color have their own respectivecultures.
CCoonncclluussiioonn::No matter where we, as interpreters,
reside or where the VRS center is locat-ed, we will work with Deaf people ofcolor in VRS settings. Glen Andersonstated, “The American Deaf communityis undergoing a demographic revolution.It is becoming more dynamic, and multi-cultural...” With this in mind, we willcontinue to see more Deaf people ofcolor in our VRS work life. I urge you,as fellow colleagues, to seek out ways toenhance understanding of the cultures ofDeaf people of color for provision ofculturally rich interpreting in VRS settings.�
Cultural Diversity continued from Page 1.