Page 20 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

Introduction 5

sion is so unique that no one else can empathize with the chal-
lenges we face. When I started studying about the contrasts be-
tween world cultures, however, bells rang and lights flashed in my
head. “Why, those are just the kinds of misunderstandings sign
language interpreters deal with every day!” I concluded with ex-
citement.
After graduating, I pursued additional training in intercultural
communication and read everything I could find on the subject. I
began to write articles and conduct workshops for other sign lan-
guage interpreters to share my discoveries and my perspective.
Then I was fortunate enough to live in France for a while, where I
met some French Deaf people and began learning LSF (Langue
des Signes Française). I also observed my own process of culture
shock and acculturation.
Over the years, in interactions with my Deaf friends, I have
continued to rediscover that we have different ways of approach-
ing certain things. Although it is fun to be able to discuss the as-
pects of “your way” compared to “my way,” awareness itself does
not inoculate us against emotional reactions. Even if I have a good
intellectual understanding of the ways our cultures differ, I may
still wince or feel taken aback by a direct personal comment, for
example. When I jump to an emotional conclusion, my head has
to explain to my gut what just happened, as I am sure my Deaf
friends do with my behavior. Such is the power of cultural differ-
ences.

Audience
This book is aimed at a specific audience: working sign language
interpreters and those students who hope to become interpret-
ers. It presupposes certain areas of awareness on the part of the
reader: a fluent knowledge of ASL and a basic familiarity with the
types of settings in which interpreters commonly work. It is as-
sumed that the reader does not need to be convinced that ASL is
a “real language” or that Deaf people are a linguistic/cultural mi-
nority.
Students who are still learning ASL may benefit from the gen-
eral discussions of world cultures and the specific sections on
American mainstream culture and American Deaf culture. They
may also gain an understanding of how these differences are played
out through discussion of the specific interpreting situations I de-

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