Page 213 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

198 Reading Between the Signs

ing rude, that is the point that we should convey. If, on the other
hand, the literal translation of their comments would come out
unintentionally rude, we might be better advised to point up their
implicit understanding.
When Is Our Responsibility Over?
In keeping with our American tendency to compartmentalize,
when we are interpreting for two people and one of them leaves
the room, we may feel that our job is done. After all, there is
nothing left to interpret. Our Deaf clients may have a different
expectation. A frequent occurrence at a medical appointment, for
example, is that the doctor exits and the Deaf client asks us clari-
fying questions about what just took place. One common query is
about the affect of the doctor. Did he or she seem to be in a hurry,
distracted, or impatient? We may feel it is appropriate to answer
this question if we accept the responsibility for having neglected,
in the midst of relaying important information, to convey the emo-
tional aspects of its delivery. What about questions regarding the
content of the information? Again, if we feel that the lack of clar-
ity in our interpretation was at fault, we may decide to repeat the
major points, but only if we are absolutely certain we remember the
information correctly. If there is the slightest question in our mind
whether it was two pills, three times a day or three pills, two times
a day, we are obligated to call the doctor or nurse back in to clear
up the confusion. Concerning health matters, it is better to err on
the safe side, even if we are pretty sure we remember what the
doctor or nurse recommended.
Just as our job may begin in the waiting room (before there is
anything to interpret), it may not end when the hearing person
leaves. Certainly everyone has a right to leave a meeting with a
misunderstanding about what took place. It happens every day.
Despite our best efforts to the contrary, it will sometimes occur.
Often people have their own reasons for “mishearing” even the
most lucid explanation. The purpose of our presence, however, is
to facilitate communication taking place. Sometimes the Deaf
person feels more comfortable asking us to restate the point than
the hearing person. To mentally punch the time clock the minute
the hearing person leaves the room and refuse to wrap up the
transaction with the Deaf client borders on the culturally insensi-
tive, if not the unethical.

08 MINDESS PMKR 198 10/18/04, 12:02 PM