Page 233 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

218 Reading Between the Signs

feeling of trust could come from knowing that the interpreter is
certified. So, once in a while, we are asked that question directly.
We also may be asked if we have had experience with whatever
the proceeding will be. For the most part, however, the feeling of
trust is based on more intangible factors. Thus, we may be asked
for our “story.” If we happen to know a relative or friend of our
client (only if it is from a noninterpreting context), we might men-
tion this connection. Other personal questions may also be put to
us, not to insult us, but to get a sense of us as human beings. If we
focus only on the work at hand and refuse to chat or disclose
anything more, we may come off coldly businesslike to our Deaf
clients.
This kind of chatting does not imply that we need to become
personal friends with all those who utilize our services. We may
have to find something we feel comfortable discussing (there are
always safe topics to fall back on, such as sports, weather, traffic,
food). And while we are chatting, we can evaluate the Deaf person’s
use of language at the same time as the Deaf person is trying to
ascertain if we understand his or her signing, and if not, whether
we are honest enough to admit it and ask for the statements to be
repeated until we do. They may be trying to see if the interpreter
feels like “one of us” or is just a member of the hearing world who
happens to know how to sign.
Daniel, who gives lectures or presentations in various cities
around the country, relates that in the opening chat he is judging
the receptive skills of his soon-to-be voice interpreter. If he no-
tices that the interpreter is missing a lot of his signing, he con-
cludes with a sinking heart that he will have to “take care of this
interpreter” as well as give his lecture. He wants interpreters to
honestly admit when they don’t get all of it. Faking it never works.
In Daniel’s mind interpreters earn “bonus points” if they ask ques-
tions pertinent to the upcoming interpreting service (e.g., What is
this situation about? Is this your first meeting with the doctor? Do
you have any material I could read to catch me up?).
My recommendation, therefore, is that you put yourself in the
Deaf person’s shoes and try to think what would make you feel at
ease if you had to have a third party present when discussing your
divorce settlement or the results of your biopsy. But be prepared
for surprises. Sometimes you may find, when you arrive fifteen
minutes early for an assignment ready to chat, that the Deaf per-
son does not want to say anything at all. He or she may be emo-

09 MINDESS PMKR 218 10/18/04, 12:03 PM