Page 244 - Reading Between the Sign Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

Afterword

Now that you have almost finished reading this book, you may
feel empowered or perhaps discouraged, wondering if you can do
an effective job as an interpreter, bridging the gaps between the
Deaf community and society at large. These gaps can appear so
enormous that it might seem impossible to bridge them. It is im-
portant to remember, however, that you are in a unique position
to make a difference in the lives of Deaf people with your linguis-
tic abilities, cultural knowledge, and interpreting skills.
Attitude has been identified as the most important character-
istic of an effective interpreter. To me, the right attitude means
putting Deaf people at ease, placing Deaf people’s needs as your
priority, enjoying Deaf people’s unique perspective on the world,
acknowledging the special cultural patterns of Deaf people, and
most importantly, supporting the Deaf community.
The field of interpreting is growing and evolving. It is neces-
sary to recognize that the Deaf community is also changing. For
this reason, the culture of Deaf people is fluid rather than con-
stant. Therefore, the interpreting profession must be prepared to
adapt to these changes.
Obviously, there is not one right way to do things in this field.
Each Deaf person is different. Each situation is different. You would
do well to adopt the attitude that “the customer is always right.”
Be flexible and be prepared to adapt to various situations and
Deaf individuals’ preferences and needs. Please do not expect
Deaf people to agree to one standard.

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