Have you seen Glee?

I do not usually post links to singing television shows. After all, music is a point of contention to various parts of the Deaf community.

The apparently imaginary Haverbrook School for the Deaf had their show choir perform on GLEE. The song was "Imagine" by John Lennon. There are a variety of responses already to the episode ranging from irritation that the Glee kids joined in the singing to protests about the lyrics of the song.

What did I like? I like that the Glee kids seemed to get the unity of the song and joined in (apparently plot-wise it was to remind the Glee kids about the simplicity of beautiful music). I liked that some of the deaf signed left handed and some right handed. I liked that although over all the song was in English order, it remained true to the meaning of the song.

What did I not like so much? That the Glee kids could "learn to sign along" on the fly. And I do see the point of some who say it looked like the "real singers" had to fix the deaf voice singing.

But over all it was a lovely scene, that had little to do with the rest of the episode (in my humble opinion), and I hope you wander by.

Hulu shows only 5 episodes at a time and this one aired last week, so there are about 3 weeks left for it to remain available. And yes, it is captioned.

Oh and if anyone knows if this is a real school choir and not just a bunch of deaf actors put together for the scene, let me know?

Update on "UP" (and Disney)

Marlee Matlin tweeted the following:

"Spoke with Disney execs. Missing "UP" captions on DVD rental versions- a manufacturer error. They will be restored. Thank you Disney!" (3:45 PM Nov 17th from web)

And thank you Marlee!
(http://twitter.com/MarleeMatlin/status/5807270305)

Welcome Back

I hope you all enjoyed the Holidays. I was in the midst of trying to write a 50k word novel in one month (see www.nanowrimo.org) and so I am afraid the blog suffered while I was gone.

However I discovered a really useful tool in my gmail box.

Have you ever looked at the sponsored link just above the archive button? Many times it is a funny little link like to spam casserole, especially if I go into my spam filter to make sure I didn't miss anyone.

Well, this week I had more ASL and Deaf related emails than usual. I looked up at the sponsored link and guess what I found?

An actual deafness-related link! It wasn't just for spoofs.

Anyway, in honor of the occasion, here is the link:

OKCDeaf
News and Information for the Oklahoma City Deaf Community.

I will try and get caught up on Deaf news and post more this week.

Then I guess it is time to edit that mess I wrote and see if it is any good.

Happy Holidays!

Disney Disappoints

You have no idea how hard it is for me to acknowledge this. I love all things Disney.

But this is not just poor marketing - it is oppressive and insulting.

Disney Removes Closed Captioning from Up Rental Release.

In order to increase sales revenue, disney removed "special features" from the rental releases of "UP" sent to Red box, BlockBuster and Net Flix. There may be others. While all of us acknowledge that "special features" includes games and outtakes, apparently Disney has decided subtitles and closed captioning are also "special".

The only way to get this movie captioned is to purchase a full retail version.

All I can ask is "What where they thinking?"

More Deaf in the News

Some of you may recall last month when I posted about the Broadway protests regarding "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter."

Well now there is more upset. Producers have cast Abigail Breslin (star of Little Miss Sunshine) as Helen Keller in the latest remake of "The Miracle Worker."


Sometimes, I wonder when things will change. I remember this argument 15 years ago. In 1993, Columbia Pictures cast a hearing man with 2 weeks worth of asl classes as a deaf person in the flop, Calendar Girl.

Fun Link!

Many students ask me about ways to increase their ability to concentrate, or to focus their attention.

I learned about this website from a Reading Teacher at Tulsa Community College, Linda Mays.

Let me know if you think it helps...and frustration is not unusual smile.

enjoy!

It saddens me to share...

Larry Fleischer, the Chair of the deaf Studies department at California State University, Northridge has passed away.

Read about the breaking story here at the Daily Sundial.

Our condolences to Vera and the family. Larry was a great man and he will be sorely missed.

Deaf in the News

Some international news as well as stories here in the U.S.

Canadian Parents lobby for better services

Deaf users sound off on Sidekick outage

Louisiana Photographer Tate Tullier Voted 'Trailblazer of the Year'

Hearing Man in Deaf Role Stirs Protests in New York

East London mourns deaf activist

Gallaudet's new President

Gallaudet University announced Sunday that T. Alan Hurwitz would become the 10th president of the nearly 150-year-old school.

Stories here:
NTID

NPR

Newsday


YAY!!!

Deaf History Link

This is a short one, because the link I am giving you is long...

The Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action (www.folda.net)put together a great Deaf Legacy Kit in honor of Deaf History Month, 2006. It has all sorts of fun stuff and if you or your library are starting to think about next March, here is a great place to get started.

Enjoy! I did.

More Links!

I was looking for something to post today and found this really excellent link site...

If you are Deaf and into motorcycles stop by Deaf Motorcycle Links.com They site links from all over the world to hook up with like-minded individuals.

Another link worth having that is of a more general nature is The Deaf Resource Library. It is "an online collection of reference material and links intended to educate and inform people about Deaf cultures in Japan and the United States; as well as deaf and hard of hearing related topics."

I love to wander through the Deaf Resource Library. It is a font of worthwhile information. I hoope you find it as useful.

ASL Idioms

Many people have asked me about idioms in ASL. My teachers have preferred the term "idiomatic expression."

An idiom: A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements; a group of words whose meaning cannot be predicted from the meanings of the constituent words; an expression with a meaning that cannot be guessed from the meanings of the individual words.

There are some items called "idioms" by those of us who are not native users because of what we perceive as separate parts. An example is one of the signs for "forever" which resembles the sign for cow, then extended in movement away from the forehead. To English speakers, it looks like "COW-ON" and so is idiomatic. But most Deaf I ask laugh when I bring up its resemblence to "COW" - they've never thought about it6 that way.

If you would liket os ee one group's translation of several English idioms, try ASLPro.com and their phrase dictionary. Not all of them are produced the same way in every part of the country, so be sure and verify local differences within your Deaf comnmunity.

Yet More Deaf in the News

Helen Keller has been honored at Washington DC's Statuary Hall.

2012 London Olympiad plans to be accessible to all Deaf and disabled.

Deaf man accused in the murder of a Georgia Deaf woman.

Wish it all could have been good news...

More Deaf News

I just love this one, since it is football season and the family is busy talking about prep football.

Championship Coach Leads Deaf Football Teams to Victory
Coach Andy Bonheyo Has Won the National Deaf Prep Championship 15 Times.


And for those of you on Facebook, Dame Evelyn Glennie is coming to Lawrence Kansas soon. Find out more at her facebook page.

More Deaf News

I was getting a little bored with my usual trio of post types, so I started running news links.

Here's a story about an actor in Maryland who convinced a theater company to give him a chance - and to interpret their productions.

Last week, the Oklahoma State Fair sponsored a Deaf Awareness day. From all I can see, a good time was had by all.

An Iowa deaf man has won a settlement against two Minnesota State counties after being denied interpreting service while in jail on counts related to a domestic dispute and car accident.

And rather than spoiling anything, I will merely point out Deanne Bray is making appearances on Heroes. In case you missed it.

Deaf News

A few articles about Schools for the Deaf in honor of Deaf Awareness Week:

Iowa School for the Deaf has announced plans for a new science center.

Minnesota has merged a k-8th grade School for the Deaf with a 9 - 12th grade School for the Deaf in order to consolidate costs and improve classroom opportunities.

And, Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf is adding sports programs for the first time in its 30 year history.

It is always nice to hear some good news about the Deaf schools.

More Idioms

I am just having a time getting started this morning. I have looked all over the net for something interesting to share.. and nothing leapt at me and said "Me! Me! Pick me!"
So I fall back to idioms. I feel in a horsey mood:



across the board

- applying to all (in horse racing a bet where an equal amount of money is placed on a horse to finish in any top winning position)
The workers received an across the board wage increase and most of them were happy.
I would sign this with #A-L-L


first out of the gate
- be the first person to begin a project
He was first out of the gate in the effort to raise money for the new concert hall.
Eh, just emphasize FIRST


in the homestretch
- be close to completion (used often to describe the last furlongs of a horse race)
The project to build the new bridge is now in the homestretch.
I would modify CLOSE with a cs grammar marker.


These came from the website called "The Idiom Connection"

If you are not sure of the signs I use, try the green books, "American Sign Language" by Cokely and Baker-Schenk. I try to use their transcritpion system wherever possible.

Maybe a repeated link

However, it is important enough it should be shared again.

Resources for the Deaf and hard of hearing regarding the H1N1 virus.

Videos are in sign language, courtesy of Deafmd.org, but now also available at the CDC (Center for Disease Control)

Deaf History

And a cool link besides.

I found at google books "The Chautauquan", a monthly magazine dated April 1899 to September 1899.

All sorts of fun stuff in it.

The reason I share it here is the article that begins on page 40. It is called "Life in the Deaf and Dumb World" by Gillet Wilson. Written as a response to the 81st anniversary of the founding of the School for Deaf-Mutes in Hartford Conencticut.

Talk about a blast from the past - read it and see how far we have come-or not.

Links Monday

Yeah, a little early today. But I was so excited to find this site at the White House.

As far as I can tell, every video has a closed caption option. Just press start so it begins to load, the click on the icon on the bottom right of the screen and click "cc on." If it turns red, you did it.

And for those who might have missed it, you can see the captioned video of his address to the school children.

I love it when our government is accessible!

Idioms Thursday

While I wait for a dreaded appointment with my dentist I decided an idiom or two about mouths and teeth could be appropriate.

give your eye teeth for something (informal) also give your eye teeth to do something (informal)
if you would give your eye teeth for something, you would very much like to have or be that thing I'd give my eye teeth for a house like that. Most women would give their eye teeth to be tall and thin like you.

(source: give eye teeth for)

I would probably sign this using one of the various signs for DESIRE, modified to show the superlative. ASL-Pro.com uses HUNGER. I have also seen THIRST and a sign that resembles someone drooling. To each your own.

take the bit in one's teeth and take the bit between the teeth
to put oneself in charge; to take charge. Someone needed to direct the project, so I took the bit in my teeth. If you want to get something done, you've got to take the bit between your teeth and get to work.

(Source: take the bit in teeth)

This I would use the sign for TAKE-OVER which I cannot currently find in any of the online dictionaries. It is produced by starting with the palms down, and hands crossed in front of you. As you pull your hands up, uncross them and close them into fists. It sorta looks like PRESIDENT but in front of you instead of at the forehead.

Hope that helps and ya'llhave a great day.

Links Tuesday

Forgive me if this is a repeat...I know I shared how to find TerpTopics on twitter (@terptopics duh) but I don't think I remembered to give you all their website.

So here it is.

The front page mostly points out they have lots of interests and little time - but as a work in progress it is a fun site to navigate.

Wander by and tell 'em Accent on Interpreting sent ya!

Links Thursday

And this time it really is a link...

You should check out this lady: Angela Petrone Stratiy. To quote her "about us" page: she "is an internationally known performer and comedian. Angela is a native signer from a Deaf family. She graduated from the Saskatchewan School for the Deaf and earned a B.A. in English from Gallaudet University and an M.Ed. in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College."

And there is much more here to learn about.

Her website is www.deafutopia.com.

Then when you finish there... Stop by this press announcement:

Gallaudet announces four finalists for President.

Idioms Tuesday

You may have noticed my schedule changed again so I lost fridays for posting hmmm.. I will have to think on how to shift. In the meantime, we will alternate Idioms, links and History on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

So now to today's idiom:

fancy footwork
1. Lit. clever and intricate dance steps. The old man was known for his fancy footwork when he was on Broadway.

2. Lit. adroit movements of the feet that help someone retain balance or move through treacherous territory. It took some fancy footwork to get down the mountain carrying the injured child.

3. Fig. a clever and intricate strategy that helps someone get out of trouble. The governor did some fancy footwork to keep from getting blamed for the scandal.

I believe in the first two instances I would modify DANCE or TIPTOE (see www.aslpro.com)

For the third definition, I expect it to be more signs like EXPLAIN, or COVER UP with the tongue wag that shows it is slimy.

For the sign COVER UP, think two CL:B hands dominant brushing palm down past the non-dominant, which is palm up. (sorry, best I can do - if you find the sign in a video let me know)

Deaf History

I have been thinking about putting deaf idioms on Tuesday, Deaf Kistory on Thursday and Links on Friday to take advantage of the Follow Friday mentality. But I didn't quite make it happen.

Instead today is History because I found a really cool item in the Library Of Congress.

Alexander Graham Bell's papers are stored digitally. This one is a hand written article, apparently not by Mr. Bell, called "The Gallaudet Controversy."

Definately a must read.

Links Tuesday!

So every so often I have the chance to team with another interpreter.

More often I have interpreters come into my office and ask how to properly team.

Here's your answer: DLR Consulting has posted a terrific article on ways to prepare for, and best expedite a teamed situation.

Give it a read. You just might find something that will make your next team assignment easier.

Deaf History

Ok so I know I promised I would play with "Through Deaf Eyes" this week. But I found a really cool site.

Deaf and Unemployed in Dubuque: The DiMarcos Remember the Great Depression
by David Shannon


Here is the introduction, the interview was conducted in 1938:

The New Deal launched a series of federal employment programs, including the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which not only provided jobs but also initiated many important studies of the depressionÌs human toll. One such study, published by the WPA Division of Research in 1939, included transcripts of interviews by WPA workers with Dubuque, Iowa, families. The DiMarcos interview revealed that the disabled faced a double challenge during the depression: finding employment while competing for scarce jobs with the able-bodied. The DiMarcos, a deaf couple with a small child, recall in their own words (because they were deaf they had to write responses to the WPA interviewer’s questions), the struggles they endured during six years of unemployment.

I hope you find it as interesting as I did.

Idioms Thursday

neither here nor there
Cliché of no consequence or meaning; irrelevant and immaterial.

Whether you go to the movie or stay at home is neither here nor there.
Your comment—though interesting—is neither here nor there.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

neither here nor there
if a fact is neither here nor there, it is not important
Whether they go or not is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned.

Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006. Reproduced with permission.


neither here nor there
not of any importance

Whether we take the train or drive is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned.

Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006. Reproduced with permission.


I actually got these definitions and usages from idioms.thefreedictionary.com

As I hope you all would agree, I would sign this either DOESN'T-MATTER or UNIMPORTANT.

The first I found at "signingsavvy.com"

The second is the sign for IMPORTANT, then let go of the "F" handshape as if dropping whatever was important. I can't find it in the online dictionaries.

Yet another project for me eh?

Links Tuesday

Welcome to another Links Tuesday!

This woman is an accomplished actress, writer, director, producer and teacher. If you have the chance to see her one-woman show, "REFLECTIONS OF A BLACK DEAF WOMAN", it will change your life.

Deaf History

I was watching "Through Deaf Eyes" last week on PBS and got to thinking - there must be more than just the video.

Oh boy is there!

For a great opportunity to earn more about Deaf History, wander through their website at Gallaudet.

I will probably talk about parts of the exhibit over the next few weeks. Feel free to share anything you want to be sure others see.

Oops forgot to tell you : Idioms!

be out for the count

to be sleeping deeply

Usage notes: When boxers (= men who fight as a sport) are still not conscious after ten seconds have been counted they are described as 'out for the count'.

I was out for the count so I didn't hear any of it going on.

This reminds me of another idiom: out like a light.

in a deep sleep or unconscious Stu was out like a light, so I threw a blanket on him and turned out the light.

Either way I think I would sign it "SLEEP - ROCK". aslpro.com does ROCK with their palm up. I never do, my dominant palm is always down. Especially in this compound sign, the dominant hand completes "SLEEP" then converts to an "S" handshape to complete the movement of "ROCK"

Links Tuesday

So there I was looking for a fun link to share - finding reports about deaf kids in Ghana who can't attend school because of crowding issues and the like...
and I stumble upon Deaf Linx.

yeah - says more than I can once a week all in one place.

So while I expect to keep doing my Links Tuesday, if you are in a hurry- try them. If they don't have it all, they come close.

Deaf History

This person is the first in entertainment history to make a career as a solo percussion artist, holds 2 grammys and was awarded an Officer of the British Empire and later received an extenstion to Dame Commander.

Safe to say not much stops this lady.

And you can become a fan at Facebook.

Idioms Thursday -not really an idiom

This has been one of those weeks when technology and I do not get along.

So while I wait for my tower to be repaired, I think we should look at the phrase:


"Exercise in futility."
An action that achieves no end or goal.

2. An action to achieve a goal that is unachievable.

3. An action that achieves an end or goal that is in itself pointless

Trying to culture an american is a pointless exercise in futility.

Now truthfully it reminds me of that other current colloquialism
"Epic Fail"
When something can be seen to be a total failure


And yeah, I sign them both with the Sign "fail"- no initialized sign, just the old fashioned sign for fail (2:cl -> from inside to outside across non-dominant palm).

With the appropriate face of course. Just imagine me watching my tower being removed 24 hours after I reported I needed a clean install...24 hours to come to my conclusion.

Sigh.

Citations: phrases defined by www.urbandictionary.com


"FAIL" available at ASLpro.com

Links Tuesday!

So first up and first of all I want to thank @terptopic for this link: How to sign "twitter" in ASL It may not be the definitive decision, but I like the option must better than "gossip." I will admit, some people use twitter for that purpose but most of the tweeples I know do not. So I like it!

The fun part for me is this is the vloggers only video and he only uploaded it 20 hours or so before this post.

I had hoped to find more discussion but have not yet found anyone with a different suggestion. If I find one, I will be sure and share it.

If you find one, do tell!

Deaf teen wins Gold

This week the sport world was watching the X-games and motocross teen sensation Ashley Fiolek didn't disappoint.

Fiolek, who has been deaf since birth, took first place in Women's Moto X Super X on Saturday night.

Check out the story at ESPN.com

A Little Deaf History

This is one of those obscure links I like....

This year, Henry Barnard published "A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life, Character and Services of the Rev. Thomas H Gallaudet."

Can you find the year?

"Idioms" Thursday

The pot calling the kettle black
Meaning

The notion of a criticism a person is making of another could equally well apply to themself.

Origin
This phrase originates in Cervantes' Don Quixote, or at least in Thomas Shelton's 1620 translation - Cervantes Saavedra's History of Don Quixote:

"You are like what is said that the frying-pan said to the kettle, 'Avant, black-browes'."

The first person who is recorded as using the phrase in English was William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, in his Some fruits of solitude, 1693:

"For a Covetous Man to inveigh against Prodigality... is for the Pot to call the Kettle black."

Shakespeare had previously expressed a similar notion in a line in Troilus and Cressida, 1601- "The raven chides blackness."


(Source: www.phrases.org.uk)

So I chose this idiom mostly because I happened upon it in a british phrase site. I love the site, for giving the origin as well as its meaning and usage.

If I were asked to translate this axiom, I would do the following:

ACCUSE (you to me)(topic) SIMILAR- 2h(you and me) (comment)

This may be one I have to do a video for - I will let you know.

ACCUSE and SIMILAR are directional, and available in neutral space at ASLpro.com

Links Tuesday

Today I was missing the beach - being a native born Los Angelino, and thought of the deaf surfers I used to know.

I couldn't find them on line, but I did find the San Diego Deaf Surfers. You do not have to be Deaf to join, but being fluent in Sign Language would be nice.

This summer they taught some Koda to surf - do wander by and watch their vlogs. If you need transcripts for some of them, try lenois.com, a related site.

Idioms Thursday

(like) two peas in a pod

very similar two of a kind

We were two peas in a pod – we liked all the same things, and we did everything together.

(source: two peas in a pod)

I would sign this "similar" and "strong" as signed at ASL Pro

If instead the sentence used:

chip off the old block
Fig. a person (usually a male) who behaves in the same way as his father or resembles his father.
John looks like his father—a real chip off the old block. Bill Jones, Jr., is a chip off the old block. He's a banker just like his father.

(source: chip off the old block)

I would specifically use "face" and "strong" again, as signed at ASL Pro , except maybe with a smile on my face.

Links Tuesday!

I am excited about this link. It is a page at the RID site (www.rid.org)that explains an alternative way to be eligible to stand for teh NIC.

Yeah, if you are not yet graduated with an Associates degree, you have a way experience and workshops can help count.

Check it out!

Idioms Thursday

I am feeling this one rather personally...woke up with every joint cranky from the weather. Sigh.

Anyway, this definition comes from an ESL site.

have a hitch in your getalong: limp; to walk with a limp

Since he broke his ankle, he's had a little hitch in his getalong.


The video at ASL Pro and ASL Browser both use the flat hand bodypart classifier for feet and show the walk as lopsided. I prefer to do the same thing, using index fingers pointing down.

Musings of a story keeper

My job, to most people, is pretty unusual. I am a certified sign language interpreter.

As I worked it struck me that this profession fits distinctly into my vocation as a story keeper.

As an interpreter, I end up in situations and environments where two or more people who speak different languages and have different cultures are trying to communicate. MY job is to smooth out the differences so they come to some sort of understanding. They may not agree, or even like each other - that isn't the job. If one party is cussing out another, its my job to use just as colorful metaphors in the target language as I experienced in the source.

But as I sat there negotiating a conversation, it struck me that I am privy to some incredibly personal information. And even were there no Code of Professional Conduct or Code of Ethics, I know I could never share those stories with anyone.

These are stories that may entertain me, make me weep, or give me pause to reflect. Yet they were not mine to hear or mine to see - merely mine to interpret. If these two parties could communicate in another way, I would have experienced none of it.

They are not my stories to tell.

I don't know I could change enough information to protect the participants and share those which have touched me most deeply. I don't know it would be right anyway. The stories were not freely given, have I right to give them away?

I think not.

So while I have this repository of many a story freely given and so freely shared, there are thousands more that must stay where they reside - deep in my memory of people who trusted me to forget.

I may not forget, but I will never reveal.

Tuesday Links day!

Today I would like to share one of my favorite vlogs.

"Kalalau's Korner invites you to embark on your journey into Carl Schroeder's philosophy. Questioning and talking about ASL, short for American Sign Language, is my forte."

The best thing is the address: http://carl-schroeder.blogspot.com/2009/06/asl-and-deaf-questions-to-ponder.html I love people who ask questions to ponder.

I hope you do too.

OOps Link day

I was ill earlier this week and missed posting.. so here is the link I am posting for this week.

DO wander by "The interpreter's Friend" which has reopened as run by friends of David Bar-Tzur. It is hosted in his honor and to commemorate all the ways he has served our community over the years. http://theinterpretersfriend.org/

If you have any articles that used to be hosted at the interpreter's friend and do not see them currently, please notify the web masters. I am sure they would be pleased to repost them.

And my thanks to those who honor David in this way.

Idioms Thursday!

Wow touchy screen - it published before I typed anything!

I guess you can call that an "itchy trigger finger?"

(idiomatic) a tendency to act in haste or without consideration
Given any remote chance to gun down an effective spokesman for conservative economics as a secret fascist and torturer, even Nobel laureates can, we see, succumb to an itchy trigger finger.

The sign I prefer for this is in itself idiomatic - I don't know I have ever seen it on line. Forefingersclose to the face (like in "famous")then circling in alternating movements to palm in as the hands move away from the face. I'll try and get a video up when I sort out my website problems.

Anyway,I might also translate it as "without thinking".

If you find a video of the sign on line, let me know.
Thanks!

Links Tuesday!

Today I would like to highlight "Ear of my Heart". The host of this site is LaRonda Zupp from Northern California.

Let me let her tell you:

The title of my blog comes from the opening verse of St. Benedict’s prologue, which tells us to ‘listen carefully and attend with the ear of our hearts.’ St. Benedict was a saint who urged us to listen within the depths of our soul, keeping ourselves attentive to wisdom that comes from the voice within, and inclining our hearts toward deeper understanding.


My blog title is not about “ears” or “hearing” or being able to “hear clearly,” the way hearing people can hear sound. It is about listening with PURE LOVING ATTENTION to what people are really communicating. This is what it means to me to listen and blog with ‘the ear of my heart.’

I hope you stop by. She has a lot worth listening to.

A Little Deaf History.

But first, here is the acknowledgment that this week marked the passing of three entertainment icons: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. May their families have peace in their losses.


Now for a peace of Deaf History:

Juan Pablo Bonet worked for the High Constable fo Castille. The High Constable's brother was deaf, leading Bonet to develop a system of visible signs, including a manual alphabet.

Read more at the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Idioms Thursday

When my schedule goes through constant changes I find having a little structure helps me out. So, in this summer of adjustments, I have decided I will try:

Links Tuesday
Idioms Thursday and
History Friday.

I hope you enjoy.

Now, onto today's idiom (or idioms. Sometimes there are several that are relate you know).

The Whole Shebang (informal)
the whole of something, including everything that is connected with it.
The party's next week but my parents are organizing the whole shebang.

Whole Shebang (spoken)
all of something, including everything connected with it.
The Whole Nine Yards
We've got offices all over the world, and we're tying the whole shebang together with a high-speed computer network.

I would sign these "Include" with emphasis showing the enormity of "all".

Links Monday on Tuesday

It was one of those days yesterday - and looks like mondays may be like that for a few weeks - so Links Monday is going to move to Tuesday. It makes my life easier and I am sure you lot won't mind. Wednesdays will look a lot like Mondays, so expect this blog on ly about 3 days a week for the rest of the summer.

Anyway, today's link that I think everyone should wander by is OIC Movies. If you are not a member, you should be. There are public service announcements, news from around the world, How-to videos, money tips, health tips, money and technology and of course my favorites - entertainment videos.

It is a great site for deaf and interpreters alike and I hope you consider supporting them.

Have a great week!

Summer workshops

Take the time to go by ohsoez.com and click on the interpreters link. They have an entire list of workshops going on this summer. Surely one fits your schedule?


I look forward to the Annual Spring Sign Language and Interpreting celebration. Is it terribly wrong of me to say the biggest draw is being across the street from Disneyland?


And its the weekend closest to my birthday - how can I go wrong?

Hope to see you there!

Obama Name Signs

Since yesterday I opened this can of worms, I thought I would continue it.

Here is another option - based on the sign for President.

And yet another, picked up from a school and I believe based on the sign for "future"

This vlogger brings up three, the one from yesterday, one based on president above and this one, based on "change".

I find it interesting - some deaf are responding to comments that Name Signs are the way people are identified in the deaf world. Others are admitting they are still spelling his name - it's only five letters long after all.

I fear my teacher was of that latter opinion - I believe she would have added "get over it."

So what do you think - or better yet, what are you seeing? We're mostly seeing the one based on the logo (yesterday's vlog citation) or spelled around my neck of the woods...

Sign Names

I was talking to a friend recently about sign names, and the use for them as well as the need for them. I am still struck by the difference in regions: where I grew up we all got one movement and one initial. Here wher I live now, since so many of the children are mainstremaed, they tend to get first run name signs from teachers. The teachers, who want to teach respect to the students, have two letter names, and so many of the children do as well. Then, when they grow to adulthood, their names change as the other adults rename them first by some characteristic and then it morphs into something more neutral.

This vlog is congratulating President Obama on his election- and introducing him to his own name sign. I don't know the name sign is standard through out the United States, but iti seems to me the deaf of Chicago or in this case Washington DC have the first claim on naming him.

What do you think?

Links Monday?

I start to think I should dedicate Monday to links.

So here is the link for this week: Deaf Nation

I chose it mostly because they are hosting an expo here in Oklahoma City (ok, not here-her, but this state here) October 3. Since that is my mom's birthday, and it is still weird not to visit her, I was thinking about going.

Here's what they say about themselves:

"DeafNation Expo is the foremost touring trade show for, by, and about deaf people. DeafNation provides exhibitions and entertainment around the United States at no charge to the public. Our philosophy is that free admission brings a diversity of attendees who can share our culture, needs, language, and information."

Hope to see you there!

Farewell to the Dragon Lady

Marcella M Meyer was the founder and CEO of the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness. They called her Dragon Lady because of her impassioned speeches that would get her audience all riled up and ready to take action.

She was instrumental in so many things during the 70's and 80's I hardly know where to begin.

I remember her suing KCET (the Los Angeles PBS station) for captioning.
I remember her challenging the RID test by establishing the instrument that ultimately became the NAD test and led to our current NIC assessment.
I remember her saying any interpreter without deaf family were -- well, let's just say she wanted to be sure we had the Deaf community interests at heart.

We are all the better for her presence in the community and in our lives.

If you would like to sign the guest book and let her family know what a difference she made, please follow this link.

The importance of Deaf History

Any of you who have wandered through this blog since I restarted in January know that I focused several weeks on links to information in Deaf History.

The Deaf value those who came before them. There is a sense of commonality, that they share an experience that we of the individualistic American hearing world do not always understand. If we read up on those who have had an impact on the world at large, who belong to this community that has accepted us, we find common ground and that can only improve our ability to cross cultures.

Do you know of Deaf performers, sports stars, inventors and how they have changed the world?

If you do - send me more links! I would love to have an exhaustive list.

If you do not - what's stopping you? Start here and see who you already know. You may be surprised.

Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injury

While I beat this dead horse, I thought I would bring up one more idea.

Ways to protect your back.

Many years ago, I turned to look at the visual aid in my class and heard a very distinct pop. It was a vertebrae in my back deciding to change position. needless to say, it was painful and still bothers me on occassion to this day.

How can you avoid such an injury? Don't sit with your back to the visual aid.

It seems obvious, until you try to figure out the logistics for yourself. Some situations leave little room for negotiation. I find a chair that swivels can save me a lot of heart ache. Lacking one of those, I position myself as best I can close to a forty five degee angle. I can turn a partial turn toward the client I am interpreting for, and a partial turn toward the visual aid I need to reference. Easier on my back and not that hard for most to read me.

Then there is a nifty toy that was making the rounds of the internet a few years ago: The Interpreter Mirror. It is a double mirror system so the interpeter can see the visual aid in correct symmetry. Not every room has the space for even that much additional equiment, but it sure is worth looking into.

Especially if you want to save your back.

Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injury

As I mentioned yesterday, theinterpretersfriend.com is down permanently.

I have been able to find a new copy of the overuse syndrome paper written by Gary Sanderson. It is a pdf linked here.

And here is a part of the article, originally published in the 1980's, in case we lose it again. It may be old, but many of the suggestions are still valid.

"...In order for most interpreters to keep their heads above water financially, we have to interpret any and all assignments to pay for normal living expenses such as health insurance and rent. Instead of heeding the warning signs our bodies have been giving us, we have kept on working and working (and still do) "just in case." "Just in case" there is no work next week or "just in case" spring break is coming up. The list of "just in case's" is endless. So interpreters work all day, every day, and "just in case" interprets a few night jobs too...."

Read the article, see if it fits your circumstances. Find ways to rest and ways to warm up and cool down. As Gary said, we must start to think of ourselves as athletes using muscles and tendons in ways uncommon to the non-interpreter (unless they are perhaps word processors and computer-philes)


Here are the exercise suggestions (signer-cises) developed at California State University Northridge as a result of their study.


General tips
Avoid signing when hands are cold.

Exercise and stretch in non-painful ranges (know the difference between "stretch" and "pain").

There should be no pain after stretching or exercising.

Warm-up exercises
Open and close your fists rapidly 5-10 times.

Circle your wrists counter clockwise and clockwise 5-10 times in each direction.

Spread and close your fingers 5-10 times for each hand.

Sign the alphabet at a moderate speed once.

Shake your hands out. This should be done anytime hands feel tight

Stretching exercises
Place hands in prayer position with only your fingertips touching, lift elbows and press your fingers in a backward direction. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times.

Put your arm out straight with your palm facing down, bend at wrist and push down on the back of your hand with your opposite hand. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 5 times then change hands.

Put your arm out straight with your palm facing up, push your fingers downward with your opposite hand (wrist should bend backward). Repeat 5 times, holding for 5 seconds. Change hands.

If any of these exercises or activities causes you pain, stop.

Developed by: Janet Yapp, R.P.T. of California State University, Northridge, California
1 December 1984

The passing of a friend

For years, colleagues and I have enjoyed the use of a wonderful site called 'The Interpreter's Friend.

Today that site is closed.

I knew it was coming. Since I heard of David Bar-Tzur's passing in January of this year, I had mourned the loss of a dear colleague and a true friend to every sign language interpreter in the United States and beyond.

For a few extra months, we had been able to enjoy his hard work, his compilation of articles and videos at theinterpretersfriend.com.

But today as I was doing an unrelated search, the site popped up on google and I clicked it.

Unfortunately, the "401 site gone" message appeared.

I will never have the patience or the skill to maintain a site of such quality and excellence, but I hope to slowly fill part of the gap.

I hope others in the profession will do so as well, keeping David's memory alive.

And there is his channel at You-tube, I have no idea how long it will remain. But for a time, it is a visual memorial to an interpreter and person par excellence.

Rest well, my friend, and know we are the better for your life.

Shalom.

Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injury

Today's advice? Maryanne says Relax, just do it!

Many of us are over-achievers, working long hours and scheduling assignments back-to-back. What do we do to keep balance in our lives? What do we do to relax and find time for us?

I am as guilty as the rest. In addition to owning Accent on Interpreting, I am a full time staff Interpreter for Tulsa Community College, teach part-time in their interpreter education program and am helping to raise three teenagers. So, yeah, time for me sometimes gets hard to find.

I am a fanatic for budgeting and time management. I do as much "right now" as I can- meaning as soon as I see something that needs doing, I try to do it - if I wait, I may forget or get too busy. This works for everything from returning business calls to doing the morning dishes. Additionally, I am a voracious list maker: if I can't do it "right now" it gets on my list. Then I get an inordinate joy out of crossing things off that list.

But none of that covers decompression. What do I do to relax?

Well, I write stories. I can't promise any of them are any good, but they are characters I care about in a world of my making where the challenges they confront actually help me keep my life in perspective, or even help me resolve issues I am facing.

I play with my nintendo ds: Sims: castaway is my current favorite. There is something about putting someone through the paces of collecting enough coconuts to survive and keep the monkeys from stealing their meager belongings that again keeps my life in perspective.

I go to Disneyland. Often. Oh, not the real one. At these prices, I can't afford the flights. I take virtual vacations, watching you tube or our own home videos of trips to the Happiest Place on Earth.

I guess you can say I escape. I take a mental health break from the here and now and go to a there and then. It makes the here and now a little more bearable, refreshes my mind and spirit, and rejuvenates my outlook.

But sometimes escape is not the answer. Then, I walk. I am trying to lose weight (mmmm, white gravy was an evil thing to discover when I moved to Tulsa!) I am not making huge progress - I think I average about a pound a week. But I am walking and averaging three miles a day. I am working toward those magic 10,000 steps!

And I spend time at the Arkansas river, reveling in the magic of God's creation as it winds it's way around my adopted hometown.

Finally, I enjoy morning coffee with any friends I can track down. A good laugh with a friend can resolve more in twenty minutes than all the stories, amusement park rides, games or strolls I use to fill my spare time.

I don't expect any of these will necessarily work for you. But do look at what lightens your load. Whether it is a chat with God or a chat with a friend, make sure you make time for it.

Your family, your clients and your own spirit will thank you.

Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injury

I promised citations at the end of yesterday's post, so I guess I should keep my promise.

I am afraid some of the observations are my own, after hand trouble, back troubl and shoulder trouble, but here are some links if you would like to learn some more:

"Sign Language Can Cause Repetitive Motion Injury"

"Overuse Syndrome among Sign Language interpreters."

"Interpreter's wrist. Repetitive stress injury and carpal tunnel syndrome in sign language interpreters."

AVLIC’s Position On The Prevention of Repetitive Strain Injuries

Injuries and accidents at work - Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

Hopefully this gets you started - or convinces you to take it easy! You are the only you the profession has... and we need every one of you.

Avoiding Repetitive Motion Injuries

Truthfully, I don't know there is a way to avoid them - and I am not even sure they still go by that label. But you all know the injuries of which I speak:

The sore shoulders, hands, wrists and necks.
The stiff muscles after a long day.
The pain expereinced doing normal day-to-day tasks.

I've been on disability a few times due to injury onthe job. And a few times the injuries came off the job but I can promise you were directly related.

But that isn't the point of this post. The point is to try an davoid injury for as long as possible.

Since this will be another of those continuing series, I will start small:

Learn to schedule in break time!

Many interpreters I know, especially those who are just starting out and trying desperately to make al iving or develop a clientele, will work many hours back to back allowing just enough time between assignments to drive across town.

This is begging for an injury.

First of all, interpreting uses a lot of small motor movements - much in the same way computer operators do. Fingerspelling is not much different from typing if you think about it. Add to it that many interpreting assignments require us to sign in a small space, or sit in uncomfortable chairs and ergonmonics are not on our side. Finally, consider the vibrations that run from the steering wheel through our hands and arms as we drive across town - not exactly as comforting as a massage.

So difficult as it is to take the time off, your bosy will feel the better for it. Schedule yourself a good half hour off between driving and the assignment or the assignment and driving. Schedule walking breaks if you sit a lot.

And speaking of schedules I have to jet - so citations next time.

Be safe!

Fingerspelling class

I will be teaching a three week receptive fingerspelling class this summer June 2 - 23, Tuesday and Thursday nights at Tulsa Community College. Iam sure you can imagine that three weeks is not enough time to change your life.

But I hope to introduce you to enough different ways to consider and proactice your recepive skills to get you excited about changing your own life.

The text book I willbe using is called: Master ASL! Fingerspelling, Numbers & Glossing 2006 Jason E Zinza.....(ISBN# 1-81133-21-4. We will also review four other systems presented on video or dvd.

If you are nearby, come on and sign up. It'll be fun.

Oh yeah, and most of it is taught in ASL. So it can also be good general practice.

Hope to see you.

Joys of Technology

Many people have asked me ways to improve their ability to read ASL. I remember asking my then teacher the same thing (don't ask how many years ago.) She teased me with the response "marry a deaf man." Of course that would make me an expert at reading him, one would hope, but not necessarily help with a wider variety of signing styles.

Now there are so many options at our browser-tips.

Just do a search of You-tube. I use the key words "deaf vlog" and a slew of things show up.

Of course, not all of them will be perfect signing samples - and not all of them give you a transcript of the content to compare to. But spend some time with your mentors and catch up with what is important to the deaf vloggers.

Not only will your reading skill improve, you just may learn something.

Back from vacation

It was both too long and too short. Too long because I get tired of eating out (!) and sleeping in strange beds - and some are stranger than others. My favorites have to be those that list to one side or are taller at one end than the other. but I digress.

The too short part is how long it takes to let go of the daily grind and just relax. When I relax I actually remember to dream a bit. And when I dream a bit, I come up with new ideas of what we can do as a business to benefit the profession.

So keep an eye open in a few months - we have hope the new website will be easy to use and have features for people to take advnatage of wherever they and their browsers go. Additionally, next week I am presenting an overview of Demand Control Schema and Ethics of Care at the Oklahoma Association of the Deaf Gala Celebration, June 5 in Oklahoma City. Hope to see you there.

In the meantime, here is a fun little video I enjoy for the humor of it. Hope you do too...

"The Mom Song" with ASL interpretation

On Vacation

Lots to do before I go and lots to do when I get back...

So enjoy the end of May and see ya'll in June!

Maryanne

Idioms and Idiomatic expressions

Last night during the Silent Dinner at Woodland HIlls Mall, a colleague asked me about the sign "STUCK" (available at the ASL Browser.)

Mostly we were talking about it because she and some colleagues had been listing optional translations. After all, we do get tired of "STUCK" as a gloss.

What came up was a fun conversation itself. If you think about it, the following English Idioms can be used to translate that sign:

"Catch 22": a situation where one thing must happen in order to cause another thing to happen, but because the first thing does not happen the second thing cannot happen.

"between a rock and a hard place": Fig. in a very difficult position; facing a hard decision.

"in a fix": Fig. in a bad situation.


Now as we continued I was reminded of the day I saw a young man use it in reference to his girlfriend. He was using it as a way to say she was pregnant, unexpectedly.

Now that is idiomatic!

Books and More Books

The second of Jean Kelly's books is called "ASL-to-English Interpretation: Say It Like They Mean It".

I love this book. One of the regular complaints I hear from teh community is an interpreter's lack of ability to "read." Usually what they are referring to is an ability to capture each individual sign, but not glean the meaning behind the total. This book helps with exercises at the end of every chapter.

Oh, and if you are an RID member, try the RID bookstore for a discounted price.

I'm telling you: You'll be glad you added these to your library.

Books and More Books

We had the great good fortune of having Jean Kelly speak at our Come Together conference several years ago. At that time, she shared with us much of her wisdom that is also available through this next book:

Transliterating: Show Me the English

We spend so much time teaching our students to let go of form, we sometimes forget the importance of good transliteration skills. There are many Deaf who are proficient in English and we do them a disservice if we give them anything less than correct English structure.

I hope you take the time to look through this valuable tool for our profession.

Books and More Books

Today I would like to encourage ya'll to get the newest edition of Reading Between the Signs by Anna Mindess with Thomas K. Holcimb, Daniel Langholtz and Priscilla Moyers. In 1999, this book changed the way interprters looked at intercultural communication. It made clearer than ever before that knowing how to sign is not enough. One must have a cultural understanding of involved stakeholders.

This book explores practical applications of the interpreter's role and has been updated to discuss the recent changes in technology that have had a profound impact on Deaf Culture and sign language interpreting: VRS and VRI.


And for those of you who stumbled across this site and are not planning to become interpreters, I still recommend this book. If you are interested in Deafness at all, or even in a broader study of culture, you will learn something new. I can almost guarantee it.

Books and more books

After a week of finals (both given and interpreterd) I knew I needed to rethink this idea of a blog a day. While I do, I thought maybe it was time to do a little review on some of the books I recommend for any interpreter's library.

Years ago I had the privilege and opportunity to work with a lovely lady named Linda Humphries. She was then and still is a font of information on the professional side of interpreting. So much so, she published a book on the subject.

It is called "The Professional Sign Language Interpreter's Handbook."

As the web page says:
This all-in-one guide covers the gamut of issues related to interpreting and offers resources that can help you succeed in an interpreting career.

Discover the secrets of how to:
• Prepare for difficult assignments
• Find jobs that are right for you
• Set appropriate boundaries on the job
• Network successfully within the field
• Work effectively with other interpreters

PLUS, find valuable tips on:
• Getting hired
• Assignment intaking
• Setting your fee schedule
• Invoicing your clients
• Filing taxes


There is no way I will let you get away with just one book in you rlibrary, but if you can only buy one book this year, buy this one. You will learn things you didn't know you needed to ask questions about.

More Links

Really just two....

People keep asking me about Demand-Control Schema. I will be giving a cursory synopsis of the subject during the Oklahoma Association of the Deaf conference June 5at 1:00 pm, if you don't wish to read up on the subject yourself.

(http://www.ok-oad.org/2009_oad_conf_gala_celebration.html)

But here's the link: "Dean and Pollard (2001) used the framework of D-C theory to examine the nature of demands and controls in the interpreting profession specifically."

http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/dwc/edu/Control_Schema.htm

Register defined

There seems to be some question as what register exactly means. Here is a definition from articleworld.org

Register in linguistics refers to the patterns of communication used in particular settings and for specific purposes. Register is often an indicator of the formality or official nature of an occasion, or a mark of authority. Linguists make the distinction that register varies with use, rather than with the user.

The Education Resource Information Center (ERIC) has more complete information.

For an ASL discussion of the registers we encounter most frequently, try this page at theinterpretersfriend.com.

"A trio of rodents with imperfect vision.
A trio of rodents with imperfect vision.
Observe how they scamper, observe how they scamper.
The collectively persued the agriculturalist's spouse
who surgically removed thier rear appendage with a carving implement
have you ever observed such a spectacle in your existance
as a trio of rodents with imperfect vision..."

Register continued

Yesterday I was asked about frozen register - especially The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States. In English, there is no doubt this is frozen register. Every American from the youngest of school children to those standing to recite it before an Opera in Tulsa is taught what to say:

I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One Nation, under God, indivisible
With liberty and justice for all.

The problem is, it is not frozen in ASL. Almost every group of Deaf will have their own interpretation - some taught by interpreters, or those with limmited sign skills, some translated by someone truly fluent in both languages.

So, for today's conversation I thought I would try and link you to several examples. One of my favorites is already gone from You-tube, so if another of these links fails, please let me know.

The first example is a pretty common translation. I am not sure it is clear what a Republic is, nor what "for which it stands" means, but it is commonly found in the elementary schools.

Here is another common elementary school translation. It defines Republic as a country, which is helpful, and also gives us a compound sign for liberty.

This one may be my all time favorite found on You-tube. I like because it repeats the concept of "allegiance" clarifying the English conjunction "and". It reminds us that Nation is here. It also defines Under God . Finally, it reminds us that "all" in English implies people. I think as a jumping off place for a civics lesson, it is fabulous!

If you find others and want to ask about them, please feel free to email me or comment.

Register

Have you ever used the wrong word in a setting and caused unintentional hilarity? You know, too casual or crass in a professional setting, too formal in a casual one?

While I was reminiscing in my personal blog about my family and friends who love to change the lyrics to songs (filkers), I remembered this one that has been in my famly for as long as I can remember. Talk about changing register!

Propel propel propel your craft docily down the liquid solution
ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically,
existence is but an illusion.

And of course the funny part for this blog is: I would probably sign it no different than the original:

Row Row Row your boat gently down the stream
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily
Life is but a dream.

Idiom Link

See it is this close to finals and my brain si fried. So I was looing around for something to do with idioms - needing inspiration you might say, when I found this site.

"Paint By Idioms".

I wish I had thought of it.

Choose a theme, a game option, the character you wanna paint and have fun!

Anyone who knows me knows I think coloring is a wonderful way to relax - and here you can learn something at the same time? How kool is that?

Idioms and Idiomatic expressions

Back to my favorite sport: Baseball.


Batting A Thousand: To have a perfect record, good or bad. From baseball scoring system, 1.000 being a perfect batting average.

After making the Dean's list for her third straight semester, she felt like she was batting a thousand.

I would probably sign this: FEEL "thumbs=up" or FEEL PERFECT.
Go To Bat For: To help out in trouble or need, to give aid to. From the baseball convention of sending up a pinch hitter when the team is in need of runs, to replace a pitcher who is tiring or a player who is injured.

I was really worried the boss was going to fire me, thanks for going to bat for me.

This one is a little tougher, but I would probably sign SUPPORT.

ASLpro.com has these signs, although I prefer PERFECT to not be initialized.

Remember, if you would choose a different sign, feel free to comment. I will approve them all, as long as they are real people, not spambots.

Idioms and idiomatic expressions

Another form of idiomatic expression is the proverb or adage. These are statements used so often their origins may be lost are forgotten at least by the user.

An example? "Sour Grapes."

Many people will say just those two words to imply someone is a poor loser, has a bad attitude, is just pretending not to care about something previously valued.

And it all comes from an Aesop Fable:

One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour."

It is easy to despise what you cannot get.

How would I sign it? I think of the word "envy". This fable does not include that someone else holds that which is unattainable, but I think most often when I hear the adage, it is in reference to soemthing another has possession of.

The sign ENVY is available at the ASL Browser.

ASL Poetry

In honor of my ASL class, which is covering ASL poetry, literature and music tonight, I bring you a google video hit list.

Most of these videos are in homage to the first performer, Clayton Valli, a premier linguist and poet.

Turn off your ears and stay awhile...

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

I've been discussing this topic with some colleagues recently. They wanted to know what I mean by "idiomatic expressions".

First off, an idiom is a phrase that means something differnt than the obvious. "You missed the boat" has nothing to do with rtravel, or boats. It has everything to do with impatience of one person to go back and fill in details another person missed.

Now let's talk about the ASL expression "TRAIN-GONE". I would also define this one as an idiom. The two signs clearly articulated are "TRAIN" and a sign sometimes glossed "ZOOM" (dominant handshape l to g as moving from non-dominant to dominant side along the back of two fingers). Yet the phrase means the same as :you missed the boat." It is not used to mean I've missed my connecting metro, it means I walked up in the middle of a conversation and that's just too bad for me.

So what do I mean by an idiomatic expression?

Let's use the commonly glossed ASL sign "COW-ON". It means "to take forever."

I went to renew my driver's license and the line went out the door - it took forever!"

True, it has nothing to do with COW, but the only real thing the expression has in common with COW is the start of the sign resembles the sign for COW from the same place near the forehead. So really, we tried to capture a concept in a non-native environment and instead claimed it was an idiom. If anything , it is a short form of the standard sign "FOREVER" which is a combination of ALWAYS and EVER.

So, anyway, that's my story and I am sticking to it.

(Signs available at the ASL Browser except the idiomatic "COW-ON" and idiom "TRAIN-GONE". I haven't found them on line yet.)

Idioms and Idiomatic expressions

This was a week for watching poker on television - mostly because my baseball team has disappointed me mightily.

I decided that meant we should discuss a couple of English Idioms that relate to card playing. The source is a personal collection.

According To Hoyle: Strictly by the rules, in the usual and correct way. One of the earliest and most popular companies to produce cards (and card games ) was Hoyle. They also published books which explained the rules of each card game.
"We will settle this dispute strictly according to Hoyle"


Ace In The Hole: Someone or something important that is kept as a surprise until the right time so as to bring a victory. From the card game "Black Jack", where to have an ace turned down so other gamblers cannot see it allows one with a ten to win the game without dispute.
"Little did my team know, our opponent still had an ace in the hole."


The first I would sign RULE FOLLOW with emphasis on FOLLOW (sign sharply).

The second I would sign SECRET HOLD.


All signs available at ASL Pro

recap

In which I explain my car accident and the micro break I am taking...

http://tinyurl.com/d6rxng

Idioms and Idiomatic expressions

Beware Greeks Bearing gifts
Meaning
Don't trust your enemies.
Origin
An allusion to the story of the wooden horse of Troy, used by the Greeks to trick their way into the city. It is recorded in Virgil's Aeneid, Book 2, 19 BC:
"Do not trust the horse, Trojans. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts."
Of course that English version is a translation. Another translation, by John Dryden, has "Trust not their presents, nor admit the horse."
The same thought was also recorded by Sophocles (496 - 406 BC), in Ajax:
Nought from the Greeks towards me hath sped well.
So now I find that ancient proverb true,
Foes' gifts are no gifts: profit bring they none.
The Classics are no longer widely taught or read, so this phrase is now little used, although it was resurrected in a sideways reference during a 1990s copyright dispute. There was considerable discussion then,in Internet chat rooms etc., regarding the company Compuserve, who owned the copyright to the GIF image format, and their possible intentions to restrict its use. Some people feared that they might be taken to law by Compuserve if they received and viewed GIF images without permission. The phrase "beware of geeks bearing gifs" was coined to sum that up.


There - isn't that fun? I love when I find a really thurough explanation of a phrase. So , how would I sign it? CAREFUL. Then I would set up a person on the non dominant side, sign (topic) AGAINST-ME (comment) TRUST NOT.

What do you think?

Thanks to The Phrase Finder for such a great explanation!

Idioms and Idiomatic expressions

Years ago I did an e-zine with a tip for improving interpreting, idiom, and suggested resource of the week. It had 52 entries, and was pretty popular for its time. I eventually gave up because it was so hard to keep coming up with every week. I put it together as a cd so if you want the whole thing sometime, just email me and ask for "tips and tricks". It is in html format so you can read it in any browser. This version has no video, although eventually we might redo it with suggested ways to sign the idioms.

What made me think of it? I was sitting in class today as an instructor spoke of greek mythology and "Achilles' Heel" came to mind:

Achilles Heel:
The one weak spot in an otherwise strong character or position. In Greek Mythology, Achilles was the most powerful of all the greek fighters at Troy. His mother was immortal and tried to pass that on to her son by dipping him into the River Styx (the sacred river by which all the gods swore). Where she held him by the heel was the only place not invulnerable and ultimately the source of the wound that killed him.
"She is quite a distance runner, but sprints are her achilles' heel."

I guess you can see I suggest WEAK as the sign. It doesn't seem to have as much color, but then there are ASL phrases that we don't do justice to as well.


Turn about is fair play. Proverb
It is fair for one to suffer whatever one has caused others to suffer.
So, you don't like being made fun of! Well, turnabout is fair play.

Again, one of those phrases that have one sign as a semantic equivalent (EQUAL) although, even with grammar markers and emphasis it seems to lack a little color.

Any other suggestions?

Both signs are available at the ASL Browser .

Guest Blogger!

Ok not really - but as I was looking for my idioms to post today, I saw a friend had already put together a post on Holiday Signs and idioms.

Since she links you to the you tube channel and videos, I see n o reason to replicate such wonderful work.

So please stop by Emily World and see what she has to share with you.

Idiom Links

It has been one of those weeks that leaves me playing catch up. Which, by the way, is different than catsup or ketchup.

Anyway. I thought I would share some of my favorite idiom links, just in case someone is tired of waiting for me to come up with some.

If you see any you wish to know how to sign, do ask. I will do my best to make a choice.

The Idiom Connection not nly has idioms but quizzes - for all you teachers out there.

Fun Brain has a paint by idioms page. You select the item you will color, then you select the game to play. As you correctly match idioms with definitions, you are painting the picture. Lots of fun. Even at my age.

FreeDictionary has its own idiom guide. It claims over 12,000 idioms. I have not figured out how to access them in any order, but the front page random list will change with each refresh.


I will continue to do idioms the usual way - I pick a couple and try to explain how I sign them - but since this week got away from me, I thought some fun links to follow on your own would be worth a try.

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Yesterday was one of those days when I could not keep up with all the things "on my plate"

So I guess you could say I was a "day late and a dollar short" on everything.

have too much on one's plate and have a lot on one's plate

Fig. to be too busy.

I'm sorry, I just have too much on my plate right now.

If you have too much on your plate, can I help?

(McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.)

I would probably sign it BUSY with emphasis.


day late and a dollar short
late and ill-prepared.

Tommy, you seem to show up a day late and a dollar short all the time. You need to get organized. (McGraw-Hill again)

ASL pro uses the gloss MESS for the sign that comes to my mind. What do you think?

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

(author's note; I am sure I will get back to teh respect question... but idioms are easier when my brain is fuzzy. Strange huh?)

in the red

- to be in debt, to be unprofitable

The company has been in the red for three years now.


out of the red

- out of debt

Our company is finally out of the red and we are now making money.

Both of these idioms have their source in accounting. Before there was triplicate and one had to identify a negative balance with the sideways "v" brackets (can't show ya, the blog thinks it is part of an html code thingy), accountants would identify negative balances with red pencil.

Thus to be "in the red" means your bottom line balance is red. Yeah, you OWE money. Several of the online dictionaries have this one - your dominant hand points and bounces in the palm of your non-dominant hand.

To be out of the red, you actually have a postiive balance (the accountant is writing in normal pencil). I would probably sign it "PAY-OFF". I have not been able to find this one on line, I sign it by drawing a cross on my non-dominant hand with the "FEEL" handshape on my dominant hand.

My web source is The Idiom Connection. For the accounting trivia, thank my paternal grandmother and the stories she told when I was a little girl.

He who hesitates is lost...

But look before you leap.

It always made me laugh to thin of these two axioms together. After all, if you hesitate you are lost - which implies I should hurry and move. Yet "look before you leap" warns me to slow down and take my time.

So I guess these are as close as we Americans get to the greek philosophy of SOPHROSYNE: moderation and temperence.

I think it is a marvelous trait for interpreters to develop: the balance between acting in haste and doing nothing. After all, we have the unusual position of seeing two sides in a situation. Perhaps by finding the fine line, we can properly ally ourselves and make a potentially difficult situation diffuse and work out to eh benefit of all involved.

For example, a speaker is set to present on a stage with a large podium, two large plants on either side and no space for an interpreter except perhaps down below the stage line in the audience.

While this is obviously not an ideal situation for the interpreter or the deaf audience members, I can assure you it is not ideal for anyone sittingin the first few rows of seating. Accosting teh speaker with language implying they are disrespecting teh Deaf is not going to do anything but cause hardship and heart ache. If the interpreter, however, can appeal to the presenter's wish that all participants gain the value of the presentation, perhaps that same presenter will realize resetting the stage to allow visual access to the powerpoint for all in the front rows would be advantageous to his or her goals.

It won't always work. Sometimes people have had such bad experiences with those that demand consideration they will not listen. But if we return to respect, treat the presenter and sponsoring representatives with the respect their positions require, perhaps we can at least set the stage for the next interpreter and deaf person to experience a more equitable situation.

Just a thought.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: find out what it means to me

Yeah I am still thinking about respect. It seems it is a difficult subject for many people - I mean I hear all the time how the "young people have no respect."

So what exactly is respect?

respect
verb 1. think highly of, value, regard, honour, recognize, appreciate, admire, esteem, adore, revere, reverence, look up to, defer to, venerate, set store by, have a good or high opinion of
verb 2. show consideration for, regard, notice, honour, observe, heed, attend to, pay attention to

While I do not look in my business associations to receive respect as defined in the first sense, I do expect the second one. After all, while we all wish to be adored, it is unlikely anyone besides a sopouse or a pet will deliver that sort of "respect."

However, it seems reasonable to me to expect and give consideration. It can be as simple as letting colleagues know you are running out for a soda pop and offering to do a run for the whole office. You considered your colleagues, and those who are feeling pressed for time feel a pressure release valve has just been opened. And who knows, maybe next time you feel the heat someone will bring you a cold drink to help cool you off.

It could happen.


(Collins Essential Thesaurus 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2005, 2006)

R-e-s-p-e-c-t

Find out what it means to me:

And I apologize to Sister Ree for that...

Anyway, it struck me yesterday that the key difference between the RID Code of Ethics that I grew up with, and the RID Code of Professional Conduct is the word respect.

Here is the Code I grew up with (it is out of date so the link may not last forever):

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. has set forth the following principles of ethical behavior to protect and guide interpreters and transliterators and hearing and deaf consumers. Underlying these principles is the desire to insure for all the right to communicate.

This Code of Ethics applies to all members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. and to all certified non-members.

Interpreters/transliterators shall keep all assignment-related information strictly confidential.

Interpreters/transliterators shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the content and spirit of the speaker using language most readily understood by the person(s) whom they serve.

Interpreters/transliterators shall not counsel, advise or interject personal opinions.

Interpreters/transliterators shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and the consumers involved.

Interpreters/transliterators shall request compensation for services in a professional and judicious manner.

Interpreters/transliterators shall function in a manner appropriate to the situation.

Interpreters/transliterators shall strive to further knowledge and skills through participation in work-shops, professional meetings, interaction with professional colleagues, and reading of current literature in the field.

Interpreters/transliterators, by virtue of membership or certification by the RID, Inc., shall strive to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the Code of Ethics.

And here is the short form of the current Code of Professional Conduct (underline emphasis mine):

A code of professional conduct is a necessary component to any profession to maintain standards for the individuals within that profession to adhere. It brings about accountability, responsibility and trust to the individuals that the profession serves.

RID, along with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), co-authored the ethical code of conduct for interpreters. Both organizations uphold high standards of professionalism and ethical conduct for interpreters. At the core of this code of conduct are the seven tenets, which are followed by guiding principles and illustrations.

The tenets are to be viewed holistically and as a guide to complete professional behavior. When in doubt, one should refer to the explicit language of the tenet.

TENETS
Interpreters adhere to standards of confidential communication.

Interpreters possess the professional skills and knowledge required for the specific interpreting situation.

Interpreters conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the specific interpreting situation.

Interpreters demonstrate respect for consumers.

Interpreters demonstrate respect for colleagues, interns, and students of the profession.

Interpreters maintain ethical business practices.

Interpreters engage in professional development.


I suppose it is like common sense - which isn't all that common. I grew up with the assumption that all people deserve respect, including me. So I respect those with whom I work. They may not do things my way, they may not sign my way. But the goal of the job is to communicate, not be right.

There is so much I could say on this subject that I suspect it will become a new series.

Today I just ask that you look over the two codes. See the differences and ponder with me: why was it necessary to remind us to be respectful of each other?

Idioms and Idiomatic expressions

Today I thought I would compare three idioms that reference cash - since the economy is on so many minds.

cash in (something)
- to exchange coupons or bonds for their value in money
I cashed in a large number of my savings bonds in order to get some money to buy a car.

cash in on (something)
- to make money from an opportunity
The former basketball player cashed in on his popularity to open a very successful restaurant.

cash in one`s chips
- to exchange or sell something to get some money (from the chips used in a poker game)
I decided to cash in my chips and go back to school.

As you can see, they have three very different meanings.

The first can be most easily signed as "EXCHANGE". (available at aslpro.com)

The second may be best as "OPPORTUNITY"- the way I grew up signing it. Instead of the versions most of the online dictionaries have (initialized O-P from TRY), I learned it as if grabbing something off the palm of my hand, dominant hand open to closed as it brushes past the non-dominant palm. (If you cannot find an example on line, let me know and I will post one at you-tube).

Now the third one I thought meant something different, and found this definition at the freedictionary.com

cash in one's chips - pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life.

So if the third idiom "to cash in one's chips" means to sell soemthing off, like used in poker, then I would say it would be signed the same way as the first; EXCHANGE.

However, as I recall it being used, if someone "cashed in his chips" I would think DEAD.

Just my humble opinion.

Any disagreement?

Idioms and Idiomatic expressions.

I was looking about The Idiom Connection and came across these two:

fall head over heels

- to fall down (and maybe roll over)

The little boy fell head over heels when he fell down in the park.

fall head over heels in love (with someone)

- to fall deeply in love with someone

The young man fell head over heels in love with the girl in his English class.

Perhaps it is merely where I grew up, but I seldom hear "head over heels" for anything other than love these days. Recently a sportscaster used a less polite form of "rump over tea kettle".

But as usual, what you really want is how I would sign these: The first concept I think is best conveyed with ROLL modfied to show where the person experienced the fall. (This sign is available at ASL Browser.)

The second concept is more familiar as FALL IN LOVE (Thanks to Lifeprint.com for the animated gif.)

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

So I planned to post this yesterday - but the best laid plans and all... sigh.

Anyway, so here it is:

Red-letter day
Meaning
In earlier times a church festival or saint's day; more recently, any special day.

Origin
This comes from the practise of marking the dates of church festivals on calendars in red.

The first explicit reference to the term in print that we have comes from America. This is a simple use of the term "Red letter day" in the diary of Sarah Knight - The journals of Madam Knight, and Rev. Mr. Buckingham ... written in 1704 & 1710, which was published in American Speech in 1940.

The practice is much earlier than that though. William Caxton, referred to it in The boke of Eneydos, translated and printed in 1490:

"We wryte yet in oure kalenders the hyghe festes wyth rede lettres of coloure of purpre."

The term came into wider use in 1549 when the first Book of Common Prayer included a calendar with holy days marked in red ink. For example, Annunciation (Lady Day), 25th March, was designated in the book as a red-letter day.

The term is sometimes written without the hyphen - 'red letter day'.


So how to sign it? DAY SPECIAL or DAY GREAT perhaps? In some contexts perhaps even DAY TREASURE. (As usual, these glosses can all be found at aslpro

resource: The Phrase Finder