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...
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Wednesday
Tuesday
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?
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?
Monday
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!
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.
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.
Friday
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.
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.
Thursday
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.
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.
Tuesday
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
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
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