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!
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Thursday
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.
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.
Wednesday
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.
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.
Tuesday
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.
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.
Monday
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.
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
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
Friday
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 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..."
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