Daniel Greene

Tag: professionalism

  • When they talk about you, the interpreter, do-do*?

    One of the most uncomfortable things for me is when consumers talk about me while I’m interpreting. Here are some examples of things people say: (more…)

  • Consecutive interpreting note-taking tips from Dick Fleming

    I just found this on YouTube, and I love it! Anyone who does consecutive interpreting in any language can benefit from this– and that includes Deaf and hearing interpreters who work in English and ASL. I am excited to find this new resource! (New to me, anyway.)

  • Why I don’t tell people I’m a sign language interpreter

    Instead of telling them I’m a sign language interpreter, I like to screw with people’s heads. I love to see whether they react differently to “interpreter” as opposed to “sign language interpreter” or “interpreter for the Deaf.” When I tell people I’m an interpreter, they inevitable ask what language. I can then say, “Sign language, American Sign Language” (like “Bond, James Bond”). When I ever-so-debonairly stress “American,” they usually ask, “Oh, isn’t sign language universal?” And BAM, that’s when I tell them it’s not!

    This impresses upon them that:

    1. An interpreter is an interpreter,
    2. A signed language is a language, and
    3. American Sign Language is not the only signed language.

    What’s in a name? Oh so much.

  • Jack Hoza’s book Team interpreting as collaboration and interdependence

    https://twitter.com/#!/danielgreene/status/177499846826143745

  • Interpreting teams being blunt with each other for the sake of consumers

    They did not seem to find a need to soften the statements with qualifiers or with the use of questions. As indicated earlier, this may be due to their comfort level with each other.

    –Shaw, 1995 p. 265

    I read the above statement in an article by Risa Shaw called “A conversation: Written feedback while team interpreting” and it summarized the many examples of respectfully blunt notes the interpreting team wrote to each other. I envy their rapport, that they were able to be so blunt with each other for the sake of their consumers! I felt the same envy when I read the article in the Views last spring by the husband-wife interpreting team and the notes they wrote to each other while teaming (Snyder & Snyder, 2011). I have not had many experiences with no-nonsense, helpful, “just-say-it” note-taking; yes, I have done notes, and it has been helpful, but I don’t think the notes between me and my partners have ever been as dedicated to excellence as these examples are.

    Have you had the pleasure of such note-taking with your team interpreters? I would love to read some examples of notes you have written to each other that have had positive affects on the work at hand. Consumers: Have you even been aware of the feedback your interpreting teams are giving each other that is positively or negatively affecting the service you receive? Please leave comments.

    References

    Shaw, R. (1995). A conversation: Written feedback while team interpreting. In Elizabeth W. (Ed.) Mapping Our Course: A Collaborative Venture, pp. 245-276. Charlotte, NC: Conference of Interpreter Trainers. Retrieved from http://www.cit-asl.org/members/PDF/Proceedings/CIT%201994.pdf

    Snyder, C. & Snyder, N. (2011). Let’s go team! Views 28(2). Alexandria, VA: Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.