ASL To English Tips
ASL To English Tips
This transcript documents a collaborative workshop titled "Community of Practice," which focuses on enhancing ASL to English interpreting skills. Led by experienced practitioners, the session addresses the specific challenges of voice interpreting, such as managing specialized vocabulary, technical finger spelling, and maintaining appropriate register. Participants engage in a dialogue about deliberate practice strategies, emphasizing the importance of recording one's work, seeking mentorship, and utilizing pre-assignment preparation techniques. The discussion also highlights the emotional aspects of the profession, encouraging interpreters to balance professional excellence with self-compassion and grace. Ultimately, the sources serve as a practical guide for interpreters at all experience levels to refine their receptive skills and accurately represent the brilliance of the Deaf community.
Link to the Podcast
Elevating the Message: Key Strategies for Excellence in ASL to English Interpreting
In the world of sign language interpreting, the transition from American Sign Language (ASL) to spoken English—often referred to as voicing—is a high-stakes endeavor that requires more than just linguistic knowledge. It is about representing the brilliance, mission, and calling of Deaf individuals to a hearing audience. Recently, a community of practice gathered experienced professionals and newcomers alike to discuss how to bridge the gap between receptivity and production.
The Weight of the Voice
For many interpreters, voicing is the most intimidating aspect of their profession. Common fears include making mistakes in front of other interpreters, failing to capture specific fingerspelling, and the immense responsibility of being someone’s voice. Participants noted that lack of context and unfamiliarity with a signer’s unique style can lead to "heart-skipping" moments of nervousness. However, the sources emphasize that this nervousness is a legitimate reflection of the desire to represent consumers well.
Building Receptive Excellence
Before an interpreter can produce a clear English message, they must first master receptivity. Immersing oneself in Deaf culture without the pressure of interpreting is a primary strategy for growth. One seasoned mentor suggests a "three-question rule": go to Deaf events and ask multiple people the same question—even if you already know the answer—to observe the variety of ways concepts are signed.
Practical tips for improving receptivity and production include:
Forming Complete Sentences: Instead of just throwing out words like "steak" and "medium rare," aim for the full context: "I went on a date and ordered a ribeye steak".
The Power of Neuroplasticity: Practicing "cold turkey" (interpreting a video for the first time without preparation) stretches the brain's neural pathways, making future processing more efficient.
Reading Out Loud: Hearing yourself speak sophisticated English can help eliminate the "funk" of being startled by your own voice during an assignment.
Strategic Preparation
Effective voicing begins long before the microphone is turned on. When pre-conferencing with a Deaf consumer isn't possible, interpreters can use digital tools to prepare. Researching a signer’s social media, YouTube channel, or professional website provides invaluable insight into their register, vocabulary, and acronym usage.
Additionally, leveraging the interpreting team is vital. A team member can provide support by writing down technical terms from a PowerPoint or feeding a more "adult" or sophisticated word choice into the active interpreter's ear.
Vulnerability and Professional Growth
The path to excellence requires deliberate practice and the courage to seek feedback. Recording one's own work and evaluating it against specific benchmarks—such as register accuracy or the elimination of filler words—is a highly recommended exercise.
True growth also stems from vulnerability within the interpreting team. Instead of simply saying "good job" after a difficult assignment, interpreters are encouraged to share what they felt went wrong and where they felt stuck. Specific feedback (e.g., "you used a very light word for a heavy concept") is far more useful for professional development than general praise.
Grace and Identity
Finally, interpreters must learn to separate their identity from their performance. The sources remind practitioners that while interpreting is a calling and a vocation, a "bad day" in the booth does not define who they are. Self-compassion and grace are necessary components of a long-lasting career; acknowledging that the work will never be 100% perfect allows interpreters to remain resilient and focused on the ultimate goal: serving the community and glorifying the message.
