I have collected more data on my hypothesis that the silence factor is only a symptom of a deeper, phenomenological difference between Deaf and non-deaf (a.k.a. “hearing”) people. I say phenomenological because I think it goes deeper even than culture, it is a constitutive mode of perception that shapes cognition.
During the process mediation workshop yesterday, Bob talked about his processing time, using phrases like, “Hurry up, it’s been 10 seconds”, and that he felt “frantic”. These statements refer not to the silence itself, but to the sensation, knowledge, or awareness of time passing. Later, during my poster session, I asked Eileen if Deaf people feel time passing like that, and she laughed, “No! We don’t feel that way!” My read of her reaction was that it was almost inconceivable.
by Steph • October 2nd, 2004
by Steph • October 1st, 2004
I am worn out from the stimulation. 😉 Got some clarity tonight in Betty’s session on Vygotsky. Lots to mull over and refine in my interpersonal class. Also, the notion of scaffolding groups….that’s more where I see myself in relation to what(ever) my “contribution” might be to the profession. That’s the work on group dynamics and group discourses that I presented today at my poster session. So many things happening here! I got to attend 1/2 of Laurie and Wendy’s session on peer mentoring, and half of Betty and Company’s session on process mediation. I love interpreters! We are so committed to self-knowledge and the development of interpersonal communication skills. 😉
Read Moreby Steph • October 1st, 2004
“Interpreters demonstrate respect for all consumers and their diversity.”
I understand that the term
by Steph • September 30th, 2004
I got some confirmation from one of Eileen’s examples that time is perceived and experienced differently by the Deaf than the hearing. It actually came up a couple times, in a couple of different ways. Betty talked about it in terms of “silence” in an example she gave in the Discussion part of the workshop about what it means to be an ally. She said, “Hearing people hate silence!” I think the emphasis on silence might be … not mistaken, but confused with the experience of time. When there IS a “silence,” hearing people experience the passage of time. This is what makes them nuts, not the silence itself. (Which is not to say that Hearing people like or are comfortable with silence; most Americans are not.) Deaf people, however, are used to experiencing the passage of time during “visual silences” when they are waiting for eye contact to resume. This is what is happening when an audience member comes to stage to make a comment, and the presenter (and the rest of the audience) waits until that person returns to their seat before responding. It’s a form of turn-taking.
Read Moreby Steph • September 30th, 2004
Confusion was the main emotion at most of the Allies conferences (spilling out sometimes as rage, sometimes as grief). I strongly believe that the Allies conferences were an important attempt to try and address some of the deep sociopolitical differences among and between Deaf folk and interpreters. I do believe that many individuals benefitted personally from the experience, but overall, the conferences did not move us toward any kind of collective understanding. Why they failed, given the good intentions and positive desires of the founders, participants, and later planners, has been a puzzle that I continue to think about.
First, let me record what happened today.
by Steph • September 30th, 2004
Since I think the ways we talk about things have a great deal to do with dynamics, I was fascinated by some of the anecdotes and jokes about certain terms. For instance:
RSC – originally known as the “reverse skills certificate” was renamed the “relay skills certificate” at least partially because RID wanted to maintain the same initials. (Thanks to Betty Colonomos for sharing this historicial tidbit with us.) Eileen made a joke about driving in reverse as an example of the kind of metaphor, or implied meaning, might have been “hidden” in the original term. (Now the certification for Deaf persons who are trained as interpreters is CDI – Certified Deaf Interpreter, which Betty also let us know has its problems: the linguistic construction in English indicates that it is the “deafness” that is being “certified”; not the interpretation skills!) Betty suggested, when one is trying to explain to hearing interlocutors why a Deaf interpreter is needed, describing them as a “specialist.”
by Steph • September 30th, 2004
I was (am still) overwhelmed by the amount of stimulation I received from Eileen’s presentation, “Teaching Deaf Interpreting Processes.” She and I are looking at a very similar subject – what I usually call dynamics – but in different ways from our different experiences and positions. I’m going to try and organize some of my thoughts in a few separate posts…
Read Moreby Steph • September 29th, 2004
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in an all-signing environment; my eyes are rusty! We had a characteristically Deaf start at my first ever Interpreter Trainers convention, the keynote began only 50 minutes past the scheduled time. I, in my introvert fashion, found a seat to plant myself while most folks schmoozed. Anna R. knows how to work a crowd! I exchanged greetings with lots of people from Allies
Read Moreby Steph • September 25th, 2004
David has located a wonderful site for me! The EU Directorate General for Interpretation! I’m gonna have to peruse this site thoroughly. 🙂 It’s a great site and the timing couldn’t be better! How do you say thank you in Hungarian? 😉
Read Moreby Steph • September 15th, 2004
The town’s agog with a special exhibit at our (fairly small!) museum which includes items from a private collection apparently not shown in public before.
The opening gala was covered by the local paper this past Monday: Wild About Warhol. (I often have trouble with the links to the local paper; they seem to take 2-3 tries to get through. If you want the article via email, let me know – I sent a copy to myself.)
I was contacted about interpreting this event but couldn’t manage to squeeze it in. Besides, what would I have worn? I’d have looked like I was slumming!
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