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Julie Garbison Intro to Interpreting Think Piece #1 2/20/13

Sign Language Interpreting, What is that? A sign language interpreter is one that has the ability to hear or see a message in a Source Language, the language the original message is produced, and change the message into the Target language, or the language the message is intended. This requires a great deal of knowledge in both languages; the interpreter must be able to move precisely and accurately between both languages. Many people who hear the title Sign Language Interpreter think that it is simply applying a sign for the English word and English word order. However, what many do not realize, translating and interpreting requires the interpreter to auditory/visually (hear/see) the original message and process and produce the message into the Target Language. One must be competent and knowledgeable in the Source language and the target language in order to accurately produce the same or equivalent message. Interpreters must identify the intent and the possible hidden message, otherwise known as the process of Deep Structure Meaning, to find the meaning in the context, gestures or other body language, and ultimately produce the same message along with all intent and motives in the other language (target language). However, finding the equivalent meaning is not the only process occurring during an interpretation. Languages originate from cultures that accompany different values, beliefs, boundaries, customs, and accept ions. The interpreter, whether it is Sign Language or any other language, must be culturally aware of these differences, which produce challenges when going in between the languages.

Interpreting differs greatly from carrying on a conversation in ASL, or American Sign Language. Casual conversation tends to be more forgiving of errors and incorrect lexical syntax. Often, grammatical errors or mis-production of a sign or concept is accepted and excused. This is not the case in interpretations. These settings are more formal and professional, and are less forgiving of errors. Interpreters at work are expected to be able to accurately translate between the languages fluently with the motives and intent of the speaker and message in thought. The message is often simultaneous (same time), which means the interpreter signs or voices from the source language into the target language moments after the utterance (something that is spoken/signed) has occurred. This lag time or processing time leaves little opportunities for error and/or back translating. This process requires a great deal of mental processing, concentration, and knowledge of both languages. Studying to be an interpreter means that the student is becoming more aware of the culture differences and the differences in linguistic aspects of the language. Simply just signing word for word is not what an interpreter does. Signing/interpreting requires the person to be knowledgeable of all the elements that play a role in the setting; whether it is the speaker, the consumer, the profession, the environmental factors, or the language itself.

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