Interpreting Process/Skills

Workshop Topic : INTERPRETING PROCESS/SKILLS

FOUNDATIONS OF INTERPRETING PROCESSES SERIES (I-VIII)
Betty M. Colonomos

This training focuses on components of the Colonomos Model of Iinterpreting in a low stress, highly interactive environment. Participants will learn how to convey equivalent messages by working through graduated texts and activities in consecutive and simultaneous modes of interpreting. Working on skills in small-group formats (pairs or triads), participants develop tools for understanding and improving their own internal processes. Participants will also develop language necessary to discuss the interpreting task with each other and integrate strategies for continuing their won improvement. This series of eight workshops is appropriate for novice and certified, experienced interpreters.

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BEYOND THE TEXT: SIGN TO VOICE TRANSLATION WITH AN AUTHOR'S INPUT
Carol Fay, Craig Andersen, Alec Naiman

Deaf persons for whom we provide voice interpretation are in every sense the author of their text. This workshop will integrate translation theory and practice in a relaxed and positive setting where students will have an opportunity to apply principles of interpretation with author, teacher, and peer feedback in large and smaller group settings. Designed for certified and/or working interpreters.

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AIR GRAPHICS
Nancy Frishberg

Maps, charts, tables and diagrams are a few familiar graphical representations used in our everyday lives. Let's develop a more systematic understanding of the types of graphics that presenters use and how we work with them as interpreters. Feel free to bring examples of interesting or puzzling graphics to discuss. This workshop is descriptive, not prescriptive: we work toward discovering how presenters use graphics, what graphics mean, how interpreters can reproduce these graphics, introduce new graphics to capture meaning. It is not about "shoulds."

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VOICING FOR MEANING
Nancy Frishberg

Many interpreters feel they are weak in "voicing skills." Voicing skills is shorthand for several distinct skills: understanding a signed message, translating it, producing well-formed output that matches the message for meaning. Using silent films and wordless videos is a technique that allows us to focus on only the last component of voicing. I have gathered materials which challenge interpreters at all levels of skill, but which require no knowledge of a sign language. Thus we can become aware of cultural content, cohesion of utterances and vocal fluency without the added complication of translation. This workshop can then be adapted for peer support, individual study, or expanded treatment in class.

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"AN INTERPRETER CREATES THE SPACE"
Nancy Frishberg

Idealizations about interpreting often suggest the interpreter is most like the speaker with the speaker's knowledge of the text that is about to be delivered as well as of the circumstances behind the text. Realities show us that the interpreter is more often like any other listener, with limited prior knowledge.

Given the challenge of a spontaneous spoken text, a live audience and the task of simultaneous interpretation, an expert interpreter shows us how to handle this lack of knowledge. By delaying commitment to a specific representation of the physical space described in the narrative for nearly a full minute while continuing to interpret, the interpreter allowed himself to hear and understand more of the speaker's message. We examine a 3-minute excerpt of that production to understand how a vague input message was resolved successfully.

This presentation will challenge both experienced and novice interpreters to rethink their assumptions about their processing capacity, about the real-time pressures of the interpreting situation, and about what meaning they can, must and may convey.

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SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS EFFECT ON AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF DEAF SPEAKER CREDIBILITY
Shelley Lawrence

When a credible speaker delivers a message with his or her desired impact on an audience, it is an effective speech and when the audience has confidence in a speaker, his or her capacity to persuade expands. Thus it is the audience’s perceptions of the speaker that ultimately determines the credibility of the speech. When speakers and their audiences do not speak the same language, their message is transmitted through interpreters. Interpreters are educated professionals who translate a message from one language (source language) into another (target language). When this occurs, does the credibility of the speaker remain the same or does the interpreter alter the audience’s perception of the speaker? Do audience members who hear a speech in one language differ in perspective with those who hear the same speech in another? What happens in an interpreted speech when the speaker uses Sign Language, a visual/gestural language, and the audience must rely on the interpreter’s vocal qualities? A two-pronged study was conducted to understand this issue. A survey of 79 college students, divided into three groups, rated a Deaf signer’s credibility. The data were analyzed using a chi-square analysis. Seven in-depth interviews were also conducted. The results of this study shows there is a difference in perceived credibility. Some of the difference may be due to the process of interpreting itself; some to cultural expectations of credibility.

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SIGN TO VOICE INTERPRETING: MAKING IT RIGHT IN ENGLISH
Shelley Lawrence

Expectations of different types of speech in each language help us conform to appropriate target language norms. This hands-on workshop will focus on voicing into English different genres of discourse (descriptive, procedural, and expository) including incorporating reported action and reported speech (role shifting) into Standard American English. Participants will work with both videotapes and live language models to apply and implement strategies learned.

This workshop is geared to the advanced/seasoned interpreter and/or transliterator. Interpreter/transliterators with this level of skill will acquire strategies to tone up and fine-tune their ASL to English skills. It is recommended that participants of this workshop have a minimum of seven years of experience, be receptive to immediate feedback from the presenter and peers, and be willing to participate in the positive environment of the workshop.

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INTERPRETING IN 3-D
John G. Lewis

This is a lab based seminar which provides students with a clear and concise framework for understanding the use of space in ASL. This workshop explores spatial semantics in ASL. It focuses on the interplay between body shifts (role shift), signing space, agreement verbs, classifiers, and other elements of spatial grammar. Participants learn to manipulate the various aspects of spatial grammar and develop strategies for representing linear discourse, such as English, on a three-dimensional signing plane. Participants will have hands-on practice on the material presented in the lecture. Participants will be videotaped performing exercises and will receive feedback on their work.

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FINGERSPELLING PRODUCTION AND PERCEPTION
David Quinto-Pozos

This workshop will address the tasks of producing and perceiving fingerspelling. The participant will be presented with various aspects of fingerspelling based on linguistic research. Strategies for improvement of production and reception of fingerspelling will be presented and discussed. In addition, participants will engage in activities to practice the strategies that are presented. Upon completion of this workshop the participant will be aware of the mechanics of fingerspelling, and will be equipped with strategies to improve productive and receptive fingerspelling.

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DEVELOPING TRANSLITERATION SKILLS: VOICE TO SIGN (AND SIGN TO VOICE)
Elizabeth A. Winston

This workshop begins with a lecture/discussion on the topic of transliteration, providing an overview of the definitions of transliteration and a description of strategies used by transliterators in order to provide clear and accurate messages in English signing. The remaining time in the afternoon will focus on voice-to-sign transliteration skills, beginning with translation, advancing to consecutive and finally simultaneous transliteration.

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CONFERENCE INTERPRETING MENTORSHIP PROJECT: A WINDOW INTO THE PROCESS, THE PRODUCT, AND THE PEOPLE
Sharon Mendes, Christopher Robinson, James Wiggins
Presented in ASL
How often are we given the opportunity to explore the work we do in the present and be guided to taking that work to the next level? How often do we have the luxury of exploring the relationships garnered through teaming, mentorship, and interaction with others on the job? How often are we asked to contribute to the community by sharing our knowledge and our experiences? The Conference Interpreting Mentorship Project has done just that for the past three years. Now, it is time to explain what has been happening behind the scenes.

Conference work is overstimulating, highly demanding, and unpredictable. In this session, the founding members will share the philosophy, process, and product of the CIMP as template for others who strive to foster peer mentoring in a multicultural context. They will conduct small group activities to practice maximizing team effectiveness through analysis of competencies, validation of expertise, and sharing of one's self. Further small group activities and discussion will bring out practical strategies for appropriately responding outside of one's own social framework so that each participant leaves with tips and techniques for future application.

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