Chapter 7: Modality and Language Usage

Chapter 7- Modality and Language Usage

Thought Questions 7.1

Your own modality and language use  

 

  • What modality do you tend to use to communicate with a team member during the team interpreting assignment? And why? ASL, The deaf client is in the room and it’s important to use ASL.
  • What language do you tend to use to communicate with a team member during the team interpret assignment and why? I would say English then it’s faster and clearer.
  • What factors determine what modality and language you use with a team member at any given time?  The deaf consumer being there or not.

 

 

Thought Questions 7.2

The field’s modality and language usage

 

  • How is the modality and language you use during a terming assignment different or similar to the interpreter’s use of in the videotape study? Some teams use different such as written, ask or English. Some write notes just for afterwards. Most use ASL for feeds because it’s not talking behind the deaf consumer.
  • What modality and language usage do you see used most in the field? Why do you think this modality and this language use the most? English, Because it’s faster and the deaf client has not shown up. ASL would be better then everyone would know there is an interpreter and the deaf consumer can find them.
  • Talk to other interpreters and deaf and dealing people who you work, about what modality and language usage they prefer to interpret use when communication with each other and why? I think most said English because it’s faster and it’s the interpreters first language.

 

 

Thought Questions 7.3

Further exploring modality and language usage

1.Do you mostly interpret into English or into ASL? Does that face affect what modality and language you tend to use for communicating with the other interpreter during team interpreting? No, I think that it’s always important to discuss with the team what you should use. I think it depends on time and the situation.

  1. Which do you tend to use more often: information feeds or switch roles? Why? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each of these strategies? I use more information feeds. This benefits because the team can know when I need a feed and when it’s important to receive that feed. Switch roles can be more for an experienced situation and more above my level.
  2. When an interagency team uses ASL for feed and collaboration, the Deaf participants have access to the interpretation when the team uses written or spoken English for feeds and collaboration, the deaf participants are closed off to this communication. Discuss this fact with other interpreters and with deaf people and after explaining this more with other, explain when you would use ASL and when you would use English, based on these discussions? I think that if the Deaf participants are there they should know what is happening between the team. They are part of that team. We are working with them. It’s not just an interpreter team. It’s everyone. I think they deserve to know what we talk about and know about our job as an interpreter. I don’t think there are any secrets to be hiding from each other.