IS WHAT WE DO AS INTERPRETERS/ CHRSTIANS GOING TO STOP US FROM DOING RIGHT?

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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on September 19, 2009 at 5:59pm

I am not sure this statement belongs in this topic. What is the hard question?

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Permalink Reply by Risa O on September 19, 2009 at 6:42pm

I think the original hard question was finding a university that offers sign language courses. It is a rare offer, and even harder to find as a major. Then again, there were far fewer such programs and courses offered 20 years ago, when I was getting my education, than there are now. As a spoken language major in college, I found out the sad secret behind the reason. Apparently, these majors are not all that popular and therefore not profitable and have to run on some type of grant or other support or subsidization from inside the college itself. In many colleges, some form of spoken language coursework is required for graduation, and that is where they get the money.

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Permalink Reply by debbie fowler on September 19, 2009 at 7:04pm

my original question was, are we going to do what's right? sign language may not be popular, but THAT'S MY GOAL:} to be an interpreter. how would I go about acheving my goal? in my heart , there remains alonging or urge to reach the hard-of-hearing, and deaf.

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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on September 20, 2009 at 3:50am

Debbie, you have two questions here:

Are we (interpreters) going to do what's right?
and you have not said what you believe we are doing wrong - to fix...

and
How do I go about achieving this goal?

This one I can answer to you. How to achieve this goal:
Before seeking an interpreter training program, I suggest you first learn to sign. There are many different Types of "sign language" - not all of them are well understood by Deaf people. It is my understanding from your text that you wish to do missionary work with the Deaf. You will need to understand, and be able to produce the kind of language that the majority of Deaf people use and understand. This population is generally NOT bilingual, and the language they use (ASL) is usually not taught in any formal programs (even in programs that call thei language they teach ASL). What is usually being taught today, can better be referred to as "Interpre-speak"... it is not ASL, but it is not exactly English either. Many Deaf people can get information from it, but it is not ASL and not all Deaf people can get all of the information.... they get "most" or "some".. and figure out how to do what they need to do with that.

You will not be any more effective at reaching the Deaf than the current religious interpreters are, if you dont invest in learning the language *better* than the current interpreters (and there are some *really good* religious interpreters out there).
Please NOTE: - You seem to be very invested in your "teaching" (the name of christ) to Deaf people mission - but while you are learning to sign, you will need to NOT try to teach - anything - to the Deaf. You need to LEARN first. And if you go into the community with your agenda of trying to teach them - before you know how to communicate complex ideas to them - in their language.. they will quickly learn to avoid you.
and you will not learn from them, and you will not be able to teach them.

So if you feel that you cannot enter the Deaf community HUMBLE and NOT trying to share your joy (of Jesus), then you should just find a sign language program, learn to sign, learn to interpret using Interpre-speak.. and then go into the Deaf community and being to teach them what you believe you are here to teach them...

so there you go
1) find Deaf people, approach them Humble.. DO NOT TEACH them until you know their language very VERY well.
2) go to school to study religious studies, theology, and teaching theory - so you can learn how to present complex ideas to people in a way that they can understand

and even better idea

3) DO NOT become an interpreter. You do not want to interpret someone else's message to Deaf people Debbie - you have your own message. Learn to deliver your own message. If you become an interpreter and you have to interpret something to Deaf people that you do not believe, you will hurt inside - and you might be tempted to "do what's right" and "FIX" the message... this is NOT NOT NOT right!...
Interpreters cannot Fix the message - the message is not OURS - it belongs to the hearing person and the Deaf person... even if it is wrong. interpreter MUST deliver the message the way the person says it... we cannot fix it.

You really do not want to be an interpreter Debbie, You want to be a missionary... You want to share your joy -
so Learn to sign, and learn to minister.

and lastly... I do not know of anywhere in this country - nor any other - where Sign Language is not popular. Its all over the place, and everyone that I've ever met, loves it (except AGB and those who believe it will make it hard for Deaf to become like hearing in speech)...
easy to find - but you must be humble to learn, and patient to not teach your joy until several years later when you have good language.
Good luck

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Permalink Reply by debbie fowler on September 20, 2009 at 6:03pm

first, I guess I approached what I was trying to say, wrong. you are not doing anything wrong. what is happening in December is going to effect anyone who sign/ prays. tonight in our teachers and officers meeting at church, we were talking about this event that is coming up. this group wants to stop any one who prays. we may have one the court case, but the decree that was signed by the school board is still in effect. they gace my husband a decree that he was not allowed to pray with the students, or faculty. now, what is " interpre- speak"? I've taken beginners sing language, intermidiate,advanced, interpreter 2. how would I go about finding a school that has religious studies, theology, etc.? every school so far, just looking for sign language, they don't have it.

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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on September 21, 2009 at 2:30am

Debbie - you do not want to be an interpreter. You want to be a minister... so where do you live? There should be a good religious studies program somewhere near you.
Another idea - even better - would be for you to start a new topic here on Terplink -Not in hard questions... but in its own discussion area - because the people you want to talk to - are not here... this is not a hard question for interpreters, it is a general question about religion in schools...
but there are PLENTY of interpreters with religious studies backgrounds here who would be able to give you resources...
try creating a conversation in its own topic More people looking - more ideas.

good luck

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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on September 20, 2009 at 3:12am

Risa O
I find that the problem is less, finding a university that offers sign language courses, than finding any courses that are actually ASL. The current trend in our field is to disregard ASL, in favor of Signed English (aka: PSE... as if that is an actual language). I am aware, off the top, of several schools that offer (what are percieved to be) excellent Interpreting programs. Not all colleges and universities *should* offer ASL... Excellence is not evident in proliferation, excellence is usually more specialized. So just having degree programs available is not necessarily in anyone's best interest.
If you think about other fields, Furniture Design, Architecture, Veterinary Medicine, Law, or even a field as "common" as Social Work: These programs are offered here and there throughout the country, but certainly not in every city.
I suspect the intent behind the orginal question, has more to do with religious education than interpreting, but I admit, the tag line is enticing...
Is what we do as Interpreters (xxxxx) going to stop us from doing right?

Now I'd just like to get at: What is it that the questioner believes we are doing (as interpreters)? What is it that that this person believes we are Not doing - but should be (as interpreters), and what does this person believe is the corrected action needed from interpreters.

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Permalink Reply by debbie fowler on September 19, 2009 at 7:11pm

the question, may not fit, but are we going to continue to sign/pray even when there's an enemy out there to stop any kind of prayer? you do pray, right? when December comes, there is going to be a hearing that will effect ANYONE who PRAYS, whether you sign/pray.

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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on September 20, 2009 at 3:50am

Debbie,
There is no enemy to stop prayer. Prayer lives in your mind and in your soul. No one can take that away from you - no matter what the laws. Prayer does not have to happen with many people together same time... prayer is communication with God... that is not a public conversation.

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Permalink Reply by debbie fowler on September 20, 2009 at 6:20pm

well, tonight I learned that in 2 public schools, they have a commencement part in thier handbook when they enroll in school. the children can not fold thier hands, or bow thier heads. the same with high school students. they can't pray with thier teacher, and janitors, which includes my husband, can't pray with students, and that reason is the decree that was signed last year is still in effect, til this court case comes up in December, which will be the ACLU, and the NLC( National Liberty Council ). the case, 1: to have prayer back in school. 2: whether people can pray in public; restaurants, etc.

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Permalink Reply by ASL4U on September 21, 2009 at 2:25am

The rule disallowing prayer in schools - was pass more out of respect for other people and their Different religious beliefs than to try to prevent prayer.
There is no rule or law that says you cannot pray in public - especially in restaurants 'ect'.. you can pray anywhere you want - but you cannot teach children - of different faiths - to pray to Your God... because their parents - have their own God they wish their children to pray to.
Everyone has the right to religion... but no one has - or should have the right to define for someone else - who their God is.
If your husband is uncomfortable not being able to tell other peoples children about your God - perhaps he should find a religious based school to work at... there are many of them - they all need janitors.. they all pray before, during, and after class.

and somewhat on topic - even if you were an interpreter - even if there was prayer permitted in school YOU - as the interpreter - would not be permitted to DO the praying... YOU as the interpreter would only be permitted to tell someone else about another person's prayer.
You would not be praying... you .. would be working.

Please take this discussion to a different place online - and label it "Prayer in school"... this conversation has nothing to do with Interpreting. I'm sure that there are many other people who would be interested in this topic... but it is not a hard question for interpreters. Its an easy one for us... if they dont pray - we dont interpret prayer... if they do - we do (but we cannot pray ourselves while we are doing that)... when we work - it is not about what we get out of it... it is about two other people - communicating their ideas.

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