Interpreters, what do clients do...

Cheri said:
:lol: No, I don't expect them to do that. But; it just that I've never experience an interpreter that did not sign everything that is said and say everything that is signed even if it's during the parents/teachers conference, or doctor appointments, or court hearings. You know what I mean? I just felt like I'm being left out, being miss out on what's being said by the other party.
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I understand. Real world realities aren't always what we want. There are many times when, as a terp, I would love to stay longer, chat more, include more, etc., but ethics and business don't allow it.

Court interpreting adds even more restrictions to the ethics and legalities of the assignment. That's the sad reality of the situation but much of it has to be done that way to protect the integrity of the case and the rights of all who are involved.
 
Hear Again said:
reba,

i have a question for you. if a deaf or deafblind student falls asleep during a lecture and is snoring loudly, is it your job to wake them up if the professor makes a comment about that student -- or do you just let them sleep or let the professor wake them up instead?
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It is not the terp's job to wake up the student. The terp continues to sign (including tactile) whatever the professor says, whether it is to or about the student. If the professor wants to awaken the student, the professor needs to figure out how to do it.

In the classes that I have interpreted, the professors do not awaken the hearing or deaf students at all. The only exception would be if there were an emergency, such as fire, or if the sleeping student's behavior (loud snoring, falling on the floor) was interfering with another person's comfort or attention.
 
Reba said:
I understand. Real world realities aren't always what we want. There are many times when, as a terp, I would love to stay longer, chat more, include more, etc., but ethics and business don't allow it.

Court interpreting adds even more restrictions to the ethics and legalities of the assignment. That's the sad reality of the situation but much of it has to be done that way to protect the integrity of the case and the rights of all who are involved.
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Yeah, I understand. Thanks Reba. :)
 
Reba said:
It is not the terp's job to wake up the student. The terp continues to sign (including tactile) whatever the professor says, whether it is to or about the student.
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:laugh2: Poor interpreters, it's like talking to the wall when the student is sleeping. :laugh2:
 
Reba said:
It is not the terp's job to wake up the student. The terp continues to sign (including tactile) whatever the professor says, whether it is to or about the student. If the professor wants to awaken the student, the professor needs to figure out how to do it.

In the classes that I have interpreted, the professors do not awaken the hearing or deaf students at all. The only exception would be if there were an emergency, such as fire, or if the sleeping student's behavior (loud snoring, falling on the floor) was interfering with another person's comfort or attention.
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interesting. i knew it wasn't a terp's job to awaken a student, but i didn't know professors do not awaken them. since i can't see, i had no idea.
 
Reba said:
I understand. Real world realities aren't always what we want. There are many times when, as a terp, I would love to stay longer, chat more, include more, etc., but ethics and business don't allow it.

Court interpreting adds even more restrictions to the ethics and legalities of the assignment. That's the sad reality of the situation but much of it has to be done that way to protect the integrity of the case and the rights of all who are involved.
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Reba, where can I find more ethics and the role of the interpreter in a court setting?
 
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Passionate4ASL said:
This is an interesting topic. :D I am studing to be an interpreter so it is good to know these things can happen.



I am curious, is there a point you attempt to get their attention again? Or do you just let them be and focus on your interpreting? :hmm:
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I also am studying to be one. This is useful.
 
this was useful, I'm going to school next fall to become an interpreter.
this is just a glance of some things that I will be facing.
:ty:
 
Hear Again said:
reba,

don't you ever feel self-conscious about the fact that you're signing, but your deaf student isn't watching you?
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Most of the other students wouldn't be aware that the deaf student is sleeping because usually the student sits up front, so all they see is the back of a head, or maybe a side view. So I don't feel self-conscious about them. The deaf student is asleep, so I don't feel self-conscious about him or her. I don't feel self-conscious about the instructor because I'm showing him or her that I'm earning my keep. :P

The school pays for my time, so I give them their money's worth. I don't feel self-conscious about it because it's not about me.

I find it important to maintain interpreting while the client is asleep because when the student wakes up, I'm smoothly continuing along like nothing happened, and not abruptly jumping in.

I would feel more self conscious if I just sat there staring into space, twiddling my thumbs. :P
 
Reba said:
Most of the other students wouldn't be aware that the deaf student is sleeping because usually the student sits up front, so all they see is the back of a head, or maybe a side view. So I don't feel self-conscious about them. The deaf student is asleep, so I don't feel self-conscious about him or her. I don't feel self-conscious about the instructor because I'm showing him or her that I'm earning my keep. :P

The school pays for my time, so I give them their money's worth. I don't feel self-conscious about it because it's not about me.

I find it important to maintain interpreting while the client is asleep because when the student wakes up, I'm smoothly continuing along like nothing happened, and not abruptly jumping in.

I would feel more self conscious if I just sat there staring into space, twiddling my thumbs. :P
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true. :)
 
Oceanblue7 said:
Reba, where can I find more ethics and the role of the interpreter in a court setting?
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Some of that should be covered in your ITP and related text books. I also try to keep up with RID's publications, such as VIEWS, and the NIC bibliography. Also, be on the watch for workshops with those topics.

Aside from interpreter specifics: Before it comes time to actually go to court, you should be familiar with the court system of your location. Not every court is conducted the same way. Sitting in on local courts is good experience to become familiar with court proceedings and etiquette. If you get a chance to serve on a jury, take it.

I haven't done any court interpreting. I'm not qualified for that, and I'm not temperamentally suited for it.
 
Reba said:
Some of that should be covered in your ITP and related text books. I also try to keep up with RID's publications, such as VIEWS, and the NIC bibliography. Also, be on the watch for workshops with those topics.

Aside from interpreter specifics: Before it comes time to actually go to court, you should be familiar with the court system of your location. Not every court is conducted the same way. Sitting in on local courts is good experience to become familiar with court proceedings and etiquette. If you get a chance to serve on a jury, take it.

I haven't done any court interpreting. I'm not qualified for that, and I'm not temperamentally suited for it.
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you're not temperamentally suited for it? what do you mean by that reba? just curious as i don't know what being a court terp entails.
 
Hear Again said:
you're not temperamentally suited for it? what do you mean by that reba? just curious as i don't know what being a court terp entails.
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I get too nervous around so many authority figures, and the legal responsibility is way too stressful for me. I have enough job-related stress as it is.
 
Reba said:
I get too nervous around so many authority figures, and the legal responsibility is way too stressful for me. I have enough job-related stress as it is.
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i can understand that. :ty: for the explanation. :)
 
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