Interpreter != random hand-waver up in front
From DeafWeekly:
NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION SAYS INTERPRETER DIDN'T INTERPRET
The Nigerian National Association of the Deaf issued a statement last weekend commending leaders of a national conference for providing interpreters but calling one of the interpreters "a complete charlatan." According to the statement, the unidentified male interpreter "has never for once made a single correct interpretation of any speech. He is only making caricature signs or mock interpretation to deceive the gullible public." The statement went on to say that what is "most disturbing is that ... someone has the audacity to come out and shamelessly deceive a highly constituted body like the Confab, perhaps for the sheer greed to make some quick money by parading himself for what he is not."
Nice to see Deaf consumers standing up for their right, not only to interpreters, but to qualified interpreters. I've ranted about this before; not that consumers here in the US (especially in Mass) don't know what they're looking for or getting. In fact, here, Deaf consumers (especially the sort that generally attend professional conferences) are well aware of the difference between a good interpreter and a bad interpreter. But the folks that are organizing conferences and hiring interpreters aren't. Which leads to people like me being asked over and over again to interpret things that I'm just not qualified for. It's not that I mind being asked ... I just mind Deaf consumers getting inadequate interpreting.
For reference, the NETAC Tipsheet: Hiring A Qualified Interpreter is super-useful.
Finding good help is difficult enough these days, but trying to hire a qualified sign language interpreter can be especially difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some ideas that may help in your search.
The hiring of interpreters can come in at least two ways - either using an interpreter referral agency or direct hiring. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
- Using an independent interpreter referral agency will probably be more expensive; however, the agency will retain the responsibility to make the contact, hire the interpreter, and negotiate billing. They can also vouch to the interpreter’s skill level and ethics if they’ve worked with that interpreter before.
- Hiring an interpreter yourself may allow you to negotiate rates for services. However, you may have to contact several interpreters before you find one that is available. Also you may not be familiar with the interpreter’s skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
The ability to use sign language, even fluently, does not in and of itself make for a good interpreter. [Instant replay: The ability to use sign language, even fluently, does not in and of itself make for a good interpreter.] While an extensive knowledge of sign language is required to be an interpreter, many other factors are involved in finding an interpreter who will meet your needs, the student’s needs, and the needs of the faculty.
When hiring an interpreter, ask to see her/his certification. Certification shows that the interpreter has passed the appropriate skills test and has knowledge in the languages (English and American Sign Language) and cultures (Hearing and Deaf) along with Hiring a Qualified Interpreter ethical standards and practices. Certification may be in one of at least three different forms:
- RID (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) national certification (includes CSC, CI, CT, IC, TC, and RSC)
- NAD (National Association of the Deaf) national certification - includes Level 5 (highest level) through Level 3 (generalist).
[NB: the RID and NAD certifications are slowly being combined into one national certification; for the next, oh, ten to twenty years, you'll see interpreters with all three types of national certification.]
- Different states also may have certification/screening systems that are only recognized within the specific state. One example of this is the Mid-South Quality Assurance Screening Test, which goes from Level 5 (highest level) through Level 1 (lowest level). State screening tests are a stepping stone toward full national certification. [NB: Massachusetts is one of the states with a state-level screening system. Some institutions, for example the National Center on Deafness at Cal State University Northridge, also have their own screening/certification systems. If you're working in interpreter hiring at one of these institutions, you know that already.]
There's more there, about ways to suss out an interpreter's qualifications beyond these basics... but the basics are a good place to start.
Read. Absorb. Become one with the guidelines... because the clueless but well-meaning person hiring an interpreter may one day be you.
NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION SAYS INTERPRETER DIDN'T INTERPRET
The Nigerian National Association of the Deaf issued a statement last weekend commending leaders of a national conference for providing interpreters but calling one of the interpreters "a complete charlatan." According to the statement, the unidentified male interpreter "has never for once made a single correct interpretation of any speech. He is only making caricature signs or mock interpretation to deceive the gullible public." The statement went on to say that what is "most disturbing is that ... someone has the audacity to come out and shamelessly deceive a highly constituted body like the Confab, perhaps for the sheer greed to make some quick money by parading himself for what he is not."
Nice to see Deaf consumers standing up for their right, not only to interpreters, but to qualified interpreters. I've ranted about this before; not that consumers here in the US (especially in Mass) don't know what they're looking for or getting. In fact, here, Deaf consumers (especially the sort that generally attend professional conferences) are well aware of the difference between a good interpreter and a bad interpreter. But the folks that are organizing conferences and hiring interpreters aren't. Which leads to people like me being asked over and over again to interpret things that I'm just not qualified for. It's not that I mind being asked ... I just mind Deaf consumers getting inadequate interpreting.
For reference, the NETAC Tipsheet: Hiring A Qualified Interpreter is super-useful.
Finding good help is difficult enough these days, but trying to hire a qualified sign language interpreter can be especially difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some ideas that may help in your search.
The hiring of interpreters can come in at least two ways - either using an interpreter referral agency or direct hiring. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
- Using an independent interpreter referral agency will probably be more expensive; however, the agency will retain the responsibility to make the contact, hire the interpreter, and negotiate billing. They can also vouch to the interpreter’s skill level and ethics if they’ve worked with that interpreter before.
- Hiring an interpreter yourself may allow you to negotiate rates for services. However, you may have to contact several interpreters before you find one that is available. Also you may not be familiar with the interpreter’s skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
The ability to use sign language, even fluently, does not in and of itself make for a good interpreter. [Instant replay: The ability to use sign language, even fluently, does not in and of itself make for a good interpreter.] While an extensive knowledge of sign language is required to be an interpreter, many other factors are involved in finding an interpreter who will meet your needs, the student’s needs, and the needs of the faculty.
When hiring an interpreter, ask to see her/his certification. Certification shows that the interpreter has passed the appropriate skills test and has knowledge in the languages (English and American Sign Language) and cultures (Hearing and Deaf) along with Hiring a Qualified Interpreter ethical standards and practices. Certification may be in one of at least three different forms:
- RID (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) national certification (includes CSC, CI, CT, IC, TC, and RSC)
- NAD (National Association of the Deaf) national certification - includes Level 5 (highest level) through Level 3 (generalist).
[NB: the RID and NAD certifications are slowly being combined into one national certification; for the next, oh, ten to twenty years, you'll see interpreters with all three types of national certification.]
- Different states also may have certification/screening systems that are only recognized within the specific state. One example of this is the Mid-South Quality Assurance Screening Test, which goes from Level 5 (highest level) through Level 1 (lowest level). State screening tests are a stepping stone toward full national certification. [NB: Massachusetts is one of the states with a state-level screening system. Some institutions, for example the National Center on Deafness at Cal State University Northridge, also have their own screening/certification systems. If you're working in interpreter hiring at one of these institutions, you know that already.]
There's more there, about ways to suss out an interpreter's qualifications beyond these basics... but the basics are a good place to start.
Read. Absorb. Become one with the guidelines... because the clueless but well-meaning person hiring an interpreter may one day be you.