Deaf/Hearing Interpreter Teams, Workshop Series, 2012

Carolyn Ressler
2012 Learning Community Series

During this workshop, Carolyn Ressler shares the results of a research project on Deaf/Hearing teams. Participants learned how hearing interpreters adjust their interpretations when working in a Deaf/Hearing interpreting team.

Through the discussion of the findings, best practices in “feeding” spoken English messages were suggested with the goal of helping participants learn how deaf and hearing interpreters can negotiate both the best “fed” and, most accurate final end-product interpretation.

Information on how these teams can best prepare together to minimize obstacles and maximize team performance were also discussed.

A panel of four experienced interpreters, two CDIs and two hearing interpreters, described their experiences working in Deaf/Hearing teams. In this training, participants: 

• Describe the differences between how hearing interpreters use eye gaze, pausing and head nods in direct verses fed interpretations
• Identify difference in how fingerspelling and expansions are used in fed and direct interpretations
• Understand how clarifications and corrections internal and external to the team to minimize skewing and omissions
• Describe strategies for effective pre-conferencing as a team before the interpreting task begins
• Identify potential barriers to effective teamwork

• 1a) Deaf/Hearing Interpreting Teams Training: 4/27/12
• 1b) Deaf/Hearing Interpreting Team Panelists : 4/27/12
• 1c) Interpreting Skill Development Series: Deaf/Hearing Expert Team Training