麻豆传媒

Analyze texts of ASL signers and stop the recording every time you identify a concept that is specific to the Deaf Experience. These would be experiences that 鈥渙utsiders鈥� would not understand or appreciate without additional insight.

Make a list of all the culturally bound concepts that arise in each text you view.

Review the list and practice creating English statements, which would accurately convey the meaning and context surrounding the concepts (i.e., TTY might be interpreted as a piece of equipment that allows deaf people to use the telephone).

Review the recording again, and each time one of the concepts comes up, stop the recording, practice an interpretation of the concept, and then continue. Repeat this process until the end.

Review the recording again interpreting only the culturally bound concepts without stopping. Then go through the recording one more time, integrating the rest of the content with the culturally bound concepts.

Record your interpretation during the last go through of the text. Listen to your interpretation and evaluate your effectiveness in terms of clarity. 

Ask someone unfamiliar with the text to listen to your interpretation and to advise you of places where concepts are not understood.

Repeat the interpretation until you produce a sample that accurately expresses the culturally bound information in a clear, concise, and accurate manner. 

Analyze English Texts

You can do this same activity with English texts.

View the text and isolate all the places where you would need to adjust your interpretation to accommodate a culturally bound concept.

View the text again, and interpret only the culturally bound information into ASL.

View the text another time and integrate the culturally bound concepts with the rest of the information in the text.

These steps enhance your recognition of culturally bound concepts, allow you to interpret them in isolation, and then integrate them with the rest of the message.  

Resources

NOTE: These resources were last updated March 2021.

• Free Online Materials

  ASL Storytime from the Department of Sign Language and Interpretation at Gallaudet University

  The series included three volumes, each containing stories with a broad variety of ASL features. The series is available on YouTube.

  from the National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers (NCIEC)

  The series includes diverse ASL and English texts available for practice interpreting. The series is available on NCIEC's website. There is no charge for accessing these materials, although you may be required to register to access.

• Purchasable Materials

  The following resources may be available for use from your local interpreter education program or through your public library. If the library does not have them, request that they purchase them for community use.

  from Sign Media

  A set of 33 DVDs including 12 simultaneous texts, 12 consecutive texts, 7 one-to-one situations, 2 small groups, 6 ASL texts and 6 English texts.

  This resource is excellent for individual, study group, or classroom skill development exercises.