What I've learned about Interpreting.

When I first started this major, I did not have a full understanding of what it meant to be an interpreter. I had seen spoken language interpreters from the time I was young and I had seen sign language interpreters on and off throughout my life. I thought I knew what they did, but I was wrong.

When I started taking my American Sign Language (ASL) classes, I thought interpreting would be easy. It was simply doing word for word from English to sign and sign to English, right? No. Then I attended my first Deaf event. I was a level 1 ASL student which is the equivalent to level 0. I had very basic understanding. When I arrived, I was lost. I found the table, but I had no idea what was going on.

It seemed very loud, but when I looked around it was quiet in the restaurant. The visual noise sounded like auditory noise to me. The ASL 4 student that saw me there was impressed because I came. Almost nobody from my level would come to the Deaf events. I had a very basic understanding of sign. That day I learned so many new signs and my receptive skills were tested. I loved it. But it wasn't interpreting.

When I got to ASL 3+4 (combo class) I was considered talented in my receptive. I could understand at a level 6 level but could only produce at a level 4 level. It appears that my ability with oral languages has translated into my signed languages. An ability to understand and retain, but an inability to produce.

When I finally got to the college I am at now, I did pass all my ASL classes and still have. But when I started my first real interpreting class, I started to drown. The process of interpreting is very difficult and is not for the weak of heart or mind. You need an exceptional grasp of the vocabulary and vocal range.

Interpreting isn't just language mediation. It is also cultural mediation, expressing emotions accurately, conveying jokes that might not translate, and making human connections. If you aren't good at one of those things, it can skew the entire message.

Interpreting is hard, exhausting, but rewarding. Everyone should have the opportunity to take interpreting classes, even if they never become interpreters. 

Transcribing vs Captioning

Today I'd like to clarify the difference between transcribing and captioning. I was recently credited in a movie for some transcription I did. When it was shared, everyone kept saying I captioned it. I didn't caption it. So, today I want to clarify those two terms.

Captioning is when you have the sentences at the bottom of the screen (or top) when the person is speaking. This is a real-time form of transcription. However, it isn't just a list of what is being said and by whom with time stamps.

Transcribing is when you have a list of sentences/paragraphs of the person speaking along with time stamps. For example:

00.10-01.20: When I started to learn ASL I wanted to do it because I watched Switched at Birth. This was fascinating to me because of all the Deaf characters and the interpreters. I decided I wanted to do the same thing.

01:20-2:20: (Another paragraph)

That is transcribing. It looks much different than captioning. Personally, transcribing is much easier. I find captioning to be very difficult, especially syncing them to the video. For the reason, I don't usually caption. I am teaching myself now, but it isn't an easy process. Transcribing is simpler and I don't find as difficult. 

Why I'm considering a different major

I started questioning if I wanted to be an interpreter this year. I have been in my classes and struggled with them since I got here. I have noticed an early burn out in myself and I am not sure I can handle this major as it stands. Here are some reasons why:

1. I am an introvert and this program chews us up and spits us out.
2. I've been struggling with my mental health since the second semester of my first year when I was sexually harassed. Then I was in a toxic situation with a roommate the next semester that sent me in a downward spiral that I've been struggling to get out of since.
3. I only ever wanted communication. I never wanted anything more than that. Interpreting was other people's dream for me. I convinced myself it was my own.
4. I can still work with Deaf people, I just am not sure this major is right for me.
5. I can't afford college.

The ones that have affected me the most are numbers 1, 2, and 3. The last two are important, but not as important as the first three. The hardest part about this will be telling my dad. My dad is my hero, I respect him. But the problem is, he tends to take things too personally. So, I already told my mom. She supports me in whatever I do. I am writing a letter to my dad because that's easier for him to read through. Sometimes certain tones or looks makes him feel challenged even though that's not what my intent is. Letters are easier and less intimidating.

I know I'm about to be the biggest disappointment there is. But I guess my therapist can hear all about it while I'm still here. 

Cued Speech: What it is and What it isn't.

There is a lot of controversy in the Deaf communities and Interpreting communities about cued speech. Cued speech is a method of communication/learning that is like captioning for the mouth. For a full explanation of cued speech, here is the link.

Cued speech is often used in the school settings when teaching the child basic English language skills. Cued speech has been proven to help teach Deaf kids how to read and write. It can also help with English language development. HOWEVER, not all Deaf kids can learn to speak. That is important to remember when using ANY oral or signed system.

Cued Speech is NOT its own language and should not be used as one. Cued is showing English on the face, or like I said before, captions on the face. It simply helps with lipreading and phonics. Like anything, it is not an End All, Be All type of thing.

Babies are Still Murdered Here

Today I'd like to talk about Abortion. I know this isn't a fun topic and is often a heated topic. If you're a Taylor Swift fan, you may have seen her music video for "Calm Down" which had signs similar to the Babies are Murdered Here signs.

Where do I stand? I am an abolitionist. What does that mean? Abolitionism is often a term seen in relation to slavery. Some pro-birth people now call themselves abolitionists because they want abortion to be abolished. Which means, gone completely. Why do I believe this? Lets go into details on that.

We call abortion murder but we (the pro life movement) does not follow that to its natural conclusion. If Abortion is truly murder and we see life at conception, that means we need to try it in a court of law as murder. I do not count manslaughter as a charge that should be made, unless the woman clearly didn't know. (The doctor lied, it was forced, she has documented mental challenges) To be clear: If the woman was forced, the man gets the charges/whoever forced her. The woman should NOT be charged if it wasn't within her understanding or knowledge.

What is the charge I am proposing? First Degree murder. I believe this because first degree implies malice of forethought. When you have an abortion, you go to an appointment, pay the doctor, leave and think about it. Sometimes you see the ultrasound. Then you go back to the doctors appointment, have the abortion, and pay the rest. What you just did was pay the hitman to kill your baby. That is murder.

"But it isn't illegal!"  Well, neither was slavery. "Not my body, not my problem."  Not my slave, not my problem. "It isn't a person!"  Am I not a man and a brother?

Margarete Sanger was a flaming racist who wanted to inniahlate Black communities. Guess where the most Planned Parenthoods are? "It's only 3-10% of what they do!"  It's okay. Homicide isn't the only thing Ted Bundy did. (=

That being said, the pro life movement has failed. They block legislation that could end abortion in specific states. Watch this documentary to see: Babies Are Still Murdered Here

Have a blessed day

Choosing a different path

I can't afford college if we're being real. The class that I'm likely to fail is a prerequisite to many of my classes next semester. These classes also aren't offered during the summer. I am starting to think about a different option that has to do with Deaf people.

If there is one thing I've learned in class, it's that it is a disservice to Deaf people to continue if you're bad at it. And right now, I may be good at the language, but interpreting is a totally different animal. And I'm not sure I can wrestle that animal. 

My lisp and how it effects my classwork

If I'm honest this bothers me more than it should. I have a lisp that will sometimes manifest itself under times of extreme stress. I had an exam for my Interpreting class and got my grade back this weekend. One of the feedbacks I got was that sometimes my speech was unclear. This was after I explained what probably happened in my analysis. I can pinpoint exactly where my speech was unclear because I could hear my lisp. 

To be clear, I got a 57 on the test and now have a failing grade in the class. We have 3 tests that are weighted very heavily. Most of my failing grade is because of production and not because of information missed. I got 80-90% of the information but my production wasn't the best. I spoke to fast and my lisp returned with a vengeance. 

I saw this grade this morning right before my ASL class. I was completely off, so much so that even the people I didn't know that well noticed. My teacher was also unusually gentle with me. I was extremely fragile at that moment. If she had been unkind I probably would've burst into tears. I also haven't felt well in almost a week.

So, today I called off work and my final class of the day. I went back to my grandfather's house, climbed into bed, and slept for 7 hours. I allowed my depression to take control momentarily and slept like the dead. My stomach is still achy, but my emotions are in slightly better shape than they were earlier. 

I also met with my advisor today and discussed a leave of absence. With my stomach issues and continuing medical problems, it may end up being a necessity. I'm just hoping I can even finish school. I've spent too long getting to this point and don't want to fail now.