ASL interpretation is a complex job that requires utmost precision and dedication. As an interpreter, you serve as a medium for communication between the Deaf and the hearing communities. Any error in the process of interpreting can cause miscommunication and may even lead to repercussions.
To become a proficient interpreter, you must strive to be as accurate as you can with your interpretations. The first step toward this is recognizing how you can go wrong.
Here are six common mistakes that interpreters make:
- Poor communication
- Inadequate preparation
- Lack of cultural context
- Not reading between the lines
- Improper or inconsistent tone/style
- Unwillingness to learn
Let’s explore each of these in depth and see how you can avoid making these mistakes.
Poor communication
Effective communication with the client is the first step to getting an interpretation project right. Before starting any interpreting job, it’s essential to gain clarity about the client’s goals and requirements.
A common mistake most interpreters make is not acquiring enough information from the client about the project. This communication gap can affect the success of the interpreting job. To avoid this, ask for a proper brief from the client when accepting a new job. Don’t shy away from asking for any details you deem necessary.
Inadequate preparation
Interpreters who understand the importance of a client brief might become complacent and make the mistake of solely relying on information provided by the client.
Sometimes, the client might provide you with inadequate or incomplete information, thus, requiring you to do your research. Other times, the client might provide you with material that contains everything you need to know before the interpreting job. However, the onus is still on you to carefully read that material and prepare yourself.
A lack of preparation can make you stumble while interpreting or slow you down. This can hamper the flow of communication and affect the success of your job. If you don’t want to make this mistake, carefully study the client brief and material, and if you think it’s inadequate, either ask for more clarity or do your research.
Lack of cultural context
Don’t make the mistake of negating the importance of cultural competency as an ASL interpreter. A key to accurately interpreting lies in gaining awareness about the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Like every other community, the Deaf community has idioms, phrases, jokes, sayings, and mannerisms unique to it. Understanding these contextual things is essential for accurate interpretation.
To become culturally competent, get involved in the Deaf community. Talk to people who use ASL in their everyday life to communicate. You will gain insights into the community and its culture through consistent involvement and interactions, making you a better interpreter.
ALT Text: A woman in a black t-shirt using sign language
Not reading between the lines
A good interpreter acknowledges that word-for-word translation might not be effective in every case. For instance, an idiom that exists in the English language might not have an equivalent in ASL. As an interpreter, instead of interpreting the idiom verbatim, you must focus on the intended meaning of the message and interpret that.
If you are overly focused on literal translation, the implied message can get lost in translation, thus, hampering proper communication.
Avoid this mistake, by ensuring that your language skills are top-notch. Each language has its nuances that need to be understood for accurate interpretation to take place. When you understand the intricacies of the language, you will begin to understand the underlying message that the speaker is trying to convey.
Improper or inconsistent tone/style
Every interpreting job presents a different setting, requiring a different tone/style of interpreting. How you interpret for a musical artist cannot be the same as that for a healthcare professional. You can’t use slang while interpreting for a healthcare professional. Similarly, you can’t use complex jargon while interpreting for an elementary school.
Different clients communicate differently; various aspects of interpretation need to be adapted accordingly. Level of formality, use of specific terminologies, tone, and body language are some aspects of interpreting that should be adjusted according to the client/project.
Another thing to remember is to be consistent with your tone and style. Every client requires a distinct style of interpreting. Carefully understand this requirement before starting the project, and ensure you consistently interpret in that style.
Unwillingness to learn
Learning a language is a never-ending process. Even if you consider yourself proficient in both English and ASL, remember that language keeps evolving. With time, some words and phrases may become obsolete, while others may come into existence or gain popularity. To become aware of these trends, you must keep brushing up on your linguistic skills.
Language is not the only skill that interpreters can continually hone. Practicing interpreting can also help you interpret more effectively. You can attend workshops, get a mentor, or practice by yourself.
Many interpreters make the common mistake of not upskilling. Even if you have spent years working as a professional interpreter, upskilling can help you improve at your job. Interpreters who don’t invest time in upskilling are choosing to stay stagnant in their careers.
Conclusion
You can either make your own mistakes or learn from those of others. If you are an ASL interpreter dedicated to providing top-notch interpreting services, look no further. Unspoken Language Services is looking for talented interpreters committed to serving the Deaf community. Join us today to become a part of the Unspoken Interpreters’ Community!
Thumbnail Credit: Photo by SHVETS Production
