How can interpreters become better at their job by acquiring cultural competence?
Owing to the usage of American Sign Language interpreters in highly publicized events like concerts and political rallies, along with the power of social media, ASL has garnered an increased amount of attention recently. While it has given the Deaf community greater access to the hearing community and their world, it has also created avenues for the hearing community to get closer to the Deaf and their culture. Since most people are not well-versed in ASL as a language, they continue to rely on these interpreters for any communication with and regards to the Deaf. This makes ASL interpreters a voice for the Deaf community, a source through which they interact with their hearing peers.
Due to the gigantic role that ASL interpreters play in connecting the two communities, the hearing community often sees them as being representatives of the Deaf community. Consequently, the hearing community bases their opinions, judgments, and perspectives on/about the Deaf based on interpreters. While this should not be the case, it is a reality that needs to be handled tactfully. In view of this, it becomes imperative that ASL interpreters shift their attention to acquiring cultural competence.
Deaf Culture and ASL
Before learning about cultural competence, it is vital to know the link between Deaf culture and ASL.
It is important to note that ASL is a language in its own right– with its own grammar, syntax, vocabulary and phrases. Like any other language, ASL is deeply rooted in its culture– the Deaf culture. Deaf people, thus, are not just a linguistic group, but also a cultural one.
Culture cannot be separated from language. Culture influences the way that people talk, behave, and see things. It dictates the things that people view as being appropriate or inappropriate. All this, in turn, is reflected in the language spoken by these people.
Therefore, to truly be able to interpret accurately, ASL interpreters need to acclimate themselves to the Deaf culture.
What is cultural competence?
Cultural competence is a model that focuses on fostering cross-cultural communication. According to ‘The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services (Campinha-Bacote, 2011), and ‘A Biblically Based Model of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services (Campinha-Bacote, 2013), its five pillars are-
- Cultural knowledge
- Cultural skills
- Cultural awareness
- Cultural encounters
- Cultural desires
Cultural competence allows us to effectively interact with people from different cultures. Different cultures have different ways of behaving and talking. Cultural competence lends us the ability to understand other cultures so that we can behave in respectful ways. Understanding one’s culture is sometimes important to fully understand what they are saying or why they are saying it. There might be phrases, jokes, or even entire conversations that might be lost in translation.
During cross-cultural communication, the lack of cultural competence often leads to misinterpretation of situations. This can lead to misunderstandings and misrepresentation. Since ASL interpreters act as a link between the hearing and Deaf community, it is extremely important for them to acquire cultural competence to avoid misrepresentation.
Cultural immersion is a way to learn and show respect
The first, and most important, step to gaining cultural competence is cultural immersion. ASL interpreters may have acquired certifications from accredited universities and may even have on-the-job experience, but to ensure that their signing is true to what the Deaf person wants to communicate, it is important to understand the Deaf culture. The best and easiest way to do this is by talking to deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
The more time that interpreters spend interacting with the Deaf community, the more nuances will they be able to pick up on. Such regular interactions can help them answer the following questions-
- What behaviors are considered appropriate? For example, it is considered rude for someone to look away when a person is signing. While it may make members of the hearing community uncomfortable, eye contact is considered very important in the deaf community. Maintaining eye contact, therefore, is a sign of respect and shows an understanding of the culture.
- What is the best way to get a Deaf person’s attention?
- What actions are considered a warning sign or a sign of emergency within the Deaf community? For example, grabbing a Deaf person when you want to grab their attention from behind can be taken as a sign of warning.
- What are some linguistic trends within the Deaf community? Are there new colloquialisms, sayings, or phrases that are unique to the community?
- How has the Deaf community evolved over time? It is important to understand a community’s history to understand its unique perspectives and ways of being. Interpreters could look into Deaf literature, art, and history amongst other things.
- What are some things that are acceptable within the hearing community but are deemed inappropriate within the Deaf community?
By answering these questions and more, ASL interpreters can start unlearning the various stigmas that might be associated with the Deaf community due to cultural differences. Through regular interactions with Deaf people, ASL interpreters can develop a better understanding of the Deaf culture and act in ways that are not only appropriate but also respectful.
Conclusion
ASL interpreters act as a link between two communities with very different cultures– the hearing and the Deaf community. Learning ASL is merely the start of the journey as an ASL interpreter. Interacting with the Deaf and taking conscious efforts to understand them and their culture, can help them gain the trust of the Deaf. Consequently, the community would be more willing and open to interact with them in professional and other settings. Gaining the trust of the Deaf community is essential to fostering honest and open communication, which can then lead to more effective interpreting.
If you are looking for certified ASL professionals, who are respectful toward the Deaf community,
Unspoken Language Services works with specially trained interpreters who put the Deaf first. Our ASL interpreters are dedicated to understanding the Deaf culture and providing the best interpreting experience for you.
Unspoken Language Services are also always on the lookout for passionate interpreters who are relentless in their effort to gain cultural competency. Unspoken Interpreters form a community of professionals who strive to maintain professionalism through compassion and understanding. Click here to become an Unspoken Interpreter.
Thumbnail Credit: Photo by Charlotte May
