Working as an ASL interpreter places a huge responsibility on your shoulders- that of acting as a link between the Deaf community and the hearing community. Shouldering this responsibility can at times feel rewarding, while at other times, it may seem challenging. If you find yourself feeling the latter and are worried about the same, there is a simple thing you can do before every interpreting job to combat these worries- prepare beforehand.
Preparing beforehand allows you to acquaint yourself with unfamiliar subjects, terms, and situations. It also gives you an insight into the best way to interpret. Further, preparing for an interpreting job can provide you with a better understanding of the challenges that you might face on the job, allowing you to prepare yourself for the same.
While some might see this preparation process as unnecessary or even a hassle, don’t be fooled by a false sense of complacency. This is an important part of the interpreting job as it ensures that you deliver effectively and efficiently. If you are lost on how to prepare yourself for an interpreting job, below are some tips on the same.
Getting familiar- The brief and beyond
Ideally, when you are hired for an interpreting job, the client will hand you a brief that will carry details about the interpreting job. These details can make the preparation process a lot easier, as they come directly from the client, by reducing the need for you to conduct research or study. If, however, the client does not hand you a brief, you can request the same. A brief can help clarify any confusion between you and the client regarding the interpreting job. It can also give you a clear picture of what is expected of you.
As a professional ASL interpreter, you can expect the brief to contain some or all of the following information:
- The client’s background
- Specific details about the event for which interpretation is needed
- The agenda of the event
- Details about the Deaf or hard-of-hearing person/s who need interpretation services
- Terminologies and other things that the interpreter should acquaint themselves with
- The type of interpreting that is expected or will work the best
- Any particular details that the interpreter might need to know
Overall, a brief from the client can help both you and the client reach a shared understanding of what can be expected and what should be delivered. Depending on the nature and complexity of the interpreting job, you may or may not have to go beyond the brief to prepare yourself.
While preparing for an interpreting job, you can aim to find answers to these four key questions-
- Who is the client?
- What is the event about?
- Who will be attending?
- Where will the event be conducted?
Who is the client?
When you start preparing for an interpreting job, it is important to know more about the client and their background. Having key information about the client can help you determine the best approach to interpreting.
Information that you would primarily want to focus on would be the client’s work, and their goals and values. Having some prior context about the client and what they do can help you understand their implicit expectations. When you work in tandem with the client, you will be able to deliver better results.
ALT Text: A professional taking notes to prepare for work
What is the event about?
Next, you should be able to ascertain what the event is for and about. It is crucial to know the agenda for the event for which your interpretation services are required. When seeking details about the event, be sure to get as much information as you can about the subject of discussion.
Some clients may have material prepared for the event and may give you the same to help you prepare for the job. Do not just rely on the material that the client gives you. Read other reliable sources to familiarize yourself with the subject.
During your briefing, the client would ideally make you aware of anything specific that you might need to research. For instance, you might need to learn about some terminologies that will be brought up during the event, or you might have to acquaint yourself with the context of the discussion.
This information will help you interpret effectively. By learning more about the subject you can intelligibly interpret, without being thrown off-guard by things that you do not know.
Further, sometimes interpreting involves relaying not just the explicitly stated message but also the intended and implied message. This can only be possible when you, as an interpreter, are aware of the subject and the implied meaning behind the message.
Who will be attending?
As an interpreter, it is crucial to know more about who will be in attendance. This is information that you probably can only get from your client, so be sure to ask beforehand. One important question to ask is- are the attendees experts on the subject matter or are they only getting to know the subject? Based on this, you can ascertain their language proficiency and adjust your interpretation accordingly.
Information about the client’s working relationship with the attendees can also help you determine how formal or informal the interpretation should be. Good interpreting involves relaying the message in a way that is both clear and understandable.
The job of an ASL interpreter is to bridge the communication gap between the Deaf community and their hearing peers. To do so effectively, you should be able to communicate the intended message in a way that the Deaf person/s understands while retaining the essence of the message. Knowing more about the attendees and their expertise on the subject can help you adapt your interpreting style to fit their needs.
Where will the event be conducted?
Lastly, while preparing for an interpreting job, you may want to determine the type of interpreting that will work best. Sometimes, the client will have a preference for the type of interpreting service that they want. If they do not, this decision can be made after careful discussions with the client. To make an informed decision, you can get details about the magnitude of the event, the space in which it will be conducted, and the availability of audio equipment.
Depending on the conclusion that you arrive at, the speaker will have to adjust the pace of their speech, while you will have to prepare yourself for the specific type of interpreting.
Moreover, information about the space can also help you determine whether you can use any visual aid to enhance your interpretation.
Conclusion
Whether you are a seasoned interpreter or a novice, preparing for an interpreting job is a step you cannot miss. We hope that these tips set you up for success and help you interpret more effectively.
If you are a certified ASL interpreter dedicated to delivering value, Unspoken Language Services is on the lookout for skilled interpreters. Join us to become a part of a community of like-minded interpreters committed to serving the Deaf community.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Artem Podrez
