Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters Mindess, A. (2009). Reading between the signs: Intercultural communication for sign language interpreters (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Intercultural Press. Pp. vii+ 296This book presents the subtleties of a most remarkable human attribute: The ability to understand and communicate language. The focus of the book does examine the basic elements of interpreting and translating for the deaf. However, it takes the reader far beyond the linguistic challenges of American Sign Language (ASL) into the realm of interpreting for world cultures. The book presupposes a well-developed understanding of ASL and readers are expected to already be convinced that ASL is a real language. Deaf and hearing individuals will unquestionably profit from the analyses of culture that are always present in the medical, business, educational, and interpersonal situations in which deaf interpreters are active. Moreover, the book is intended to sensitize interpreters to their own biases in the context of international cultures. The general components of discourse within deaf culture are examined to make readers cognizant of the often unrecognized and unconscious assumptions that influence mutual understanding.After an overview of what culture is, the aspects of culture that contribute to the meaning of interpersonal communications are examined. Elements like the location of people during their interactions (proxemics) or the paralinguistic features of communication like intonations, rate of speech, volume and distribution of silences are discussed in relation to the risk of misinterpretation in any encounter. Similarly, eye gaze, facial expression, and gestures can determine the success of communication, particularly in the context of intercultural relations. The author identifies variations of these characteristics of communication primarily as they pertain to international cultures (collectivist and individualistic) and to deaf culture. However, these features also reveal the values of a culture, including the values of deaf culture. The point is made that values underlie differences between cultures. Furthermore, the values that define one's cultural orientation serve as markers for those who are trusted and regarded as belonging with other members. The person or group that is trusted shares in decision-making and is seen as deserving of reciprocity in verbal and behavioral exchanges with like-minded others. The person who is regarded as "belonging" is inevitably able to communicate more easily because meanings are already shared and implicit assumptions about what is being communicated make explanations unnecessary. This is especially true when a deaf interpreter attempts to achieve a fluent personal or professional conversation with deaf people.Chapter 3 describes how intercultural values influence attitudes toward the behaviors exhibited by members of a culture. For example, the non-deaf may expect others to be punctual, whereas the deaf tend to arrive late and stay late. It is argued that the deaf share time-oriented attitudes and behaviors that resemble those in South America or collectivist parts of Asia. Likewise there tends to be a past rather than a future orientation among the deaf that is also true of cultures like Iran and India that revere their traditions and historical accomplishments. In the case of deaf individuals, pioneers of the past whose struggles paved the way for contemporary opportunities are typically the referents for decisions. Thus, international culture provides a framework for understanding the value placed on subjective reasoning and why objective facts are often not the basis for persuasive arguments among the deaf.Essential distinctions between American culture and other international cultures that also define differences between non-deaf and deaf cultures are addressed in chapter 4. Americans are fond of assuming their own uniqueness and that there is no such thing as a typical American. …