Look at Terp or Hearing Person?

Joey Baer brought up an interesting topic about the importance of keeping eye contact with hearing speaker while an interpreter is signing. Easy? Not so for me!

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• ASL
• Language
• Culture
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[interpretersusie]

It really depends on what the teacher is showing or doing most of the time. Most of my deaf clients would look at me until the teacher would start to demonstrate something. Besides, i know that i would get tired of just watching one person (terp) all day long! It never offended me when the student looked away.

[ReformedTheology5]

(question)

hearing view :). ok. i wonder what is best polite way to tell hearing person - please look at the Deaf person directly. it sounds rude to tell someone what to do.

they don't understand why, so if you tell them, you probably have to explain Deaf culture - but it happens so often - hearing do not know Deaf ettiquette, i am not a terp. but if terp educates hearing person, it seems like terp is taking over by becoming "expert" on Deafhood - that should be left for Deaf person.

[ReformedTheology5]

(cont.)

someone suggested moving, standing next to hearing person, facing Deaf speaker. i tried once, but hearing moved away so they could see me. is it rude to step in and inform hearing on Deaf culture norms/ettiquette? what is a good way to say this? thank you :).

[Panthisia]

I don't mean anything rude by that, and I do my best to look at the signer rather than the interpreter, it's just difficult for us too.

[Panthisia]

I'm a hearing person. I'm taking up ASL. I completely understand that if I'm talking to a Deaf person that has an interpreter they will probably be watching the interpreter. That's not something that has ever bugged me.

Because I'm taking up ASL I also realize that I am expected to sign what I'm saying to the best of my ability.

From the Hearing perspective it is difficult to look at the Deaf person when an interpreter is speaking because we spend most of our lives learning to look at speakers

[MSSDstudent]

It is very hard.

We Deaf people expect for the hearing people to look at us not the interpreter...

We should do the same- But it is very hard... I tend to look at the terp but really we should look at the hearing person. I agree~ IT IS VERY HARD>...

[cynicgimpy]

I am HH and use a terp for all platform situations (signed English or ASL). I've only used an interpreter for a "private" session. I explained to the hearing person that I am going to NEED to look at the terp but I am still paying attention. Also, since there's a lag time, you could watch the terp out of the corner of your eye, focus on the hearing psn., then when the terp starts signing watch them. :)

[ketchamized]

Good Vlog... I personally look at the hearing person and occasionally glance over to the terp to make sure my statements are getting across correctly. I do that, so that the hearing person understands that I'm talking to him/her... And that the terp is simply there to facilitate the communication between the non-signer party and myself.

Erick Ketcham

[Biffsma]

good point M2!

sometimes tho, I would ask the expressionless person if they understand what I said...they're often surprised. if I'm comfy enuff, i tell them their face is soooo flat, not sure if they were listening...ha! More often than not, it breaks the ice...

But seriously, me same--I prefer to look at the interp only because I dont 100% trust the words they choose or convey exactly what I said.

tit for tat....if we want hearing people to look at us...we gotta do the same....

:-)