This paper explains how the hearing loss of deaf persons affects communication, describes methods deaf individuals use to communicate, and addresses the role of interpreters in the communication process. The volume covers: communication methods such as speechreading or lipreading, written notes, gestures, or sign language (American Sign Language,…

Twenty master Sign Language interpreters transliterated monologue containing normal speech pausing and then transliterated same passage with inappropriate pausing and reduced intonation. When transliterating, interpreters render source message pauses with visible signals. Interpreters render different kinds of auditory pauses with different kinds…

Explores the role and status of hearing people within the Deaf community, in particular sign language interpreters. Indicates that hearing people and sign language interpreters in particular can become members of the Deaf community. (Author/VWL)

Reports the results of a demographic survey of 160 interpreters. The following categories were used: (1) personal characteristics, (2) family background, (3) educational background, (4) spoken language background, (5) sign language background, (6) contact with deaf community, (7) interpreting background, (8) interpreting experience, (9)…

A study involving 12 hearing sign language users examined the effect of the signing task on temporal features of speech during simultaneous communication (SC). Results indicated longer sentence duration for SC than speech-only conditions, and longer anticipatory duration of the diphthong and interword interval preceding the experimental words.…

The Educational Sign Skills Evaluation (ESSE) was developed to provide a means of identifying the dominant signing style of an individual and to provide feedback on areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. It provides an overall expressive skills rating as well as information on the type, level, and degree of understanding demonstrated…

The paper, one-third of which consists of appendixes, examines the emergence, development, and growth of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. The literature is reviewed relative to the historical, philosophical, and general forces bearing on the evolution of sign language into a formal language, which was a prerequisite to the…

A study assessed the frequency of self-reported hand/wrist problems among 184 sign-language communicators. Fifty-nine percent reported experiencing hand/wrist problems, 26 percent reported experiencing hand/wrist problems severe enough to limit their ability to work, and 18 percent reported a medical diagnosis of wrist tendinitis, carpal tunnel…

This paper attempts to outline some of the more obvious implications of the knowledge of a semantically related class of signs, signs relating to sexual behavior, for descriptive and theoretical sociolinguistic and anthropological studies and for applied research in the areas of language and education, medicine, and the law. (Author/CFM)

This paper describes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and its ramifications for sign language users, in particular, educational interpreters. Discussed are the syndrome's incidence, causes, diagnostic procedures, medical and surgical interventions, and prevention guidelines. (JDD)

The accuracy of transliterated messages produced by sign language interpreters was studied. Causes of interpreter errors fell into three main categories: misperception of the source message, lack of recognition of source forms, and failure to identify a target language equivalent. (12 references) (Author/LB)

A special set of skills is essential for interpreting for mainstreamed deaf preschool students. Eleven issues in clarifying the job of the preschool interpreter are discussed, such as whether hearing children should learn to sign and how to encourage communication among hearing and deaf children. (JDD)

Describes the Albuquerque (New Mexico) public school system interpreter service for hearing-impaired students, focusing on costs and benefits, the University of New Mexico's program in sign language interpreting, interpreter evaluation, language policy, and interpreter credentials. (CB)

Provides a list of teacher-training programs to prepare educators for teaching children with hearing impairments, a list of programs of advanced study for professional specialists, and programs for training interpreters of sign language. Programs are listed by state. (CR)

This manual presents production guidelines and suggestions for use by commercial, public, and educational broadcast facilities that seek to provide television interpreting for the hearing impaired. Topics covered include a brief overview of the need for television services for this audience and the use of closed captioning and sign language to…