From the Deaf Community:
A few VRS users from the Deaf Community have mentioned one HUGE pet peeve from VRS interpreters. Often interpreters need to manage the call which requires asking the deaf caller to hold on for just one moment. The meaning of that sign can change. For example, signing with one finger, gently away from the screen, compared with one finger close to the screen, or even worse, an aggressive open hand close to the screen. The English phrase, wait a moment, can be quite infuriating for some in ASL.
Another example from the Deaf Community is an example of English intrusion. Imagine an interpreter is actively working. The English sentence is spoken, “In the year two thousand twenty six…”: the interpreter signs TWO-THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX….instead of TWENTY TWENTY-SIX.
From the interpreting community:
Adding the sign TO when signing WANT or GO, so these are signed WANT TO and GO TO, instead of it being included in the sign WANT and GO.
Making assumptions that hearing people will understand the word “team”. For example, “I am waiting for my team” or “we will need a team of interpreters”. How many does this mean? Two? Five? A suggestion is to say, “I am waiting for the second interpreter” or “the other three interpreters”. Could even say, “We have confirmed one interpreter and are looking for a second interpreter.” Instead of a team interpreter, one survey participant mentioned a co-interpreter.
When an interpreter says, “I don’t like that sign”. Ah…so you don’t like the word “alligator”?
And lastly, when interpreters use the term “voicing” for ASL to English interpreting. Voicing is not a language. It is unclear to hearing people.
Thanks for reading!