fhjmom Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Since I ofter require a sign language interpreter and I am my girls all have hearing loss, any time something related to ASL or deafness is in the news my interest is piqued. However, the coverage regarding Lydia Callis, the sign language interpreter that covered Mayor Bloomberg's press conferences has me totally steaming!! Please understand this is not directed at Ms. Callis at all; from the clips I watched, she is an excellent interpreter and did an outstanding job of conveying critical information in an emergency situation. She was completely professional; it's the media comments regarding her signing that I am not happy about. What her interpretation is NOT: "a performance" "dramatic gesticulations" "facial contortions" "stylized" "acting out" and all the other idiotic things said by columnists, reports, and bloggers who have no concept of what makes ASL the beautiful language that it is. Those "facial expressions"? In ASL, they are called "non-manual markers" and they are actually part of the grammar of the language. Watch any competent signer and you will see the same things that Ms. Callis did. The fact that this was a press conference regarding a serious and emotional event allowed for more use of those non-manual markers needed to convey the seriousness of the subject matter. "Acting out"? ASL signs are not "acting out"; some signs resemble the thing they represent so a non-signer may recognize some of those easily. Also, another part of ASL is the use of "classifiers" - a legitimate part of the language with form and structure; it's not a game of charades! Oh, and the code of ethics for interpreters calls for them to always and only facilitate communication. They must never become a party to the situation. Saying she "stole the show" and upstaged the mayor is actually an insult to her professionalism - which I don't think happened, but is the way it is being described by some. I am very glad that NYC was cognizant of its population with hearing loss that uses ASL and that Ms. Callis was given such a prominent place in the press conference, assuring she was seen by TV viewers. She did an excellent job. I am sad that those writing about her are letting their stupidity about sign language and the interpreting profession hang out when their intent is to praise her, they are actually insulting the beautiful language that is her lively hood. I don't think we would tolerate the same types of comments being made about someone interpreting into another language, such as Spanish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I'm surprised by these comments. People are just ignorant. Good thing for the major's office!! My sister is an ASL interpreter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) I'm with Karen. She looks like a regular ASL interpreter. Are there people who have never seen ASL before? It seems weird and uninformed to call that dramatic or a performance. It was someone communicating information, just like the mayor was. Odd. Wendi Edited November 2, 2012 by Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 ITA. My mother is an ASL interpreter. I was thinking maybe some people have never really seen it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I don't know ASL, except to recognize that someone is using it to communicate. I did not think anything was unusual about her interpreting. I agree that it was considerate of the mayor to be sure that all citizens would be informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 You need to copy your post, OP, and send it to the NY Times Op/Ed page. I'm sure they'd print it as a letter to the editor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 You need to copy your post, OP, and send it to the NY Times Op/Ed page. I'm sure they'd print it as a letter to the editor. That's a really good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 YES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 You need to copy your post, OP, and send it to the NY Times Op/Ed page. I'm sure they'd print it as a letter to the editor. :iagree::iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 You need to copy your post, OP, and send it to the NY Times Op/Ed page. I'm sure they'd print it as a letter to the editor. :iagree: I'm just returning from an event where no one was sympathetic to seating for the hearing impaired and wishing I just stayed home. :( So I'm in a mood. After all the headlines I finally saw her interpret for the mayor and was even more surprised at the bad press she got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVA Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Tamara- Thank you for your professional explanation....we did smile at her facial expressions but now, I understand it much better. :) What I really objected to was Mr. Bloomberg's butchering of the Spanish. Oh goodness. They should NOT allow that man to speak it in public. Horrid. And my 1st language is English but have lived long enough in Latin America to recognize an awful accent- he 'gringo-ized' it horribly! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Well said Tamara! :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVanGogh Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Tamara- Thank you for your professional explanation....Yes, Thank you.We have enjoyed the mayor's press conferences with the sole purpose of watching the interpreter. We have found it very fascinating. We knew that much of interpreting successfully was in the finer details, but your explanations were wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Tamara- Thank you for your professional explanation … :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriwether Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 The only thing I thought when I saw her was that it was a good idea to have an interpreter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paisley Hedgehog Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiac Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 (edited) You could also submit it to the Huffington Post, though heck if I know how. Maybe arianna@huffpo.com, LOL. :) Seriously, you are totally right and should disseminate this information. Edited November 2, 2012 by kubiac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyMcGillicuddy Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 I thought I'd pass along this article about the interpreter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbaby Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 It's funny, I never notice most ASL interpreters, but I couldn't take my eyes off her the other day. I think she played up the facial expressions more than most, but I didn't see it negatively at all. Just like some people are very animated when they speak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 You need to copy your post, OP, and send it to the NY Times Op/Ed page. I'm sure they'd print it as a letter to the editor. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LG Gone Wild Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Since I ofter require a sign language interpreter and I am my girls all have hearing loss, any time something related to ASL or deafness is in the news my interest is piqued. However, the coverage regarding Lydia Callis, the sign language interpreter that covered Mayor Bloomberg's press conferences has me totally steaming!! Please understand this is not directed at Ms. Callis at all; from the clips I watched, she is an excellent interpreter and did an outstanding job of conveying critical information in an emergency situation. She was completely professional; it's the media comments regarding her signing that I am not happy about. What her interpretation is NOT: "a performance" "dramatic gesticulations" "facial contortions" "stylized" "acting out" and all the other idiotic things said by columnists, reports, and bloggers who have no concept of what makes ASL the beautiful language that it is. Those "facial expressions"? In ASL, they are called "non-manual markers" and they are actually part of the grammar of the language. Watch any competent signer and you will see the same things that Ms. Callis did. The fact that this was a press conference regarding a serious and emotional event allowed for more use of those non-manual markers needed to convey the seriousness of the subject matter. "Acting out"? ASL signs are not "acting out"; some signs resemble the thing they represent so a non-signer may recognize some of those easily. Also, another part of ASL is the use of "classifiers" - a legitimate part of the language with form and structure; it's not a game of charades! Oh, and the code of ethics for interpreters calls for them to always and only facilitate communication. They must never become a party to the situation. Saying she "stole the show" and upstaged the mayor is actually an insult to her professionalism - which I don't think happened, but is the way it is being described by some. I am very glad that NYC was cognizant of its population with hearing loss that uses ASL and that Ms. Callis was given such a prominent place in the press conference, assuring she was seen by TV viewers. She did an excellent job. I am sad that those writing about her are letting their stupidity about sign language and the interpreting profession hang out when their intent is to praise her, they are actually insulting the beautiful language that is her lively hood. I don't think we would tolerate the same types of comments being made about someone interpreting into another language, such as Spanish. I know nothing of ASL but I understand your post. I think I might have a seen that lady during one of Bloomberg's press conferences. The interpretation seemed to involved a lot more of the body that I am used to seeing in interpretations but your quotes about the media made is seem like they thought they were witnessing a mime or something :glare: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 I saw clips from the press conference, and I agree with everyone, I don't know what on earth the media was on about. They way they talk, she was supplementing her translation with some kind of interpretive dance or something. At the college I went to, there were ASL translators in quite a few of the classes, and this lady didn't seem to do it any differently than they did. *shrug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 What I really objected to was Mr. Bloomberg's butchering of the Spanish. Oh goodness. They should NOT allow that man to speak it in public. Horrid. And my 1st language is English but have lived long enough in Latin America to recognize an awful accent- he 'gringo-ized' it horribly! :tongue_smilie: Check out El Bloombito on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/ElBloombito His Spanish has become legendary (and lightens up the darkest electrical outages). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I thought I'd pass along this article about the interpreter. Excellent article. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I haven't seen any of the coverage, so I looked her up on YouTube. . She's doing a fine job. Only idiots...'scuse me...ignorant people would make the comments they have about her interpreting. FTR, I interpreted at my church for five or six years. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I thought I'd pass along this article about the interpreter. That was fascinating -- thanks for sharing it. I knew ASL used facial expressions, but that article did a great job of explaining parts of the youtube clip. She does seem very good, and I'm glad they thought to have her there. Tamara, I'm sorry that the media doesn't seem to get it; I also think you should send your post to someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Check out El Bloombito on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/ElBloombito His Spanish has become legendary (and lightens up the darkest electrical outages). That is hilarious. Thank you. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fhjmom Posted November 3, 2012 Author Share Posted November 3, 2012 Thanks for the affirmations that I wasn't crazy! LOL! That article is awesome and explained my point about the grammar of ASL and nonmanual markers much better than I did. Thanks for sharing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 You need to copy your post, OP, and send it to the NY Times Op/Ed page. I'm sure they'd print it as a letter to the editor. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElaineJ Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 I thought I'd pass along this article about the interpreter. an interesting and educational article. Thanks for posting! Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Deaf people can't hear the tone of the speaker's voice so they depend heavily on facial expressions. Also, they read lips along with signs so this interpretor did an excellent job of enunciating the words while signing which is hard to do. She was more animated than average but I'm sure it's because of the nature of the message about the storm which is certainly quite dramatic in itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Tamara- Thank you for your professional explanation.... :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I agree with the OP. My daughter's godmother is an interpreter and my daughter has seriously considered a career in that field. I've seen Godmother in action and she is very much like Lydia Callis. I thought the media slathering on about her was rather condescending to the deaf community. Agreeing with others that Tamara should send her post into the NYTimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Wow. Just goes to show that no amount of "political correctness" will bring about true civility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I thought the people weren't making fun of Bloomberg and how monotone and lifeless he was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.