Interpreting: March 2005 Archives

Well. Anne and I debriefed yesterday. It was quite a ride! We've got our action plan and to do lists. We did decide its worth going back next year and trying again, but would like to recruit more Deaf to be involved. And I know I need to pay attention to register - academic jargon is not accessible!

Stuart Hall is good for many things. :-) It's hard to imagine what would have been different if I had read him earlier (besides everything!) - but I'm content. My epistemological path (how I learn and continue to come "to know" things) has been what it has been. Just fine. :-) Lots of opportunity, growth, development, fun and challenging people . . . wishing it were different would be a waste of time and energy. And, in truth, it's really ok.

So, check out what Hall says about discourse. This may well tie in to the RID presentation this summer which is starting to percolate in my mind...

Dang. Have I had metonymy all wrong? Hall describes is a linguistic term in which a part is substituted for the whole inadequately because, as a one-sided or single moment it can never provide or capture a process (or object or event or . . . ) holistically, in all its dimensions, moments, and aspects.

I've been considering it alternatively as a representation or symbol in which the whole enacts itself within the part.

The conference was fantabulous. But I am toast! The hosts, Direct Learn Online Conferencing did a tremendous job. So did all of the presenters and participants.

Some links:

Center for Excellence for the Study of Sign Language Interpreting at RIT.

International Congress on Education of the Deaf

There are more that were posted in the actual papers, I'll dig 'em all out and post them here soon.

Now, I'm off to the gym and then a yummy Mexican dinner - my reward!

Supporting Deaf People Online has been pretty much taking up my entire life the last three days, but it's pretty cool. Anne and I have a lot of fascinating discourse to think about.

One downside is fewer deaf participants than I remember from last year. :-( Really thought there would be more.

BUT - the collegial environment and quality of discussion has been, I think, phenomenal. I'm really pleased we were able to present, and quite satisfied with the result. I think I even made some new friends! Always a happy thing. :-)

A spoken language interpreter in the European Union, Miguel Gomes, wrote about his experience working with sign language interpreters at the 2003 European Disabilities Forum.

He does a nice job of using himself as the foil to provide some education. It does seem like the working conditions of even conference-level sign language interpreters is in need of some support. Working solo all day? Wait until the rash of repetitive motion injuries hits! It'll happen eventually, don't you think?

Oh, don't mind me, I'm just excited. RID has put up the website with info about this summer's biennial conference in San Antonio. Of course, I wouldn't mind being there now (not that a snow day is such a bad thing), but it'll be gorgeous in July, too. :-)

Eileen's and my workshop is the very last one (alphabetical order, go figure!) on p. 19 of the pdf. But you can read it here...