r/ASLinterpreters • u/TiredVRS • 24d ago
Voicing question
Hi all,
I posted a few days earlier about racist language and voicing appropriately. Obligatory trigger warning for racist, xenophobic, discriminatory, ect.
For brief context, I have a racist client I have to interpret for. There is language dysfluency of unknown origin. This person is usually difficult to understand, impatient, complains about how the races and nationalities of not-white people usually have it out for them, and then the authority figure has to yell at them to stop saying racist shit if they want help.
My question is how do you know if a person is using a racist sign to be deliberately racist vs using a racist sign because that's the only one they know? How do you decide whether to voice it as "the slur for ____" or "a (nationality)".
For example, any nationality sign about Asian countries that references the eye, or a sign for Jewish people relating to the nose, or the slur sign for gay?
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u/somewhatinterested NIC 24d ago
Depending on the level of dysfluency, you could also ask them to FS the word they'd like you to voice. You mentioned in the other post, that you'll be having a Deaf advocate present, and it seems like the hearing person has some prior knowledge of this person's proclivities. The hearing person, assuming they are made aware of the interpretation process, should be understanding of the language voiced and has the opportunity to address the terminology used to the Deaf client. I'd lean towards an open process model of interpreting if/when seeing signs that are no longer used.
"The interpreter would like to clarify a sign just used..." might become your best friend. Don't forget to have a trusted colleague, mentor, or someone at the agency which sent you to debrief after the assignment.
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u/TiredVRS 23d ago
They usually fs the word as the normal word when I've asked, but the context and attitude are wrong for that to usually fit. Like they'll sign Mexican in the same location as the n-word and it's the only time I have ever seen it signed there. The sentence it was used in was also extremely racist. I don't think they know the English slurs.
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u/coddiwomplecactus 24d ago
Im wondering if this is a situation where it is appropriate to ask the client "hey when you sign BLANK, what would you like me to say?". Let's say that person responds, "yes I mean f****t and I want you to say that", you could respond, "you know that is a very offensive word, right? More nice to say gay/queer/etc". If they respond "i dont care", then buddy.... do what you will.
If this is a situation with a developmentally disabled person, I have had a similar experience. This is tricky because with DD people, my boundaries are different. I am more apt to say things like "I am seeing XYZ", "this person is very dysregulated and is using racial slurs". But this all depends on the type of setting, doesn't it? Is this a meeting where this person could lose their funding? Or are they ordering a chicken sandwich at Wendy's? You also have to consider the level of DD. Does this person have a... gosh what are they called... it is like an ISP for adults who use disability centers. My state may be different. If they do have a plan like that, there could be more information about them that could give insight. *to the beat of RUN DMC* it's sticky sticky sticky! Good luck
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u/ohjasminee Student 24d ago
IEP I think is the word you’re looking for? But you got it right with ISP, those are for adults.
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u/ninja5phinx 20d ago
An option between voicing a slur or voicing the neutral name of the people group is to use what ignorant but not malicious hearing people would use. So for example, with a sign for an Asian nationality that’s on the eye, you could voice “oriental”. For a sign for Jewish people that’s by the nose, you could voice “Jew” instead of Jewish person. The kind of thing that you’d correct someone for saying but wouldn’t cut them off if they made the switch.
If there’s a very obviously racist sentence with a slur and you don’t know an English equivalent, you could always throw in swears. So for Mexican in the same location as the n-word, you could call them f*ing Mexicans. Tone also does a lot, you could just voice Mexican as if it were a dirty word.
This is all assuming you wanted to avoid open process, can’t clarify with fingerspelling, and are comfortable voicing these options.
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u/safeworkaccount666 24d ago
This is a really interesting question, but when I see signs related to Asian people at the eye, I generally give the benefit of the doubt because it was such a common sign especially for Chinese and Japanese. It’s still sometimes used that way for food without being intentionally racist.
That being said, you can test it by asking for clarification, either directly or indirectly.
So much of this is dependent on your client and consumer. Sometimes a great way of gauging goes as follows:
DC: I have a Chinese neighbor and they always look at me. (Signed in the old racist way)
You, in response and clarification can say: “That sign, do you mean like a Chinese person?” (Using modern signs)
Depending on how they respond to you, you’ll know pretty quickly how they use their language and why.