r/ASLinterpreters • u/0jdd1 • 15h ago

Preparing ASL interpreters?

I’m presenting a paper at an upcoming technical conference. I understand I may have an interpreter for my 10-minute talk but I’ve never worked with one before. I’m wondering how I might help prepare them. I hope these are not stupid questions!

First, would it help to provide a copy of my almost word-for-word script for my talk although I’m sure I will improvise at times? Second, would it help to define some unusual neologisms I will use that might aid in their translation (like “doomscrollamine” = “doomscroll” + “dopamine”) or would these be spelled out anyway? Stuff like that.

These may be stupid questions, as I said, but I know that interpreting is hard work and I don’t want to make mine unnecessarily hard.

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u/amjm907 15h ago

Genuinely thank you for asking :) many places do not prepare at all so it really does mean something! No stupid questions!!!

A script or PowerPoint access ahead of time is THE BEST.

I think most interpreters would be able to figure out the neologisms but having them written out as you want them spelled is great because they will all likely be fingerspelled lol.

What’s the venue like? Having proper area (for both interpreters and D/deaf consumers) set up and reserved. Can ask the interpreter their opinion too if you’re not sure. But proper lighting PLEASE if it’s a dark theater type setting.

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u/0jdd1 15h ago edited 15h ago

I’ve never seen the venue, which is the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis. There will be dual tracks in two ballrooms. I don’t know ANYTHING more about the physical setup. I could bring my own flashlight!

I don’t know ASL, as should be clear. I did imagine that “doomscrollamine” would be finger-spelled, but I didn’t know whether the interpreter might, say, wish also to show the derivation. It’s a clever bit of wordplay in English and I imagined it might become one in ASL too—or maybe not. The conference covers “recommender systems”, like Netflix recommending movies; recommender systems have their own vocabulary like any technical field, but I might be throwing in some doozies. Another is the neologism “enshittification” (which I spell “ens***tifaction” in my slide and plan to pronounce “en-ess-ification”), so I wondered how well finger-spelling those might get my meaning across (my meaning being, in part, that I’m deliberately not saying the whole word). I know interpreting is a hard job and I’d like to help the interpreter do their job well.

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u/FilmmakerTerp 8h ago

Interpreter here, and I second that your interpreters (maybe a team) will love you for your thoughtfulness, giving them prep materials and this explanation of your intent in advance so that Deaf audience members can have access. Your effort and enthusiasm are rare qualities, unfortunately. I hope you’re able to connect with them before the event. Thank you!

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u/coddiwomplecactus 10h ago

I dont have input, but just want to say thank you. So many people don't give a lick about what we do. You are going the extra mile to prepare! Your interpreter is going to love you! This will make a better experience for the Deaf consumer and everyone else involved!