Do I need sign language interpreter? The most common excuses. What do you know about the deaf? #11

Hi! As you know, before there were few events in Poland containing the translation to Polish Sign Language. Now the situation is getting better – events translated into Sign Language is more and more. But does that mean now in Poland situation iis perfect ? Unfortunately not.

Often the event organizer refuses to hire a PSL interpreter. I’d like to show you 4 most common excuses and advise you- how to respond to them.

“Sign language interpreter? Why? For who? After all, there are few deaf in Poland … “

When will you meet the argument, it’s good to know the data.. It is estimated that the number of deaf people in Poland, it reaches about 500,000 and 900 thousand Poles severely impaired hearing. It’s more than you thought, right? And do you know what you rely on? From your own experience, and the truth is that a hearing person and the deaf person looks the same. You can only see the difference when the deaf person starts sings. You pass the deaf in your daily life on the streets, shops and buses and you just don’t know about it.

“Sign interpreter distracts others”

Excuse # 2: “If I organize an event – I invite the guest with whom someone is going to talk if the PSL interpreter stays next to guest everyone will be looking at him! The guest will be ignored! ” That’s not true. You cannot be distracted by the message, you don’t understand. Of course, in Poland we aren’t used to to Sign Language interpreter in public space, so naturally, by the first or two minutes we look at him with curiosity. However, later we completely focus on the guest,, because he speaks a language that we understand. The only people which may feel distracted are hearing people who know Polish Sign Language, because they may feel tempted to compare the original text with the translation.

“Sign interpreter? Only voluntary “

Excuse # 3: “Okay, the interpretor can come, but only as a volunteer – we haven’t included it in the budget. ” Imagine that you are organizing an event and you forgot that probably English-speaking viewers will come. Would you say to English translator that he have to translate voluntarily? Sign Language Interpreter does the same job like any other spoken language translator, therefore he deserves a remuneration for it.

And since we’re talking about the budget … Regular attention to the availability of events will expand the circle of your potentials recipients and customers. As you saw the numbers at the beginning of the material, I think it’s worth fighting for, right?

“It is so hard to work with sign language interpreters … They have too high expectations”

Excuse # 4: “With PSL translators, it’s hard to cooperate … Their expectations are too high. ” Some people are reluctant employing a PJM translator because … the translator wants to take care of the real thing event availability. What does it mean? For example, if the translation is done online, He will be pay atenction to size the window- it is big enough? thanks to that the translation will be readable. In the case of an live event which will be recorded – can convinces that it would be the best if he had a separate camera, facing only on him. The reason is the same again – the concern for the best visibility of translation. There is also something in this excuse which also appears with audio translations, i.e. a request for materials. The more materials the translator gets – the better he will prepare for the translation.

If a reluctant organizer will list these behaviours – cheer him up! It means he had to deal with a professional translator, who cared about how the best way to do your job. The more often you will work with such a translator – the better and more convenient will be your communication. I hope if ever you’ll meet one from the excuses mentioned earlier, you will know it how to react to it.