Sign Language Interpreter Services

American Sign Language, or ASL, is the most widely used form of sign language in the United States. Estimates as to the number people living in the U.S. who are deaf or hard of hearing range from anywhere between 22 million and 36 million. Through ASL interpreters, those who have full hearing can communicate with the deaf or hard of hearing in situations that require fluid conversations and clear understanding. The services of a sign language interpreter are often needed in educational institutions, vocational rehabilitation centers, hospitals, local school districts and community service agencies.

The Interpreter’s Role

Interpreters facilitate cross-cultural communication, which, in a multi-cultural society such as ours, is crucial to making sure our schools, hospitals, institutions and other communities run more smoothly.  Interpreter services let doctors communicate with their patients, teachers with their students, and members from different language groups to exchange information and ideas.

And it’s not just language that interpreters are in charge of conveying, but culture too, which is contained within language. It’s not just words that must be communicated, but complicated concepts and feelings. Thus a good interpreter must be able to think on his or her feet to find the best way of expressing the idea that’s being communicated, even if it is not the most direct literal translation. Additionally, translators working in a specific field must learn specialized terminology associated with that field in order to facilitate communications effectively.

The Sign Language Interpreter

Unlike most language interpreters who translate from one spoken language to another, ASL interpreters must translate between visual sign language and spoken language. Their challenge is especially unique in that, unlike spoken language interpreters, they must use hand shapes, physical motion and facial expressions to relay spoken tonalities, ideas, and emotions to those who are deaf or hearing-impaired.

Sign language interpreters, like spoken language interpreters, are required to posses fluency in both English and ASL. Beyond high school, educational requirements vary, but though a bachelor’s degree is not required, it is usually preferred, especially in a competitive field like interpreting. Above all, however, the most important requirement is experience with sign language and its culture and a through proficiency.

To learn more about ASL sign language interpreter services and language translation services please visit http://www.interpretersunlimited.com.

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