In 1984, there was a new program for the Deaf studying computer and electronics technology.

The class was about 12 Deaf students and all are motivated to become computer technicians after graduation. The school hired an interpreter and the interpreter was also a mother-like figure. She scolded a student for not paying attention or talking to another student. The instructor was puzzled because he was discussing electronic theory and he knew what the interpreter was doing does not agree with the message he was sending to the class. The interpreter stood up and went to the student and correcting the student’s behavior. The instructor was dumbfounded and asked the interpreter what is going on. The interpreter responded, “Nothing, I took care of the problem.”

After weeks of this and all of the studnets in the class finally went to the office to address a complaint. “Interpreters are supposed to relay messages and not the other way around,” said one student. The instructor was clueless of what was going on, and we have no way to let this person know, because the interpreter will not relay anything neagtive towards herself.

The people at the office realized the problem and hired an interpreting agency which is top-notch and the students started to feel comfortable asking a lot of questions because the interpreter understood what the students were signing.

But you made a point which I think needs to be emphasized: the importance of not answering to your interpreter (as an additional authority).

Had you done that, the power structure would have changed, and she would have been the colonizer/oppressor and you the victim. Or put this another way: she would have had the upper hand and not you. In addition, she also treated you like a child by trying to “train” you how to behave in a classroom, which is something colonizers/oppressors often do.

I see your experience not just as an example of conflict resolution, but an example of how some colonizers can come in guise of ‘helpful terps’ who then try to put Deaf people in their “place” by trying to train them and reminding them how grateful they should be (hey, you forgot to thank the terp! heh) for services that they are JUST SO DAMN LUCKY to get.
-Michele Ketcham

It was only until much later when I recounted this story to an interpreter friend of mine that I found out that I had *fired* the first interpreter. Hmm, at that time, I hadn’t even thought about it, but, that’s right. I fired an interpreter. I was all of 18 and, uh, this was sometime around 1986. It was shocking to my friend and I find it somewhat amusing now — looking back at my 18 or 19 year old self and his, ahem, calmness and self-possession when faced with an unacceptable interpreting situation.

You do what you have to do when you’re Deaf and you need access.

And I wouldn’t have been as patient as Chris when faced with an interpreter who suddenly refused to interpret because of some personal biases, although conflict resolution is good in other situations. It was the professor’s job to maintain decorum if he or she wanted to do so, and it wasn’t the terp’s responsibility to impose morals.

I wish I knew what to tell you. The way I see it, in the long run a person who doesn’t think enough of you to tell you directly when he/she has a problem with you isn’t a person worth bothering with.

Sure I do. All of the time. (But DP you’re right–I never did become friends with THAT interpeter, no. PS loved the nose/boob job story above! Haha!)

You can tell usually right off the bat what type the interpreter is. There are cool interpreters who you will establish friendships with, and some who you just maintain a friendly professional relationship, and those who are totally into the ‘helping profession’ attitude. Seems to me that Chris’ interpreter fell in the 3rd category. Totally domineering and bossy.

A lot of people are like that… They are really presumptuous and take upon themselves to tell people what to do. I was told a hilarious story once about a deaf woman’s encounter with one of those presumptuous individuals.

A deaf person was chatting with a friend (hearing) in a grocery store. A hearing woman saw them signing then approached them, and proceeded to lecture the deaf woman, with her friend interpreting, on how wonderful cochlear implants were, and that she thought it would greatly improve the deaf woman’s quality of life.

This deaf woman didn’t know her! So after the long lecture from a complete stranger, the deaf woman had the perfect response. She just smiled and said, ‘Well thank you for the advice. Let me return the favor… I am completely positive that a nose and boob job will do wonders for you!’ :D

I know their job is just to interpret and remain impartial, but I’m sure some of us have established friendships with many of our interpreters. =)