Sophie Vouzelaud, a deaf woman, was a competitor for the Miss France title as Miss Limousin. As we can see from this video, her interpreter made numerous blunders (thanks to Jared Evans for bringing this to the attention of the deaf Blogsphere). The winner of Miss France goes on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. This will undoubtedly have everyone remembering Heather Whitestone, a former Miss America. I do not remember if she used an interpreter during her competition.
As shown in this video, Sophie needed to repeat herself more than three times during the interview. When she realized that the interpreter was not able to translate what she was signing, she began speaking for herself. This resulted in a round of applause as if she “performed” for an audience. One deaf person reacts to the outcome of the pageant in LSF.
Providing an interpreter was prudent. I have seen many deaf people, fluent and confident in their ASL, dragged down by interpreters. In a competition like this, the interpreter is integral to conveying the contestant’s confidence, intelligence and poise which are factors considered when the judges score each contestant.
I’m not certain, but it seems that Sophie was one of the two finalists. If she scored lower because of the poor performance of her interpreter, then tant pis!
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I’m sorry but the lovely Miss Limousin will be getting no sympathies from me. None.
What in the world was she thinking? Sophie should have hired her own preferred interpreter and worked closely with her in advance to ensure that there was a mutual and collaborative understanding of each other’s communication style. And like any other well-prepared contestant, semi-scripted dialogue should have been memorized and rehearsed.
In other words, if you’re deaf and using platform interpreting support, you had better get your pretty ducks in a row.
I would’ve also made sure that the interpreter was appropriately attired for the event.
The substandard performance was not the interpreter’s fault. I’m sure she did the best she could. It was, at best, an accurate rendering and reflection of Miss Limousin’s qualifications.
World peace, anyone?
Actually, I think it should be the responsibility of the organization to hire the interpreter, not Miss Limousin.
Miss Limosuin is probably 20 and without the benefit of Rob Rice’s savvy perspective, built upon years of self-representation. At that age, I would not think to get my own interpreter and would hope an image consultant would be available to me.
But that the miscommunication “was not the interpreter’s fault” and that the interpreter’s performance was “at best, an accurate rendering and reflection of Miss Limosuin’s qualifications”? Not following that.
Regarding Rob Rice’s comment:
I couldn’t agree with you more. In some states in the US, legislative mandates have been requested by deaf groups, primarily Commissions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CDHH), to require all interpreters to be licensed.
In New Mexico, there’s a huge controversy surrounding licensure because the ONLY reason the CDHH is requesting licensure is because of a perception that all interpreters in New Mexico are performingly inadequately or with substandards. Additionally, the CDHH of New Mexico claims that 95% of all Deaf people do not complain about their interpreters to interpreter regulatory bodies, such as the RID in sufficient numbers, presumably because the CDHH thinks Deaf people are too stupid.
Ultimately, it’s the Deaf person’s responsibility to make sure that the interpreter has a good understanding and idea of what is or isn’t expected. But, in the US, the conventional wisdom is that Deaf people by and large are too stupid to know how to seek redress from interpreters who perform inadequately.
So, if 95% of Deaf people don’t file complaints with the RID, for example, then what does that suggest? Maybe the interpreters aren’t really performing that badly. Maybe, like in the situation with the Fiasco in France, the problem isn’t so much the interpreter, but the Deaf person. Maybe it’s a problem of logistics as well, since perhaps no other interpreters were available for the French lass to work with prior to the competition.
Either way, I have little sympathy for the Deaf woman. It’s a cruel world sometimes, and if you venture outside and have difficulties, then welcome to the real world. She tried and did well, and to that, I am very proud of her efforts.
Thanks.
:o)
Paotie
Actually, I’m pretty sure that the French organization hired its own “interpreter” to preclude any possibility of an advantage and would have refused to have Stephanie provide her own. The French are funny in that way.
Oops. Sophie. My bad. I knew a woman named Stephanie Limousin years ago.
Yes, exactly my thought. Too much possibility for coaching and gaining some unfair advantage.
I like that video of the French man talking. While I did not understand everything, his basic message was loud and clear: The French deaf community has united behind the contestant, who herself seems to be a newcomer to LSF, and warmly appreciates the Pageant organizing committee’s good intentions. Their disgust is solely reserved for the interpreter. Appropriate response, appropriately directed! That man has my great admiration for his diplomatic intonation. I couldn’t have presented myself better in ASL.
And it was sooo fascinating to watch the LSF!
Rob, You do not know the whole story what really happened with Sophie Vouzeland and her assigned interpreter. We ought to pepper Sophie to tell the side of her story and ask the agency what is going on with the incomptent interpreter.
The educational facilities of the deaf hardly bother to train and educate the pre-college deaf youngsters how to use interpreters in proper ways or know our own rights within the interpreter. Not many educational faciltiies of the deaf offer courses in Consumer Education and Deaf Studies what to do with sign language interpreter or assistive technology of the deaf.
The sign language agencies ought to give the presentation to the pre-college and college-age youngsters and adults from time to time what is the proper use of interpreter and pinpoint out the rights of deaf customer to the effective sign language interpreting.
Many deaf people are afraid of “rocking the boat” if they become more assertive in their customer rights. Or they probably fear about being blacklisted by the sign language interpreting agency or interpreter. How true!
Ms. Vouzeland probably don’t want to sound like a primma donna or “demanding” person. She probably want to give an impression of being courteous and accomodable individual.
I happened to know my customer right very well to the effective ASL interpreting, but I have been trampled (metaphor) and dissed several times by interpreters themselves.
I had an appointment for annual physical examination which I explicitly requested my personal preference for the top-notch ASL interpreter. I came for my appointment at that time. The hosptial had the “iron-clad” contract with one of the local sign language interpreting agency.
The interpreter showed up pretty late past my appointment time. The receptionist called upon me for verification of my health insurance card, etc. The interpreter came to the scene and tried to monopolize my own dealing wiht the receiptionist. I firmly told that interpreter that I really done fine without his help. The receptionist had no problem with me processing my health insurance card. The interpreter insisted of knowing what kind of health insurance coverage I had. I gently told him that was between the receptionist and me. The interpreter grabbed my health insurance card and said “That is your health insurance (coverage)”! I was overly stunned about how inconsiderate and gruff the interpreter was with me.
I went back to my seat and waited for my turn to see the physican for physical examination. I already had previously discussed with the assigned interpreter what I personally feel comfortable with. I previously made an understanding with the interpreter to leave the room when I unclothed in front of the physician.
I knew about the interpreter’s sexuality. That’s why I made such a request and understanding with the interpreter before entering the examination room. The interpreter said “Okay!” Guess what? The interpreter refused to leave the examination room when the time for physician do the physical examination on me. He became real agrumentative with me. That interpreter keep squabbled with me - ‘”I am male like you. No big deal about seeing you naked, etc”. I tried to reasonate with the interpreter for about seven minutes. The doctor finally step in and asked me what was going on. I explained to the doctor about our gentleman’s agreement with the interpreter which he refused to embrace my simple wish for leaving the examination room as I got unclothed. The doctor firmly requested the interpreter to leave the room immediately, but he managed to give me real “ugly looks”. I was emotionally shattered.
Few weeks later, I accidently bumped into the very same interpreter at the social scene (neighborhood bar). I said nothing about what happened with the physical examination episode.
I somewhat caught that interpreter called me “mentally retarded” to his hearing friends in ASL and voice. I saw the entire conversation thru the window. I came back and confronted this interpreter - “Hey, you call me “MR”. I am not! The interpreter quipped “Why you nosy in our conversation??” I replied back “I never trust you at all”
I did not realize that I should report to the sign language interpreting agency and file the complaint as many people urge me. I never did.
I fear mostly about the informal blacklistings among the ASL interpreter which happen to several of my deaf friends.
You could see that many deaf people are living in fear and have difficulty about “gray area” dealing with the sign language interpreters in general.
The country of France is kinda backward on the accessibility and accomodation of the deaf which she still do not have the VRS or captions on TV (French captions on French TV and newscasts). It is one of the G-13 nation!
We, deaf Americans still do not have the national standards for the sign language interpreters, etc.
Many interpreters ever freelance ones refuse to do the interpreting task for deaf individual without the backing of any federal agency or business or establishment. I ever offer the interpreting fee upfront.
Many DC-based interpreters rather do business with the agency, business or whatever the establishment than deaf individuals. Ever with the formal contract or fee upfront ($$ in advance).
One episode with the merely qualifed interpreter. I made a formal arrangement with the foundation to arrange the sign language interpreter for me. The foundation have no idea of who to hire for the ASL interpreter. I contacted fifty interpreters whom were unavailable at that time. I found one interpreter which I gave him a chance to prove hirself worthy of interpreting for me.
After the one-hour lecture, the interpreter was asked by the lecture coordinator how much he was ought to be paid. That interpreter told him $500. The lecture coordinator complied with the extortant interpreting fee without my personal knowledge. I found out about it eventually. I felt real disgusted about some interpreter exploit the deaf people.
I always am very careful with interpreters in general. No question about many superbu and good and decent sign language interpreters out there.
You could see why many deaf people are not very well-versed with the use of interpreter and what to do about dealing with interpreter, etc.
No organizations of the deaf offer the program or workshop how to use interpreter in effective and proper way. The RID hardly offer the free workshops or program about the importance of knowing our customer rights to the effective use of interpreter, etc.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLM, I’m so envious.
What do you do for a living that allows you so much time to respond to blogs?
I mean, I have a flexible job, am single (no one to ask me what I’m doing up so late reading blogs), and have a decent amount of free time. But man, RLM, you’re on this and every other blog that gets posted on DeafDC.
Congrats and all the respect in the world for keeping the bloggers honest and opining on them all. But don’t get fired at work for spending so much time on DeafDC.
Great post though.
hey shane
I don’t think Heather Whitestone ever used an interpreter. Other than her limp ballet performance, from what I remember, she made a very classic lipreader fumble. Apparently she misread the questioner’s lips and went way off base with one or two answers.
Limp ballet performance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4eO_mCb9P4
It’s a nice piece, thanks for the link. But at the time and today, I still think there are more capable deaf dancers, ballet and otherwise. HW used basic ballet steps. I’m speaking for myself from experience and I’m not the audience wowing at a dancer who cannot hear. back to miss france now :)
Hmm. I don’t know much about ballet, but she seems okay. Nothing “inspirational” about it to me. :P
~ Deaf Pundit
prescisement! i was looking for that, “nothing ‘inspirational’”. thanks :)
On a summer night, I watched the show with my mom. After Heather finished dancing, my mom exclaimed with excitement that the talent was so beautiful and it matched perfectly with the song, “Via Doloria”. It’s a song about Christ on the way to his crucifixion. See how she ended the dance with a cross. Also early in her dancing, she put her hands above the head representing the crown Jesus wore. Also, my mom heard how loud the audience’s clapping through out the performance including the point where hands were above her head. It was simply outstanding.
wow, obviously that was not a qualified interpreter. we all know that many hearing people and businesses have no concept what an interpreter does, and thing if someone can wave their hands around a bit they must be a qualified interpreter. as this was on television and now the internet, i just hope that this grave mistake has raised awareness in the hearing french community about now NOT to go about getting an interpreter. does france have professional interpreter organization like RID or AVLIC? i hope they’re sending letters to the editors and press releases all over france. more importantly, does france have any civil rights laws for deaf/disabled people? i think the UN has guidelines but if there’s no legal protection to equal rights, miss limousin may have little recourse other than helping spread the word and bad press about this huge faux pas.
Rob, when you say: “The substandard performance was not the interpreter’s fault. I’m sure she did the best she could. It was, at best, an accurate rendering and reflection of Miss Limousin’s qualifications,” does that mean you witnessed the pageant and were able to judge the quality of interpreting?
I think you have a point: that Miss Limousin should have gotten her ducks in a row, as you say.
At the same time, denying that there’s any possibility of misfired communication or faulty interpreting is a bit irresponsible.
Without pointing fingers, I think this sounds like a terrific opportunity to note that 1) interpreting is HARD, especially in the Deaf community, and taken for granted much more often than we think, and 2) that this phonocentric world does judge people on their ability to speak well, which puts people, either Deaf or using a different language, at the mercy of the interpreter — something of which the audience receiving the interpreted message is almost never fully cognizant.
And to Miss Limousin (of whom I know nothing other than what I’ve read in this blog): kudos for doing well. Making Semifinalist in a national pageant is nothing to scoff at.
Thank you for addressing this in response to Rob’s post, in which I agree.
Also, I acknowledge s f’s point as well about taking into consideration that Miss Limousin is 20 years old and inexperienced about what she could do with the interpreters.
There definitely needs to be more deaf run interpreting agencies in the world — Birnbaum Interpreting Services is highly reputed. I hope organizations like HOVRS and CSDVRS will have their own freelance interpreters beside Video Relay Services for local areas. I would trust their judgement in sending interpreters more than any other agencies. Look at the quality of interpreters HOVRS and CSDVRS used.
I am proud of Miss Limousin for using LSF eventhough she didn’t have a better luck.
Alli, no I wasn’t there. But by way of this video, the naivete of the contestant was obvious.
I’m of the opinion that anyone deaf who gets up on a public stage should always - and I repeat, always - make an effort to meet with their professional and certified interpreter in advance to ensure that expectations are set, dialogue is shared and that both are comfortable with one another’s style of communication.
Interpreters are human professionals. They’re real people. And they can’t be expected to be mechanical robots who can automatically read, understand and flawlessly render the message of any signing individual.
And thank you for acknowledging that the interpreting profession is not an exact science.
And you’re right, it is a phonocentric world we live in. And it is what it is.
Do not undermine the ability of those who manage to excel although they are few in number. We could have more far better interpreters than we are seeing now. Where does it begin with? Interpreting Training Programs and Interpreting agencies. Many of them are not surrounded in an ASL-rich environment with proper ASL models. They often put money above the needs of deaf members.
I feel the interpreting profession needs to be monitored closely and strictly by the government, who works closely with a deaf task force. That would also mean weeding out incompetent interpreters. What set interpreters in the Deaf community apart from other language minorities interpreters is that they fall under ADA, thus it’s a federal law, and our “disability” relies on communication AND language access — a basic human right. Those 2nd language speakers (hearing people) can escape from the horror of relying on interpreters by learning to speak English whereas it’s not an option for many deaf people.
You say:
“…always - make an effort to meet with their professional and certified interpreter in advance to ensure that expectations are set, dialogue is shared and that both are comfortable with one another’s style of communication.”
I’ve heard about this countless of times, not only for stage but also everything else from hospital to court to school to academic, etc. The interpreters or the agencies better pay those deaf people for their time helping prepare them ahead of time. I find it annoying that deaf people are expected to sacrifice their life and time at no cost while their hearing counterpart makes a living off it. It is getting real old.
I agree that people are human beings, but don’t mistaken incompetence with being a human when some interpreters shouldn’t be in the profession in the first place. The interpreter failed to understand Miss Limousin, not only one time but several times. Miss Limousin has become a victim by the agency, interpreter and the organizer.
I wonder how would this be if had the agency send a deaf interpreter to team with a hearing interpreter.
Miss Limousin clearly did not have the opportunity to meet her interpreter beforehand as she should have. You can see the horror in her eyes when she realizes the interpreter is not understanding her. It’s possible the organizers did not allow them to meet beforehand, but the interpreter is the one who knows how vitally important it is that they meet. She should have explained to the organizers WHY they need to meet each other beforehand.
I feel sorry for Miss Limousin AND the interpreter. They are surely both disappointed in the way things turned out.
This whole incident has a pretty funny side to it…Someone might have lost the opportunity to become Miss France (allegedly) because of an interpreter-big deal.
Interpreting IS a tough job, regardless of what languages and cultures you deal with. Interpreters make mistakes, some are just incompetent or inexperienced, and some are just not in a position to “argue” with their employer.
Just think about those interpreters who work for the EU, or the WTO, NATO, etc., for example. Even I have noticed that things get misinterpreted now and then.The consequences may not be as dramatic as someone being precluded from winning a beauty pageant, which may be why we never hear about those things. After all, we are only talking about some of the most powerful organizations in the world.
Cheers!
To Robert.
I’m very sorry that the interpreter treated you that way at the doctor’s office. He was VERY rude and unprofessional.
I work as an interpreter (I’m Hearing) in Michigan. I too have problems working with some interpreters because of their unprofessional and egostical attitude (when I have to team with them.) I understand what you mean about being “black-listed.” One Deaf client of mine, no one wants to work with her because of personal reasons. I work with her because I understand her situation and she now requests me.
I am still working towards RID certification…I’m hoping to be a “top” interpreter some day soon!
Sincerely,
Jennifer
I am sorry, I do understand the points everyone is trying to make, we weren’t all there but I do not think it’s Ms. Limousin’s fault, I am sure she was very busy running around rehearsing for her pagent and did not have the time to worry about how qualified the interpreter is except she used her trust to the agency to hire the best qualified interpreters. Do not be fooled by “reputed agency” because many times agencies would hire non-certified or certified by luck interpreters who cannot interpret for crap, I have met many interpreters who sign fluently but receptive of ASL was horrible! So I think she was unfortunate by getting an interpreter who cannot comprehend ASL well enough.
I haven’t seen the interpreter but they should have had 2 interpreters to begin with! My experience is that many hire 2 interpreters to take turns signing to avoid carpel tunnel syndrome and tired hands and etc. and also signing and vocal support in case an interpreter missed what the deaf or hearing person was trying to say.
Too bad there was only 1 interpreter! If they had a 2nd, the 2nd interpreter would have corrected the 1st interpreter, I have had that experience where the 2nd interpreter corrected the first interpreter and she was very grateful. TEAMWORK is what was missing.
I applaud Sophie speaking up when she realize the interpreter who cannot do her job interpreting for her, I’m sure Sophie put the interpreter on the spot making her realize the interpreter needs to go back and learn how to improve on her receptive skills.