Things People Say to Interpreters

Page 1 of 4

Why did you learn sign language?

What's your full-time (or real) job?

What do you do for a living?

Are you a volunteer?

What's the sign for (curse word/dirty word)?

Are your parents/siblings/spouse deaf?

Are you their (deaf client's) friend/relative/spouse?

Do you follow him/her (deaf client) all day?

Have you interpreted for him/her before?

How long have you known him/her?

How long did it take you to learn to sign?

Where can I go to learn to sign?

Puzzled look meaning: Who are you and why are you here?

Do they (deaf client) understand?

Tell him/her....

I'll explain it to you and you can tell them....

We don't need an interpreter, we understand each other fine.

This is really nice of you.

Is sign language universal?

Do you paraphrase? I noticed you didn't sign everything.

I guess you really learn a lot from interpreting this class/meeting, training, etc..

Are you hearing or deaf?

Can he (deaf client) lip read?

Can you lip read?

Who do I speak to, you (interpreter) or them (deaf client) ?

 

Ideas donated by: Kip Lewis, Catspaw, Greg, Robin, Martin, Bruce, Linda, Danita, Karen, Mike, Janish, Vicki, Jerry.

Based upon an idea of J. Wolf.