How to Communicate With a Deaf Person Through an Interpreter:

How to Communicate With a Deaf Person Through an Interpreter

Communicating with a Deaf person through a sign language interpreter may feel awkward at first, but if you keep a few simple etiquette tools in mind, you can minimize the language barrier.It is also a  skill of talking with a deaf person.

Steps :

Don’t engage directly with the interpreter :

• Don’t ask the interpreter’s opinion, tell the interpreter not to interpret something you’ve said, or look at the interpreter when you’re talking.
• Her or his voice will be coming from side.You have to make her/him feel that his/her voice is aloud.

Let the Deaf person and the interpreter position themselves as needed :

Depending on where you are, there may be issues with lighting or positioning. To understand a conversation fully, the Deaf person needs to be able to see the interpreter and you clearly, and the interpreter needs to be able to see the Deaf person clearly.

Speak and gesticulate normally :

If the Deaf person reads lips, he or she will probably be looking between the interpreter’s hands and face, your lips, and your gestures to get a full picture of the conversation. . A good interpreter will pick up your tone, and your face will also communicate tone.

Be sensitive of a lag in interpreting :

You should speak at a normal pace and follow the usual rules in conversation, but do allow for pauses where appropriate.

• Licensed interpreters vary in skill level.
• Don’t worry about pauses in your language because there may be possible that you and him/her are from different society.
• If there seems to be a long lag at the end of a sentence, or the interpreter is signing slowly or pausing a lot, or you notice confusion overall, slow down a little and pause more.

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