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Sign Language Interpretation Phyllis Rogers in Testing Environments As a professional sign language interpreter, I was once assigned to interpret the written portion of the driving test for a young deaf adult. We met at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and after an extensive wait, entered the testing area. Although I had long since forgotten most of what was asked on the driver’s test, I still had a general sense of the content. (If this had been a test on “Queen Anne-Style Architecture” or “Physical Properties of Suspension Bridges,” that would most certainly not be the case.) Content knowledge is just one of many important factors to consider for successful test interpretation. Much of what I do as an interpreter is guided not only by content knowledge, but also by specific information about the deaf or hard of hearing client. It is helpful for me to know about each person’s level of sign language proficiency, educational background , familiarity with the role of an interpreter, and the ways in which he or she might utilize interpreting services during a test. Being able to converse at length with the deaf or hard of hearing individual prior to the testing activity is another critical factor which will enhance the quality of test interpretation. Interpreters must also consider factors related to the testing protocol and setting. Without advanced preparation, it is not unusual for test administrators to become suspicious of the interpreting process or to suddenly determine that interpreting is “not allowed.” Sometimes the testing room, lighting, and other logistical arrangements make interpreting a test more difficult. Sometimes deaf people are themselves unfamiliar with ways in which to utilize interpreting services during tests. My training as a professional interpreter is essential in the application of ethical standards, identification of logistical issues, and cross-cultural mediation to address some of these challenges. A deaf person can know a lot about driving a car and the rules of the road and still fail a driving test because of the complexities involved in test interpretation. About halfway through this particular test, I could overhear the DMV supervisor ask one of the other employees rather loudly about what the interpreter was doing in the testing area. Soon, he had made his way over to me and announced his question, “Can she read? Because if she can read then she doesn’t need you here, so you can just go sit down outside of this area!” Given what I knew about this deaf individual, I dealt with the interruption by explaining my role to the DMV supervisor, stating that I was here to provide interpretation as needed for the written English language on the driver’s test as well as for any other spoken interaction between the deaf person and DMV staff. I suggested that if he had any other questions, he would need to address them directly to the client, but she was in the middle of taking her test. Unfortunately, my attempt to mediate at this level was not successful. 1 0 9 110 Phyllis Rogers “Well I just want to know if she can read or not!” the DMV supervisor barked. By this time, other people taking tests in adjacent booths were beginning to glance in our direction to see what all the commotion was about. “Would you like to pose this question to her, sir?” I offered. “Yeah. Just ask her, I don’t have all day!” he snorted. Reluctantly, I tapped the young woman on the shoulder. She had been deeply engrossed in question number 12 and was surprised to see the red-faced DMV supervisor standing behind her. I signed a short explanation of what had just transpired, including the explicit question about her reading skills and the implicit question of whether or not she needed my services. Unfortunately, that amount of information and the abrupt shift from the test to the interpreting issue was overwhelming for the individual, as it would have been for almost anyone. She responded that she could read, so the DMV supervisor got ready to escort me rather forcibly into another room. Fortunately, as it dawned on her what was happening, the woman then stated that she did need me to sign the questions because she couldn’t read all of the words, just some, and the sentences were too long. She was embarrassed to have to say this in a public area, and I was embarrassed for her. Quite a scene had been...

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