Blog

Interpreting from American Sign Language (ASL) to spoken English offers the unique challenge of selecting the most appropriate word or phrase to be voiced. While word choice is generally objective, unless the signer specifies a unique word(s), Interpreters need to...

Today, we are lucky to have countless resources through which to learn and practice American Sign Language (ASL). Gone are the days of rewinding VHS tapes borrowed from our mentors and peers! When navigating a digital realm saturated with resources, it is sometimes...

While there are numerous American Sign Language (ASL) programs available online which provide novice, intermediate and advanced ASL courses, there are also a number of comprehensive, free* online resources available. *Some ASL learning websites require a fee to access...

We’re on the Same Team Interpreter coordinators deeply respect the skill, training, autonomy, and workload that professional interpreters carry. Interpreting is cognitively demanding, emotionally complex, and often physically taxing. We see and feel that, as we have...

Continuing with the “What Would You Do?” series, we now will dive into yet another hypothetical interpreting scenario, including an ethical dilemma to ponder, and apply the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct (CPC). In the prior blogs within this series, we discuss...

The term “Soft Skills” refers to the personal qualities, traits, behaviors, and social attitudes that allow individuals to relate effectively and successfully with others in the workplace and/or in social settings. While Soft Skills are vital in all facets of our work...

As interpreters, we are constantly sharpening our skills to prepare for the work ahead. Whether byresearching a presenter’s background, brushing up on specialized vocabulary, reviewing region-specificsign variants, or even memorizing song lyrics -- our assignments...

In a prior NIR Blog, “Secondary Traumatic Stress – The High Cost of Caring”, Burnout was referenced as a potential side effect of the emotional and physical pain and/or suffering brought on by Secondary Traumatic Stress. For this Blog, Burnout will be the primary...

American Sign Language Interpreters often face daily work-related stressors due to traumatic experiences, imagery, retelling, and events that may arise in any interpreting settings. Since our emotional mind and physiological body are intimately intertwined and...

An integral part of American Sign Language is the use of hand shapes, known as the "manual alphabet", to represent each letter in the English alphabet. Fingerspelling is the process of spelling out words, by using hand shapes from the “manual alphabet” that correspond...

American Sign Language Interpreters often face daily work-related stressors due to traumatic experiences, imagery, retelling, and events that may arise in any interpreting settings. Since our emotional mind and physiological body are intimately intertwined and...

While there is not a national requirement for licensure for American Sign Language Interpreters practicing in the United States, many individual states have the requirement for licensure, and/or other unique provisions. Please see the list below for the requirements...