The Syndicate

Epignosis wrote:I played air guitar once in front of an old deaf guy.

He got up and beat my ass.

To this day I don't know what I said to piss him off.

indiglo wrote: Coooooooooool. I feel smarter already.

I love hearing about the CDI. How sad it's needed, but how beautiful that there is such a resource available. I bet it is magical to be with them. Several weeks ago on Prairie Home Companion, Garrison was going on about how nice it is to be in the presence of competency. Seeing a CDI do their work must be very fulfilling. It is so impressive to be with such competent people, especially in such a meaningful endeavor.

Epignosis wrote:That's discriminatory. I told the gentleman in Men's wear at Walmart I was interested in buying his nuts and he had me thrown out!

indiglo wrote:@ Illy

Sometimes I forget how different out mediums are, until I try to ask you questions with terminology that mostly applies to spoken language! Faux paus!

I'll try to clarify what I was actually getting at for some of those questions:

Do "accents" and "colloquialisms" exist in sign language? For example, would someone from the Southern US do certain signs vertically higher or lower than elsewhere (or more to the left or right, or with more a flick of the wrist, etc.)? (Or is there an equivalent for something like "bless your heart", that would mostly be used by signers from a certain area?)

AHHHH! Yes, accents are prevalent in ASL. It is not how we sign them but what we sign. For example, I picked up a deaf presenter who was here to do a workshop and he was talking about how he left his nuts at home so he had to stop by Walmart. I could not understand why nuts would be so important, but he was from Texas so I just nodded and smiled. He got back from Walmart with a package of underwear because the Texas sign for underwear is our sign for peanuts.

Being that you picked up some signs during your studies that you like better, are those understandable by new clients in the US? Could they use context to discern what this slightly different (or totally different) sign means? Would it look like an accent to them, or just a new sign? It mostly looks like a new sign but some of them look at me funny, then I realize what I signed backtrack and explain all while listening to what is happening, process that and hold it. 90% think what I am using is clearer and if they dont like it I use what they like.

Regarding translating - For example, I am currently on retainer to translate an employee handbook for a business. (Written -> Written) Have you ever done something similar in ASL? I would imagine it would take the form of making a video of you interpreting the handbook, so that a deaf employee could understand it fully? Or is that just something you would do in person? Or would they just read the original handbook just as easily? Yes to all three, I have signed written instructions on video. I have done it is person with the handbook in my lap (not ideal) and I have interpreted as they read it out loud. Nine times out of ten, the Deaf client reads it for themselves, and will ask if something is not clear as you know that language can be.... ridiculously tricky and obtuse.

Every once in a while I will come across a Deaf client who has almost no language of any kind, (this happens more frequently than I would like). When this happens I tell the agency to send my a CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter) these are people who have insanely strong skills in taking any ASL I toss at them and breaking it down into some very clear, simple concepts using gestures, body language and some ASL to get their point across. They will also take whatever language the client has, process it, and give it to me in ASL so I can interpret ASL to English for the hearing clients. It is pretty fascinating stuff, and I would work with a CDI every day if I could but since we have 3 in one of the larger states it is tricky to get one.

Epignosis wrote:Let's say you're really nervous and your hands are shaking. Do people consider that stuttering?

LOL, no but you CAN stutter with ASL. I have only been that nervous once or twice and it was my fault both times. For the big time gigs I occasionally get, I have to get myself centered and my brain quiet about 10 minutes before I start because if I dont the adrenaline will win that fight.

indiglo wrote:*ahem*

indiglo wrote:Sorry, not limiting my questions, because you know this work is close to my heart too. But if it gets too long, feel free to skip some of them.


*puts on nerd glasses*



What were some of the major differences you noticed between ASL here in the US and sign language across the pond? Well, as every spoken language has its own signed langauge it is, as you can imagine, extremely varied. I have picked up a few signs that I like better from other countries than what we do and I have begun to incorporate them in my everyday.

Did you have to make any major changes, or minor changes in your communication style? I need more clarification here. I don't understand the question?? With whom and where? I mean, obvs the answer is yes but I think you are going somewhere specific with this

Is it important etiquette to make sure your hands are in good condition? Actually, yes.

Are there things (like bright nail polish, or a loud manicure) that are frowned upon? Yes, it is inappropriate, unprofessional, and unethical to have long, or brightly colored nails. It would be like trying to read an important text with violent polka dots swimming through it in a random pattern.

What kind of extra care do you give your hands? And is there a daily routine you have to keep them loose and un-sore? I wrap my wrists in a moist heating pad every night without fail. It keeps everything loose enough to sleep and be ready for the next day

What's the longest interpreting appointment you'll make? (Unless time isn't an issue, but I know for myself I only have so much time before my brain is fried, and I imagine your hands take a real beating in addition to the brain tax.) There is a two-hour max that is standard in my profession, anything over two hours requires a team of interpreters. If you are doing tactile interpreting for Deaf Blind clients then you may even have three interpreters for the day depending on the clients linguistic needs and the complexity of the topic and they are all teamed even for 30 minutes.

Have you done any translating, in addition to interpreting ? You know, I think one of the most interesting things I learned in my masters degree program is that in reality, the division between translators and interpreters is a construct that doesn't make any sense. I translate all the time, directions, difficult English text of any ilk, test instructions you name it. A lot of the translators also interpret every day.

nutella wrote:Gosh illy that color is impossible to read on the dark forum skin (which I think most of us use btw - I think I saw you complaining about other people's colors but that would be why)


Then color me old, I cant read ANYTHING on that dark skin. I have a headache in abt 5 mins. This is as bright as my eyes can handle. Besides, y'all can highlight the text like I have to do for everything.
Let's see, are there any questions that haven't been asked yet...

what was the last really good meal you had? Had a reallly good one tonight, when to a local joint with two friends where we DEMOLISHED the following:
Pork belly sliders, grit fritters, and a salad with peanuts, peaches, feta and a white balsamic vinagrette.
Scallops over a spring pea parmesan risotto
Smoked pork chop with pimento cheese grits and collards
Blue cod with roasted cauliflower and brussel sprouts with tasso ham, onions in a thai vinegrette type sauce

WINE. Lots and lots of wine.

Tres Leches, cookie in a skillet, and a dark chocolate peanut butter concoction.

With some more wine. We were there for about 4.5 hours so we meandered through it all. UNF.
where do you most want to visit that you haven't yet? Japan. Like for three months.
any good tv series you've been into lately? + books? Series on tv not really different from my previous list. Books. I am reading the third book in a trilogy right now by Justin Cronin and I am liking it very much. Each book has been stylistically different from each other in a great way and it turns out the final book has a Deaf character in it. And they are written as whole, complicated and kind of awesome. The author didnt even go too far off the reservation when it came to sign language. So I will take it.

indiglo wrote:

bea wrote: It's illy....I've missed her.

I know, right? It just feels right for her to be here again.

Dex wrote:Where have all your minions gone?

bea wrote:Ok my sweet sweet mistress - I did not forget you....

brace yourself.......


1) What did you want to be when you grew up at age 5? 10? 18? Respectively, a marine biologist, a marine biologist, a high class call girl
2) What is your favorite thing about doing what you do? What is your least favorite thing? Going somewhere different and interpreting something different every day.
Least favorite is the oppression I see/experience/have to interpret at my clients everyday.
3) What was your favorite bits about grad school abroad? Meeting interpreters from other countries and sharing war stories.
4) How much curry did you eat while you were over there? None. I am not a curry girl, especially it is WAY hotter over there.
5) Did you kidnap David Tennant for us? I FUCKING TRIED.
6) What do you think about Moffit stepping down from Who? Do you think Capaldi will go with him? I am okay with it, he had a few good eps but I get why most Whovians hate him. Not sure about Capaldi, I hope not.
7) Who is your favorite companion and why? Donna. Fucking. Noble.
8) Did you kidnap John Borrowman for us? Um... as he is American.. no. BUT my friend got to interpret for him. I about died with jealousy.
9) What is your favorite comfort food? Hmm. It depends, but pasta tends to be it.
10) What is your favorite thing to cook? Yikes. Tricky as hell. I like cooking for a crowd, something that looks like (and maybe tastes like) it is really complicated or difficult but in reality is not.
11) If BDH (aka Diggz) and I visited you, what would we do? Oh gosh, there is nothing to do here but sit in traffic so I am not sure I would reccomend that.
12) If you came to visit us what would you want to do? Painted Desert?? No idea. I would have to research.
13) Cuz no one asked yet and I know it's one of your favorite quesitons - favorite curse word and why? Hmm. I tend to cycle but it either ends up being something profane which being in the Bible Belt has been known to upset some folk or is a variant of fuck. Right now it is "flying dusty fuck"
14) What did you miss the most from the states while you were studying abroad? EFFICIENCY. Good lord, they were on island time and it would make me mental in the beginning.
15) How awesome is Spike? SO. AWESOME.
16) No, really - how awesome? SO. FUCKING AWESOME.
17) Am I pleasantly annoying or annoyingly pleasant? Yes.
18) How goes the plans for the Army oh fearless leader? Well since Grimmy bailed on his Zoo job, and went all corporate, I have had to start rebuilding.
19) What game did you have the most fun hosting? Even though I fucked it up, Dr Horrible.
20) What do you like to do in your spare time that's not playing mafia? Reading, Netflix, hanging with The Bobbins
21) Read any good books recently? Yes but I have no idea what the title was.
22) If so, what should I pick up? I would need more info before I could answer.
23) Would you be surprised to know that wonkajeeby is a regular part of my spoken vocabulary now? As it should be.
24) What is something you've always wanted to do but haven't done yet?
25) If you feel comfortable sharing, can you tell us about a mistake you made that ended up having a better outcome than you thought it would have when you first went through it? Holy cow. Okay. Do ex boyfriends count? But in all honestly, I was in a work environment with a Deaf client who had worked there for 20 years.It was the first time that they had hired an interpreter for him (DO NOT GET ME STARTED). One of his co workers called him Dummy. As in you are deaf and dumb, which is archaic and wrong on a lot of levels. The first time he said it I stopped interpreting simultaneously, and said "I am sorry, what did you say?" The (jackass) explained how the Deaf guy thought it was funny. I interpreted "Oh, private joke? You like his name for you?" Client replied "What name". GAH. So now I have gone too far to get out of this hole so I tell the client. THEY ARE HORRIFIED. The fun news for me was it turned into me hollering at this jackass about what a jackass they are. Which is always fun!
26) Am I bugging you yet? Nope.
27) How bout now? Weelll. Kidding. Still nope.
28) How weird is it to not know what's going to happen on GOT? Not only wierd but very stressful, this past weeks ep was.... something I would have liked a heads up on....I cant make that not end in a preposition. Epi?
29) Anything you want me to tell James when I stalk him next weekend? That I love everything he as been in, and Spike and Capt John Hart make all of us very happy.
30) Is it ok to miss some of James's panel because we are getting our autographs from billie piper and alex kingston during that time? TOTALLY okay, and James would say so too.


Ok - I'm done for now. But I will prolly think of more.

Metalmarsh89 wrote:

Illyria wrote:

Turnip Head wrote:How much do you like the maths?

I do not like The Maths, I do not DO The Maths. I do, however, INTERPRET The Maths quite well because it is not my responsibility to understand what is being said in that context. It is the student's responsibility.

Wait what?

Could you explain this in more detail? Now I'm curious to what you do.

I am an American Sign Language Interpreter. I love my job, it is different every day. I drive all over the state(and occasionally into other states) interpreting everything from super fancy high level white collar gigs to standing by a conveyor belt in a hairnet. I chose what I do and where I go, and what my schedule looks like. So I do not do what I call The Big Three. Medical, Legal and Religious. I tend to faint, I am not sending anyone to jail, and I am not sending anyone to Hell.

To answer your question: Educational interpreting is a little different than community interpreting. One, I dont do anything under college. Two, my job is to provide ACCESS not teach, not help it is called equal access in the law, not better than access, equal. Three, if any student doesn't understand something in college it is their responsibility to follow up. If I don't understand what is being physically uttered, (stumbling over words, slurring) or the professor is being woefully unclear in his linguistic choices. THEN I step in and ask for clarification, but I always check with my client first. Sometimes they do not want me to clarify, (they don't give a dusty fuck, they already understand it, or they don't want to call attention to themselves-- all valid lifestyle choices).

Sorry. I will go on about my job because I love it. Y'all should limit questions about what I do from here on out lol, seriously.

Epignosis wrote:And we winned.

Turnip Head wrote:How much do you like the maths?

I do not like The Maths, I do not DO The Maths. I do, however, INTERPRET The Maths quite well because it is not my responsibility to understand what is being said in that context. It is the student's responsibility.

Black Rock wrote:

Illyria wrote:

Black Rock wrote:
I still use mayormaynot to this day. It was my favourite clever hint that no one got.

Me and LC are rerunning Buffy at a smaller level hear. I would be so happy to have you and LoRab play it when it comes around. You both are my favourite Joss fans.

What brought you back to our Mafia community?

rabbit8 wrote:Well, well, well.....


You!

Where you living these days?

fingersplints wrote:Illy, what is your favourite place you have lived? Edinburgh, Scotland. I am STILL mourning that loss. It was the worst break up I have ever had, I loved that city so hard I could have lived there for the rest of my life and never looked back *kicks UK border agency*
How much did you miss us? I missed you all quite a bit. I was surprised, even a year out I would wonder how y'all were fairing.
What was your favourite thing about the mafia community? Hmm. I have made some really neat friends here that have taught me stuff, about life, love, honor, perseverance and being sneaky as well as Mafia strategy
What do you miss most about lost? What is your favourite thing you have seen an actor in lost in (post-lost)? Huh. Besides Evangeline, who else is doing stuff? I did like her turn in Ant Man it was fun to see her play a tight ass.
What to shows do you watch now? TWD, GoT are the two reasons I still have cable,. Seriously good as well: Call The Midwife, Last Week Tonight, Grimm, Supernatural, Agents of Shield.
I also love me some good bubble gum: Teen Wolf, Stitchers, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow.
What is an instrument you would love to but probably will never learn to play? Every. single. one. Now that my hands are my money makers playing an instrument is less of an option. Plus all the time, I would rather Matrix it instead. "I know kung fu."

S~V~S wrote:... or bears ?

I do like a nice fluffy bear.

Metalmarsh89 wrote:Do you prefer llamas, mongooses, or marmots?IRL I... hmm... I ... ok. In real life I guess I would choose llamas, easier to kill and eat. However, I read Tiki Tiki Tavi when I was little and I will always be a little partial to mongeese (??) because of it. On The Internets I love them all equally.

Spacedaisy wrote:What was the first game you ever played? Um.... I *think* it was a Lost game? I was Jack?
Do you have a win you are particularly proud of? Pfffft. Not really, I am too much of a bull in a china shop as a player I rarely live long enough to see the end.

Black Rock wrote:

bea wrote:Oh illy....I have questions for you....but not yet. I will return....

That means worry... Riiiiiggght???

Illy, can you tell is about your fav Mafia memory?Oh geez. Okay, um.. One of my favorites was when I was Mayor in the Pirates of Carribean game, I was about to get lynched and I said "I have to be judicious" in my post thinking people would get it. They did get it, but because I ALSO said "I mayormaynot" which was totally unplanned so my big hint I dropped, totally didnt work but then it did.
What games stand out to you as great games you played? I loooved playing in Buffy it was the first time I actually wondered about the mechanics of the game itself.
Favourite mafia role?