The four workshops of the 2012 South Dakota ASL Immersion event are:

“Think of a Word, Quick!” – Trudy Suggs

When we interpret, we often encounter situations where we must make word and phrase choices, but don’t always respond quickly enough to think of the most appropriate or best choices.

This workshop, designed for the intermediate to advanced interpreter (both deaf and hearing), involves both small and large group work, as well as participant and instructor presentation. The goal is to provide opportunities for participants to be involved with word/sign exercises that assist in expanding lexicon and appropriate vocabulary choices in either ASL or English, especially during the interpreting process.

The workshop focuses on developing mental responses during the interpreting process. Discussed are various obstacles commonly and uncommonly found when on the ‘hot seat’ voicing or signing for consumers. Participants also devise strategies for overcoming obstacles. Activities include games, actual interpreting, and lexical activities for numerous settings, including educational, corporate, medical, social service, and legal. Discussion is also a major part of the workshop. This fun workshop is sure to have participants leave with new words, new strategies and a new understanding of thinking quickly.

“Advocacy and Protest – Where do YOU fit in?” – Roger Kraft

“Deaf people are not yet ready to function in the hearing world.” This inflammatory statement was made in March 1988 by the Gallaudet University Board president to hundreds of students demanding to know why the Board had just selected a non-signing hearing person to lead Gallaudet University over 2 other, Deaf, candidates. This statement served as a rallying cry not only for students, but also alumni, community members, and others involved in what would become known as the Deaf President Now protest.

Or, was this statement actually made?  Jane Bassett Spilman, the Board President, claimed later that the sign language interpreter at the scene mis-translated her words. Would the course of Deaf history have been altered if, as Spilman claims, her statement had been properly translated?

DPN is probably the most well-known example, but it’s a fact of Deaf life that they face oppression, injustice, and discrimination daily — on issues large and small — and deal with them either individually or collectively.  Interpreters have, for better or worse, accompanied Deaf people in such situations. 

This workshop aims to give interpreters a higher sense of confidence when participating in advocacy and protest situations as interpreters.

“Mastering an ASL Conversation” – Christine Multra Kraft

Opening with a dissection of a video clip of an ASL conversation, workshop participants will discuss common vocabulary used and non-manual behaviors that occurs in conversations with the specific functions of opening, introducing, switching topics; maintaining conversations; holding the floor; interrupting; backchannelling; and closing conversations. Video clips showcasing each conversation function will be viewed and participants will analyze role of timing, pauses, and how the degree of nonmanual markers displayed changes the message conveyed. ASL and spoken English conversation regulators will be compared.

"Classifiers...who GETS it?" – Teresa Nold and Mark Koterwski

Do you struggle interpreting lengthy, English sentences using classifiers along with ASL concepts? This is the workshop for you! In this workshop, you will learn that classifiers are an integral part of American Sign Language. Classifiers are used to show movement, location, and appearance. It can also be used to further describe a person or thing — to show where, what it looks like, and where it’s located. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the different types of classifiers available — element, descriptive, locative, SASSes, instrument, semantics, and plural — come join us and learn how to use what type of classifier and when! There may even be times where you’re using several classifiers at once! Expand your knowledge and your comfort zone when it comes to using the right classifiers. We will have several hands on activities that will help you change how you think — meaning in concepts and not words! At the end of this training, you will be a fluent user of classifiers!