Description

The aims are to explore one’s thoughts about language ideology and social injustice and make conscious efforts to develop and maintain social consciousness as sign language interpreters. This includes an ongoing reflective practice for the interpreters to be aware of their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors in their relationships with their consumers, colleagues, and students or mentees. With the increasingly widespread discussion on diversity and social justice, this presentation will encourage the interpreters to consider and pursue different opportunities to engage as the agents of social consciousness in their personal and professional lives. As an example for the interpreters to reflect their thoughts and feelings about language used by a social group, the presentation will include a brief overview of a historical and linguistic study on Black ASL and the social context of black deaf consumers and black sign language interpreters.