Interpretation Skills: English to American Sign Language

by Marty M. Taylor

Presents a list of 59 skills essential to render successful interpretations from English to ASL. For each skill, a definition is given, followed by a list of possible errors demonstrating the need to build the skill.

The skills are divided into the following 8 categories: fingerspelling, numbers, vocabulary, classifiers and size and shape specifiers, structuring space, grammar, interpreting, and composure and appearance.

91 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Fenixbird SandS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have recently learned that this author (a Canadian) lectures and is wonderful....from fellow sign language interpreters (yahoo groups).

Highly technical but critiques the learner & new interpreting student in the extremely essential basic skills.... Helps us become the experts & professionals in the field that are needed today!

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having learned these interpreting skills in ASL, it was very beneficial to also learn these skills in written English.

This book is also helpful to use if you want to correct your interpreting errors.

[Nathan Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this three stars not because it sucked, because I followed the literal guide of three stars meaning "I liked it".
This book gives a list of 60-something things that make or break an interpreter. It was interesting seeing the kinds of language-learner mistakes there are. It also discusses a wide variety of points on ASL grammar, like classifiers and size and shape specifiers, which I'd never heard of.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for developing interpreting skills. Wish I would have known about this book sooner. Possibly going to recommend to the program chair to mention this book or require this book earlier in the program.

This far along in the program there isn't much that I haven't heard before, but it's always great to go back and review your technique and be able to work on weak areas.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well organized, thorough, and foundational for the field. Taylor outlines the essential skills necessary for a solid interpretation in a way that makes it easy to reference during self analysis. I look forward to using this book to improve my abilities!

[Jane Doe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Highly recommend for people studying to become Sign Language Interpreters.