Here is the comparison:

Hearing people: When hearing people take notes, we can listen at the same time. Plus, whatever we write down is in the same language (English) that the speaker is using. This way, it is easy to engage with the speaker by listening and writing.
Side conversations are different. Hearing people cannot listen to the speaker and have a conversation at the same time. If we start talking to somebody else, it means that we are ignoring the speaker. If we have a question or a comment, we should write it down in our notes and discuss it later.

Deaf people: Taking notes can be very distracting. Looking away from the speaker means that you stop listening. Also, you have to translate everything into English to write it down, and then “listen” in ASL when you look up. (I have problems listening in ASL and then writing in English and I’m hearing!!)
Side conversations are better. Even though you can’t listen and have a side conversation at the same time, either, at least you are using the same language for both. This way, it is easier to stay engaged in the presentation if you can ask each other questions and make comments during the presentation, instead of writing them down.

It might be very distracting for the presenter to see Deaf people signing, when she doesn’t understand why you’re talking to each other. In hearing culture, it is *very* rude for people to have conversations during a presentation (even though hearing people do it sometimes). Therefore, it is important to explain to the speaker that Deaf culture is different: side conversations are just like taking notes, and they serve an important function in helping you process and engage with the material.

At least, that is what I think. But I am hearing, so I can’t understand 100%. What do the rest of you think?

As a coda myself, I am disturbed that some people from Deaf families have issues with controlling or bossing Deaf people around. This is a serious sign of Audism and unhealthy ideas about who they are and who Deaf people are. Frankly, these interpreters who behave this way need to work on their anger issues. I understand that this may have been how they grew up; however, they are interpreting for Deaf people who are NOT THEIR PARENTS!

By the way, other minorities also have these kind of norms about the audience making comments to show the speaker support ad encouragement. Just check out what happens in a church with a preacher and congregation that are mostly African American.

The interpreter is there for communication not telling Deaf or hearing people what to do. In some situations, the interpreter may provide the consumers (Deaf and hearing) with cultural information so that they have enough information to figure out the message correctly.

Thank you for bringing this up. We need more dialogue like this and interpreter’s need to have the Deaf cultural viewpoint.

Betty Colonomos

However, unfortunately , in the workshop, either informal or formal, they should be watching and be quiet in the entire time. You can bring their own notepad and write down what you would like to discuss with your peers about new ideas. And they can discuss after the workshop. Workshop often give educational and essential information that you wouldn’t want to miss. That would be more appropriate if you don’t do side conversations. Give some respect to the presenter and the audience.

In my personal opinion, that does distract me if someone try to talk side conversation with their peers right in front of me. How can I ignore this distraction if I can see them in signing that obvious while I am trying to concentrate to the interpreter/presenter? It happens to me a few times.

If you don’t understand anything or at least some of things what the presenter says, you could raise your hands and ask for clarifications on parts you don’t understand if the presenter has some time. Or you can come to the presenter and discuss with her or him after the workshop.

I hope that helps.

In order for me to do this though, I have to get there earlier and catch the workshop coordinator and have my five minutes of time hatching out an understanding.

Situation: A couple of us (deafies) attended a training seminar by this guy who basically gave a 4 hour lecture on the concept of leadership, with about 30 or 40 hearies in attendance. The seats were arranged in a “U” manner with the lecturer in the open end of that U. During the lecture, he covered plethora of points and kept flicking through the power-point which consisted of 10-15 bulletin points per slide. (Needless to say he sucked at giving presentations and the terps just made things 10x worse). The Terps had zero voicing capabilities whatsoever so it was actually better to keep your mouth shut and not volunteer your opinion and end up sounding like an idiot. (cue Mark Twain’s famous quote here).

I ended up explaining a few key points to my deaf colleagues, during the lecture, who happened to miss some of the cross-references that were made. One of the people in the workshop stood up and basically glared at me and said “I think you’re being extremely rude by signing in class and taking advantage of your deafness”. Needless to say. . . she crossed the wrong man when she made that remark.

Action: I calmly said “Excuse me lady, but did it ever occur to you that perhaps we were conferring about the topic, and ensuring that we understood the points being covered, showing respect to the material, as opposed to falling asleep and tuning out in which you probably were since you found our conversation far more fascinating than the professor, to the extent that you had to say something”

In other words, it was a beautiful back-handed slap that would’ve done one of those “Yo Mamma” Episodes proud.

Outcome: I ended up feeling really pissed throughout the lecture (inside, of course, I couldn’t show that she had any effect on me, externally, whatsoever). The sad thing was . . . the other 3 deafies I was with totally shut-up after that and didn’t really bother to discuss the topic, which just even further infuriated me for they gave this woman the power to control their feelings/thoughts and willingness to participate.

I think they were all in a shell-shock because 3 days later, it all finally sunk in and registered to them, and they ended up thanking me for standing up for them.

Go figure. . . It’s a dirty job, but someone gotta do it.

As i was going through comments here again, I remembered something that happened to me and my daughter a few months ago. We were at church (hearing, I’m HOH) and periodically would sign something to each other during the course of the mass [1 hour]. she also has problems with blood sugar so had to have a snack so she wouldn’t pass out. When we came back from the communion line, there was a note in my purse from the people who sat behind us. (Obviously new to the church because I’d never seen them in the 18 years i’ve been there.) The note berated me and my daughter for talking too much! This couple and their adult daughter were mad at me and my daughter for signing during church?! we were mad! They left after putting the note in my purse. when I told my priest what had happened, he couldn’t believe that! People are always having quiet conversations because there are so many different languages spoken by those at my church.