Heather Clark

Beyond the Sign: What Happens When Interpreters Miss the Nuances of African American Style of Signing.

African Americans have a long tradition of using language as a way to construct identity, which is illustrated in oral stories passed down from generation to generation, to the dozens being played among friends after school to the sidewalk songs young girls create to pass the time. The same holds true for many African Americans who are Deaf and use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary mode of communication among friends and peers.  From signing outside the box, to using exaggerated facial expressions and body movements.  These nuances and subtleties in the African American style of ASL are critical in understanding the information that is being conveyed. Consequently, if an interpreter is not aware of the cultural context of this vital information transmitted then information is lost/absent.
Drawing on research conducted with African American Deaf people in the Seattle area, this paper examines:  What does it mean to sign ‘Black’, what elements mark the language as being ‘Black’? Conversely, what does in mean to sign ‘white’? How do interpreters stay true to conveying the spirit of what is being said beyond the signs that are being used?  How do interpreters voice the nuances of the African American style of ASL?
The goal of this paper is to explore how some African American Deaf people use language to integrate both their culturally Deaf and racial/ethnic African American identities.  By using an African American style of ASL it not only differentiates them from the mainstream Deaf community; it also connects them to the larger hearing African American community.