Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters

by Daniel Langholtz, Anna Mindess, Thomas K. Holcomb

Book Overview

Ann Mindess examines a culture not widely understood - American deaf culture. Collectivist and high-context, it contrasts with mainstream individualistic, low-context American culture. Both cultures... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1877864730
• ISBN13: 9781877864735
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The Cultural Depth of this book is its True Gem!

This book entitled "Reading Between the Signs: Intercultural Communication for Sign Language Interpreters (2nd edition)" is the most indepth study of cultural mediation that I have ever seen. Anna Mindness does a wonderjul job of helping an interpreter to see where communication barriers exist, and then explain how to bridge those gaps. Why are cultures different? What is cultural mediation? How do you convey a message between conflicting cultures? What tools can effective interpreters use to empower the clients we serve toward better communication when obstacles exist? After reading this book, I found myself making adjustments in interpreting, and was able to see positive results in terms of faithfully communicating source language messages to the recipients. If one reads this book, and applies the principles learned toward their work, it will assist in making them a better interpreter, and ultimately a better communicator between cultures. I highly recommend this book to others and express my thanks to the author for putting the elements of intercultural communication together in one great volume.

a signing book w/o signs

i guess i expected this book to have pictures of signing for some reason...i don't know, but once i started to read it i saw how informative it is. i like the book a lot and i believe that Anna Mindess knows what she's writing about. if you want to understand the deaf culture more and are determined to become an interpreter, i think this book is essential.

Comparing American Hearing Culture with Deaf Culture

In order to understand deaf culture, you need to understand what is standard American culture and then see how it contrasts with deaf culture. Anna Mindess does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting these cultures, with references to cultures from all over the world. She includes insights from respected Deaf members. This is an easy read, not a difficult textbook. I read this with many lightbulbs going "aha". She delves into values, presentation styles, and politeness in both worlds. She provides scenarios with cross cultural perspectives in the doctors' office and the job interview. I have a new understanding of myself as a hearing American and a new appreciation for the cross cultural obstacles that deaf people must face.

You Must Read This Book!

I was a little skeptical as to whether I should even buy this book, as it is tauted specifically for interpreters and I am still learning ASL, but this book transcends ASL and Deaf culture to provide a great sociological field of study for everyone who works, plays, indeed LIVES in our society. Talk about providing insight as to the "how and why" we all make social faux pas, and the ways that we can be more open to resolving the mistakes we often make. This book is a must read for anyone who interacts with people of different cultures/backgrounds on a regular basis.

An ABSOLUTE "must read"

This is by far one of the absolute best books (just in general, not even specifically related to Sign Language) I've ever read!--and I read *a lot* of books. I was not able to put this book down; it was absolutely fascinating.If you are a Hearing person at all familiar with Deaf culture, you will see yourself and your Deaf friends in this book and lightbulbs will go off as you recognize and identify the reasons for specific interactions you've had in Deaf community. As someone who has been enthralled with ASL for more than 20 years and involved in Deaf community off and on (more off than on to my dismay) for more than 10 years, I found myself, after reading this book, wishing I could reconnect with every Deaf person I've known and *apologize* to them for all the cultural gaffs and blunders I've made, and for all the misunderstandings and misassumptions on my part. I SO MUCH wish I had had this book 10-20 years ago to help me bridge the gap and to understand the different perspectives from which Hearing and Deaf approach communication.Not only that but this book has opened my perspective and helped me to better understand my coworkers in the High Tech industry who are from Asian, Arab, and European countries, as well as to better understand the cultural differences between myself and the homeless and street-culture-savy teenagers with whom I work on a voluneer basis.Thank you so much to the author for this amazing, fascinating, and accurate work!