I am not currently teaching ASL3380: Transliteration.

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Where would I use transliteration?

Practical applications of transliterated work product


If Deaf people prefer American Sign Language as their primary language, where/why would they ever use transliteration? Surprisingly enough, transliteration is used in the same settings as signed-language interpretation; where and how is transliterating used?

Here are some bullet points/learning outcomes of which we might want to be aware:


Readings/Discussions

Kelly, Transliterating: Show Me The English
Chapter 1 (pp. 7–8) Required

Transliteration Library

ASL interpreting: Meeting the needs of Deaf consumers (Liedel) Required

(pp. 1–2) Liedel, J. (1994). ASL interpreting: Meeting the needs of Deaf consumers. RID VIEWS 11(8), 1–2.

Lexical equivalence in transliterating for deaf students in the university classroom: Two perspectives Required

(pp. 169–173 [effectiveness], 174–178 [errors], 180–188, 191–194 [student perception]) Locker, R. (1990). Lexical equivalence in transliterating for deaf students in the university classroom: Two perspectives. Issues in Applied Linguistics 1(2), 167–195.

Proceedings of the Workshop on Continuing Education for Deaf Adults Highly Recommended

(p. 22) Have a look at “Question: What do you consider important in an adult education program?” Friedman, M. & Hall, M. (1969). Proceedings of the Workshop on Continuing Education for Deaf Adults, Kansas City, Missouri October 19–21, 1969. h/t Anne Leahy.

Academic and educational interpreting from the other side of the classroom: Working with Deaf academics (Campbell, et al)

(pp. 85–88) This is chapter 6 in Hauser (2008) Deaf Professionals and Designated Interpreters. This addresses language needs of Deaf academics and how transliterated product is part of the professional deaf person’s language choices.

Contact sign, transliteration and interpretation in Canada (Malcolm) Required

(pp. 110–113, 119–123) Malcolm, K. (2005). “Contact Sign, Transliteration and Interpretation in Canada.” In Janzen, T. (Ed.). Topics in Sign Language Interpreting. Amsterdam; Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Comprehension of sign language interpreting: Deciphering a complex task situation (Marschark, et al) Required

(pp. 346–349) Marschark, M., Sapere, P., Convertino, C., Seewagen, R., Maltzen, H. (2004) Comprehension of Sign Language Interpreting: Deciphering a Complex Task Situation. Sign Language Studies 4(4), 2004. 345–368.

Accessing university education: Perceptions, preferences, and expectations for interpreting by deaf students (Napier & Barker) Required

(pp. 230–237) ‘Transliterating’ is called ‘literal interpreting’ in this article. Napier, J. & Barker, R. (2004). Accessing university education: Perceptions, preferences, and expectations for interpreting by deaf students. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 9(2). New York: Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/deafed/enh024

Effectiveness compared: ASL interpretation vs. transliteration (Livingston, Singer, & Abrahamson) Required

(pp. abstract, 7–10, 33) Livingston, S., Singer, B., & Abrahamson, T. (1994). Effectiveness compared: ASL interpretation vs. transliteration. Sign Language Studies, Volume 82, Spring 1994, 1–54. DOI: 10.1353/sls.1994.0008

Transliteration: A comparison of consumer needs and transliterator preparation and practice (Stauffer & Viera)

(pp. 62–63) Stauffer, L. & Viera, J. (2000). Transliteration: A comparison of consumer needs and transliterator preparation and practice. In D. Watson (ed.), Journal of Interpretation, 89–98. Silver Springs, MD: RID Publications.

Transliteration: the consumer’s perspective Required

(pp. 83–97) Viera, J. & Stauffer, L. (2000). Transliteration: the consumer’s perspective. In D. Watson (ed.), Journal of Interpretation, 89–98. Silver Springs, MD: RID Publications.

So, why do I call this English? (Sofinski)

(pp. 42–45) Sofinski, B.A. (2002). So, why do I call this English? In C. Lucas (ed). Turn-taking, fingerspelling, and contact in signed languages, 27–50. Washington, D.C., Gallaudet University Press.

Features of voice-to-sign transliteration by educational interpreters

(pp. 48, 57–59) Sofinski, B.A., Yesbeck, N., Gerhold, S., & Christensen Bach-Hansen, M. (2001). Features of voice-to-sign transliteration by educational interpreters. In Journal of Interpretation, Alexandria, VA: RID Publications, 47–68

Adverbials, constructed dialogue, and use of space, oh my!: Nonmanual elements used in sign language

(pp. 169–179) Sofinski, B. A. (2003). Adverbials, constructed dialogue, and use of space, oh my!: Nonmanual elements used in sign language. In M. Metzger, et al. (eds) From topic boundaries to omission: New research on interpretation, 154–186. Studies in Interpretation Series. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.