pd4me:

Something to test those grey cells on a Fiday afternoon.

How do you normally react when faced with inappropriate comments from a deaf person about family members or close friends (who are also deaf).

Bearing in mind you are not interpreting as the hearing person has left the room

Do you...
A) Agree with the comments
B) Disagree and start a fight
C) Pretend you are invisible

If none of the above options are suitable please provide your own below


James

Firstly I think that A,B, and C are inappropriate responses.

If any hearing people are in the room I would inform the Deaf person that I have to 'voice over' what is being signed to me, and ask him/her if they are happy with that. I usually find this stops any inappropriate comments.

If no one else is in the room I would respond in one of the following ways:

In the event of not knowing who the Deaf person being talking about is, I would say that I have no opinion on the matter being discussed, that it is 'none of my business' and that I do not wish to engage in any discussion in relation to the person being discussed. Then I would try to change the subject.

In the event that the person that the Deaf person is talking about being a member of my family or a close friend, I would inform the Deaf person of the relationship to me say that I am not willing to talk about it whilst on an interpreting assignment, as it is more appropriate to have any discussion outside of the assignment.

Colin