I remember as a kid in the 70's or 80's they would have the sign language interpreter in the corner of the screen for important announcements. Some time 30-40 years ago this stopped, I assume because of real time closed captioning by either fast typists (like court reporters) or possible now by voice transcribing computers.

So why now do politicians suddenly need a real person a few feet away from them doing all the sign language?

Yes, I'm all for making things understandable for people with hearing difficulties, but somehow we got through many other crises using whatever the current technology was.

When you have no substance to offer, you provide a distraction.

An Organ Grinder on the street, without a monkey, is a nuisance.

I understand its needed by those who communicate with sign language.
But I find it distracting.

Our governor's interpreter is named Virginia. Some days the local talk show radio hosts will play a 30 second clip of Virginia signing. It was funny the first time.

Can you even purchase a television today that doesn't have the closed captioning feature?

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
When you have no substance to offer, you provide a distraction.

An Organ Grinder on the street, without a monkey, is a nuisance.

This^

The real distraction is all the facial gurning the sign language people do. Is that really necessary?

Like most, I'm not opposed to making reasonable accommodations for those physically challenged but, with the tech now available, I see sign language interpreters as one more example of a politician's virtue signaling and wokeness.

In addition to the ever-present sign language interpreter in attendance at his press conferences, our governor is fluent in Spanish and LOVES to take questions from Spanish speaking news reporters so that he can demonstrate his ability to everyone listening...which makes for some really 'informative' press conferences, especially for those of us non-spanish speakers listening to radio coverage for specific info.

I haven't figured out whether the sign language interpreter signs in Spanish also.

Don't even get me started on the governor's policy of taking remote questions during press conferences, either from phone calls or video conferencing, in which the connection is of such poor quality that the questions are so modulated and muffled, or include background sounds like dogs barking, children crying, or phones ringing as to make the question unintelligible.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:

The real distraction is all the facial gurning the sign language people do. Is that really necessary?

It is my understanding that facial expressions (and maybe even body language) are part of the signing communication protocol.

I would not be at all surprised if we have at least one member here who can verify that.

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Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:

The real distraction is all the facial gurning the sign language people do. Is that really necessary?

It is my understanding that facial expressions (and maybe even body language) are part of the signing communication protocol.

I would not be at all surprised if we have at least one member here who can verify that.

I took a semester of ASL in college and as I recall, the facial expressions do inform the interpretation of the actual signing.

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
But I find it distracting.

Whereas I find it endlessly amusing. The gyrations and facial expressions are a hoot

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:
... I see sign language interpreters as one more example of a politician's virtue signaling and wokeness.

That's precisely what it is.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:
The real distraction is all the facial gurning the sign language people do. Is that really necessary?

Yes, it is. I had an admin assistant who worked for me that signed and she told me it is necessary. Also helps to get emotional content across to the signing recipient.

Interesting, thanks.

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Originally posted by 19tass:

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
When you have no substance to offer, you provide a distraction.

An Organ Grinder on the street, without a monkey, is a nuisance.

This^

+ a lot,

watched some bozo a week or so ago and his sign language person was more of a mime than a signer,

funny , she (?) was

Karen should demand they provide smoke signals for our native population, too.

The expressions are a part of the process. I do recall at one point that an imposter stepped into the role. He was something else. Eventually someone who understood ASL outed him as a fraud. The governmental official promised to do better in the future.

That would be this guy, mind you, he was stood next to a fake President at the time as well:

Sign language interpreter who stood next to Obama at Mandela memorial called a 'fake'

Whenever I see someone signing like that I think of this scene from P.C.U. It’s chilling how much it aligns with what is happening right now.

Facial expressions help clarify the intent of the signed message - something might be read as serious, funny, sad, etc. and the face confirms the message.

Sign language is also interesting in that when two are speaking to each other they have to think through what they want to say. Sentences are intentionally abbreviated to the “meat” of what is intended. This is done because if a long sentence were signed it is possible/likely that by the end of the signing the beginning would already be forgotten.
There are few “run on” sentences when signing. Quantity does not make up for quality.
In addition, because facial expression is so important for clear communication, there is clear, continuous eye contact between the people signing. So often people talk but avoid eye contact, this doesn’t happen with signing.

Quote:
Whereas I find it endlessly amusing. The gyrations and facial expressions are a hoot

Ensigmatic, you mean like the brunette that Governor Whitmer uses on occasion? She actually made the Covid-19 press conferences worth watching.