19 Mar Taking Charge of our Profession
I have recently become particularly interested in exploring what sign language and spoken language interpreters have in common and what we do not. One thing that seems crystal clear, especially now that so much public health information is conveyed through televised press conferences, is how...
19 Feb First Person Plural
Posted at 01:00h
in Business Practices, Janis Palma, Odds & Ends, Professional Practices, Recent Posts, The Profession
15 Comments
I was listening to an interview of Korean American author Cathy Park Hong about her book, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning. She spoke of a mythical We that does not really apply to all Asian Americans because it lumps together the Pacific Islanders and...
15 Jan Shredding Time!
Posted at 10:29h
in Janis Palma, Language, Odds & Ends, Recent Posts, Terminology, Tools of the trade
7 Comments
I love birthdays, anniversaries, and—of course—new years, new decades, and new millennia. Each one gives me a chance to let go of whatever has been happening in my life that was just not going well at all and start again. It gives me a chance...
11 Dec My Holiday Wish List
I’ve been thinking about the lists of wonderful gifts children wish for when the holiday season rolls around, and what I would want on my list if I could have any of those gifts delivered, as if by magic. For one thing, I would want...
19 Nov Harvesting Time
“Wherever you are, be totally there.” Eckhart Tolle My father is 90 years old. He recently wrote an open letter to his family that started with the words: “With so much time in my hands, I have decided to write…” And write he did, 14...
23 Oct Focus Vampires
I’m sure most, if not all, of you have heard about emotional vampires or relationship vampires. Those are the people who suck your emotional energy and leave you feeling drained after they’ve been near you for any amount of time. Well, there is something else...
02 Oct The Couch – Avoiding Horror Stories Through Client Education
The Couch is a learning place, not only for its contributors but also for our readers who engage in the ensuing discussions. So much has changed in the performance of our profession that educating clients about how to work more effectively with interpreters has become...
24 Sep Losing the Cloak of Invisibility
Posted at 23:42h
in Court Interpreting, Janis Palma, Professional Hazard, Recent Posts, Technology
29 Comments
I like being tucked away in some nondescript area of a courtroom, where I can see and hear everyone but no one is paying attention to me, where I can have complete anonymity as my voice flows from a wireless microphone to a receiver in...
