Interpreter for deaf shares her experiences
by Caree Hussey
Feature Editor
Connie Allen has been an in­
terpreter for the deaf for most of
her life.
Both of Allen’s parents are
deaf. “A hearing child of deaf
parents often acts as their inter­
preter to the ‘outside’ world (the
hearing world),” she explained.
The first time Allen was paid
as an interpreter, she was 19 - she
was asked to interpret a divorce
case. Since then she has had
much experience. She has inter­
preted on television for the
League of Women Voters, done
interpreting work in courtrooms,
for the police and in medical
emergencies. Allen has also
translated job interviews and
counseling sessions.
Allen has been at CCC fall and
winter term and is currently inter­
preting for Gary Holt, a drafting
and autoCAD major who has
been invited to try out for the
Deaf World Olympics as a
wrestler.
“A good interpreter needs to
be immersed in the (deaf popula­
tion’s) culture, they have to be
skilled in reverse translation, the
ability to read sign, they have to
be able to interpret a lecture to a
client in their native hand,” com­
mented Allen.
‘‘For many years, the deaf
population was isolated. Up until
20-30 years ago, deaf people’s
jobs tarely dealt with the public,
they only associated with other
deaf people, interpreters were
unheard of,” stated Allen. Con­
sequently, deaf people developed
their own culture. They have their
“I believe in total com­
munication, sign and
oral.”
own communities, newspapers,
churches and clubs. They’ve even
developed their own language.
American Sign Language, or
ASL, is used all over the U.S. in
informal conversation. English
Sign Language, or ESL, is more
academic, it’s what hearing peo­
News Briefs
Ski Club to
view movie
Ski Club meets on Wednesday,
Feb. 24, at noon in room CC101
to view the Warren Miller movie
and the “Ski Maintenance
Clinic.”
Literary luncheon
A luncheon will be held on
Wednesday, Feb. 24 at noon, for
the purpose of forming a literacy
coalition and to discuss possible
goals.
To pre-register and for more
information, call Nancy Hettman
at ext. 315.
Myers-Briggs
testing offered
Join counselors Bernie Nolan
and Donna Ford for the brown
bag luncheon covering “In­
troduction to Myers-Briggs.”
The Myers-Briggs is a test that
can tell you more about yourself,
how you make decisions, and
how you interact with others.
Meet in room CC-101, Thurs­
day, Feb 25 at 12:30 p.m. It is
free.
For more information please
contact Nolan or Ford at ext.
266.
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ple use. In ASL, a noun, verb
and adjective is sufficient, dif­
ferent syntax is used, one creates
a picture. “ASL is a conceptual
language, a very complicated
language, one uses body
language,” said Allen. Even
though ASL is used nationwide,
there are different signs used in
different parts of the country,
similar to accents.
There are students who don’t
require the services of an inter­
preter. How do they manage? “It
depends on how well they com­
municate orally, which means
reading lips. They get along well,
but some instructors turn their
backs or walk around the
classroom. Statistics show that in
lip reading you only get about
40*70 of what is being said. I
believe in total communication,
sign and oral,” expressed Allen
If you know someone who re­
quires the services of an inter­
preter or other related services
contact Dave Campbell or Pat
Fontaine, the directors of Han­
dicapped Services.
First aid kit sale
The Clackamas Womens Ser­
vices Board members will be sell­
ing First Aid Kits as a way to
raise money for the program.
Call 654-2807 to order one now.
Cost is only $5.
Parenting skills
needed
Parents Anonymous is helping
Parents Succeed. Put your paren­
ting experience or problem solv­
ing skills to good use by
volunteering to be a Child Care
Specialist. Special training on
■ Play Development scheduled for
Saturday, March 26 from
9:30-2:30 p.m. Call us for infor­
mation at 238-8819.
/
photo by Beth Coffey
Connie Allen translates a lecture into sign language.
Calendar
Feb 24—CCC Instrumen­
tal Jazz Night, 7:30 p.m.,
CC Mall, $2 for adults and
$1 for students.
Feb. 25— Brown Bag
Luncheon, “Introduction
to the Myers-Briggs,” learn
about the Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator, a test that
can tell you more about
yourself, how you make
decisions, and how you in­
teract
with
others,
Counselors Bernie Nolan
and Donna Ford will
describe how you can use
the test to better understand
yourself. 12:30-1:30 p.m.,
CC-101, free, no registra­
tion is necessary, call ext.
266 for more information.
Feb.26—Family Night
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Feb 27—Volunteers need­
ed for CCC Levy Election
canvassing, Holly Farm
Center inside the mall, 9a.m.
to noon, call Ann Haller at
ext. 247 for more informa­
tion.
Mar 1—Merrill Lynn
Taylor; actress, director, and
costumer will talk about her
theatre experiences. Taylor is
currently appearing in
“Quilters” for the Artists
Repertory Theatre and is the
guest director for the upcom­
ing CCC production “The
Happiest of the Three.” Her
talk will be held from 3-5
p.m. in P-101, free, call ext.
356 for iriore information.
Mar 2— (through 31),
Ceramics exhibit, Ashland
ceramist Claire Barr will
display her work in Pauling
Gallery, exhibit opening
will be Mar. 2 from 7-9
p.m., a ceramics workshop
will be held from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. on Mar. 2 in the Art
Center, free, call ext. 386
for more information.
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Family Night Movie, Feb. 26, CC Mall, 7-9p.m.
Page 6
Movie, “Sleeping Beauty,”
CC Mall, 7-9 p.m., $1.50
for adults and $1 for
children, call ext. 247 for
information.
This space provided as a public service.
Clackamas Community College