ASL Interpreting: What Every Hearing Person Should Know

Understanding communication, trust, and the people behind ASL interpretation.

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​Deaf Perspective: What if someone else controlled how your words were heard?

Hearing people - Imagine going to a doctor's appointment, a job interview, or an important meeting. You have something important to say, but another person must communicate your words to everyone else.

You did not choose that person. You may not know their training or experience. You have to trust that they understand you, represent you accurately, and communicate your message fairly.

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You also have no easy way to check their work. You may never know if they left something out, changed your meaning, or made you sound different from how you intended.

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For many Deaf people who use ASL interpreters, this is reality.

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A Deaf person sees the interpreter signing, but may not know how their message is being voiced in English. They may not realize that a detail was omitted, a concern was softened, or their tone and intent were changed. Likewise, a hearing person may believe they received a complete explanation when the signed interpretation was incomplete or inaccurate. 

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Mistakes happen, and the consequences can be serious. A misunderstanding at a medical appointment, in a classroom, at work, or in court can affect someone's health, education, employment, or legal rights. The Deaf person may leave believing they communicated clearly, never knowing the message was received differently.

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Often, the organization hosting the appointment or event hires the interpreter. The Deaf person may have little say in who arrives or whether that person has the skills the situation requires. They typically don’t know who the interpreter is until everyone arrives. A Deaf person has to hope that the interpreter assigned to them is qualified, current in their professional development, competent in the setting, and committed to ethical practice. 

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The person who depends most on communication access may have the least control over how that access is provided.

That power imbalance is why interpreting requires more than knowing ASL. It requires professional skill, ethical responsibility, appropriate qualifications, and meaningful accountability.

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What does an ASL interpreter actually do?

An ASL interpreter facilitates communication between people who do not share a language. They interpret between American Sign Language and English, conveying meaning, tone, and intent. It sounds so simple. 

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However, this is not replacing words in one language with words in another. Interpreters must understand both languages and their cultural contexts, process information in real time, make rapid decisions, and continuously monitor their own communication. This is mentally taxing and requires stamina and deliberate training and practice. Interpreters must do all of this while simultaneously  managing complex information, sensitive situations, and professional obligations involving privacy, ethics, and boundaries.

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The demands vary by setting. A hospital, courtroom, school, workplace, college lecture, or music festival may each require different knowledge and skills.

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Knowing sign language does not automatically make someone an interpreter. Interpreting is specialized professional work, supported by training, ethical standards, and, depending on the state and setting, certification or licensure.

 

Aren't interpreters just there to help people?

Interpreters are often treated like helpers, assistants, or support staff. People may expect them to explain things for a Deaf person, solve problems, speak on their behalf, or step in whenever a situation becomes difficult. However, their job is to provide communication access so Deaf people can make their own decisions, express their own opinions, and participate on their own terms. 

Interpreters facilitate communication. They do not take over someone's voice or decide what that person should say. They also have professional responsibilities to everyone involved, including maintaining confidentiality, following ethical standards, and respecting appropriate boundaries.

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These misunderstandings reflect a broader problem. Deaf people's autonomy has historically been underestimated, while interpreting work, a profession largely associated with women, has often been undervalued. Communication access is sometimes treated as a favor or an accommodation rather than a specialized professional service.

 

Why can't a Deaf person just read or write back and forth?

For some Deaf people, written English works well. For others, it is not an equivalent replacement for communication in ASL.

Hearing children absorb spoken language naturally by listening to conversations around them long before they start kindergarten or learn to read. Deaf children who cannot fully hear those conversations do not have the same learning experience. Access to language, education, and literacy varies widely among Deaf people. Reading and writing English is harder when a person has not had full access to phonics in spoken English. This does not mean Deaf people cannot read or write. Their skills vary widely, just as hearing people's skills do.

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For many Deaf people, ASL is their first or most comfortable language, while English is a second language. This can be true even when their family speaks English at home.

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For perspective - Imagine having to discuss a serious medical concern, understand a legal document, or describe a complicated work problem in a language you do not use comfortably. Writing back and forth may be slow, confusing, or inadequate for the situation.

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Or imagine watching a movie on mute and relying solely on captions that don’t include tone, volume or location of what character is speaking or what ambient noise is happening.

 

Written English is not an automatic solution. Written English can be a useful option when it meets someone's needs. It should not be assumed to replace accessible communication for everyone.

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Is ASL the same for every Deaf person?

No. ASL is a complete language with its own grammar and structure. It is not English performed with the hands, and it is not universal around the world.

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ASL also varies within the United States. Signs and language features can differ by region, age, community, and cultural background. Black ASL, for example, developed within Black Deaf communities and reflects a distinct linguistic and cultural history.

Consider spoken English. Someone from Wisconsin may use different expressions or speech patterns than someone from the South. You might understand English well but still struggle with an unfamiliar dialect. The same can be true in ASL.

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An interpreter may know ASL but still struggle to understand a particular signer. Effective interpreting requires the language skills and cultural knowledge to understand the people involved, not simply a general familiarity with the language.

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Shouldn't Any Interpreter Be Able to Interpret Anything?

Not necessarily. Many interpreters are highly skilled, but what matters is whether they have the right qualifications, experience, and preparation for a specific assignment.

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A general appointment, a college lecture, a court hearing, and a mental health session would all require very different knowledge and skills. Imagine a Deaf person with a PhD giving a lecture on a highly specialized subject. An interpreter may have strong general interpreting skills but still need time to learn unfamiliar terminology and understand complex concepts before interpreting the presentation.

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Professional responsibility begins well before the assignment itself. Interpreters often spend significant time reviewing materials, researching unfamiliar topics, learning names and terminology, and practicing concepts so they can communicate them accurately in real time. Providing interpreters with presentation slides, scripts, agendas, vocabulary lists, or other relevant materials in advance is essential. It supports quality communication access. Interpreters also need adequate time to review and prepare those materials.

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This is especially important in educational settings, where interpreters may need to understand subject-specific vocabulary and concepts across multiple classes. It also matters in performance settings, such as theater productions and concerts. Interpreting a play, musical, or live music event can involve character development, plot, lyrics, rhythm, timing, cultural references, and artistic choices. Interpreters may need to research the material, make deliberate language choices, and rehearse their interpretation so the Deaf audience can experience more than a basic summary of what is happening.

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The same principle applies when an interpreter encounters unfamiliar regional or cultural language variations. Knowing ASL does not automatically mean an interpreter will understand every signer or every context without additional learning and preparation.

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Credentials matter, but they do not guarantee that an interpreter is the right match for every assignment. Qualifications, experience, language compatibility, subject knowledge, and preparation all contribute to quality.Hiring a qualified interpreter is only part of the process. Giving that interpreter the information and time needed to prepare is also an investment in meaningful communication access.

 

How can a Deaf person tell if an interpreter makes a mistake?

Sometimes they can. Many Deaf people have years of experience working with interpreters and can recognize when something seems unclear or something seems wrong. However, if the Deaf person doesn’t have access to the original spoken message, they cannot always compare it with the interpretation.

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Imagine telling an interpreter something important. The interpreter then voices your message to a hearing person. What if a detail is omitted? What if your concern sounds less serious than you intended? What if you are trying to be firm, but the interpreter makes you sound angry?

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The hearing person may assume they heard your exact message because they heard the interpreter speak. Meanwhile, the Deaf person may see the interpreter signing their words without knowing that the spoken version differs.

It’s important to recognize that communication errors can be difficult to detect, especially when one person cannot independently compare both versions of the message. That is why professional standards, appropriate assignment decisions, and accountability are essential.

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Team interpreting is a way to protect communication quality. When the brain is overworked, mistakes and poor decisions become more likely. Regular rotation allows interpreters to recover their concentration and return to active interpreting better prepared to handle the demands of the assignment.

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Why Is Team Interpreting Important?

Hiring one qualified interpreter is not always enough. Employers and event organizers must consider the demands of the work, including whether a team is necessary to provide effective communication access.

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Interpreting requires intense mental effort. Interpreters must continuously process information in one language while producing a message in another, monitor their own output, account for cultural and linguistic differences, and make rapid decisions. This requires sustained concentration, and mental fatigue can affect accuracy, processing speed, and judgment.

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While teaming, one interpreter is actively interpreting while the other provides support by monitoring the message, researching or recalling terminology, catching potential errors, and helping clarify concepts. They can check each other's work in real time, creating an additional layer of quality control and professional accountability.

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Many professional practices recommend switching active interpreting duties approximately every 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the setting, complexity, and team. This is a general guideline, not a universal rule, but allowing one interpreter to work alone for extended periods during a demanding assignment will increase the risk of errors and missed information.

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Team interpreting is particularly valuable in settings such as medical appointments, legal proceedings, educational environments, conferences, and live performances, where information may be complex, fast-paced, or consequential. The appropriate team structure depends on the assignment, and not every brief or straightforward interaction requires two interpreters.

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Team interpreting is a professional quality measure. It supports interpreter performance and helps Deaf people receive the accurate, complete communication they deserve.

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For Deaf consumers, team interpreting offers another important benefit: two professionals are actively contributing to the quality of communication. Interpreters are accountable not only for their individual work but also to the colleague supporting them.

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How do disability rights and power dynamics affect interpreting?

People with disabilities have long had to fight for autonomy, access, and the right to participate in decisions affecting their own lives. Legal protections have advanced access, but laws alone cannot eliminate the attitudes and institutional practices that marginalize people.

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When the person who needs communication access is already navigating a system that does not fully understand or respect their rights, the interpreter can be misunderstood, too. Those assumptions can influence job descriptions, hiring decisions, supervision, compensation, and expectations about what interpreters should do.

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There is a dangerous irony when an organization hires an interpreter for a Deaf person but prioritizes its own convenience over that person's communication needs. The organization may choose based on availability or cost without adequately considering qualifications, language preferences, or the complexity of the assignment.

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The Deaf person is then expected to trust a system they may have had little say in creating.

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The problem is not simply that individuals misunderstand what an interpreter does. Entire systems can be built around that misunderstanding, producing negative outcomes for everyone involved. 

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Professional Accountability and Oversight

Another challenge is that interpreting regulations and requirements vary across the United States and by setting.

Interpreters are individually responsible for their own professional conduct. Violating a professional code of conduct can lead to disciplinary action, including loss of national certification or state licensure, depending on the applicable rules and findings. Freelance interpreters are not exempt from these responsibilities, and working independently does not mean working without professional standards.

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However, accountability can be difficult to navigate when the interpreter is a stranger to the Deaf person. A Deaf consumer may not know the interpreter's qualifications, how to verify their credentials, or where to report a concern. An ethical interpreter should be transparent about their qualifications and carry identification showing their credentials and applicable state license when required or appropriate. Consumers should be able to verify that the interpreter is qualified for the assignment.

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Hiring through an agency can provide another avenue for accountability. Deaf consumers can report concerns about an interpreter's conduct or performance to the agency, which may investigate and take appropriate action. Depending on the circumstances, consequences may include documenting the complaint, providing feedback, or choosing not to assign that interpreter to future jobs.

Deaf people also have the right to contact interpreting agencies and request specific interpreters for their preferred "yes" or "no" lists. They can identify interpreters they trust and those they do not want assigned to them. This is an important way to exercise choice and have a voice in their own communication access.

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National certification and state licensure serve different purposes. Neither guarantees flawless performance, but qualifications, continuing education, ethical standards, and enforceable professional requirements help establish expectations and create pathways for addressing misconduct

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The Nuance of ASL Interpreting

ASL interpreting is a highly specialized profession with unique linguistic, cultural, ethical, and cognitive demands. Interpreters must be trusted by everyone involved in the conversation. Deaf people need confidence that their words, intentions, and identities are being represented accurately. Hearing participants need confidence that they are receiving the same message. That trust depends on interpreters being qualified, professional, and accountable for their work.

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The Deaf perspective must be part of decisions about interpreter hiring. The organization paying for the service may not include the perspective of the person relying on it most. Deaf consumers’ input should be welcomed and taken seriously when selecting an interpreter.

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It is equally important to recognize that interpreters are not interchangeable. Different assignments require different skills, and an interpreter who is excellent in one setting may not be the right fit for another. Credentials matter, but so do experience, language compatibility, cultural understanding, and the complexity of the work. Appropriate team interpreting, continuing education, and professional accountability are all part of providing quality service.

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Wisconsin has valuable resources to support this profession, including state credentialing, professional organizations, qualified interpreters, and ethical agencies. Understanding how these resources work, and why they matter, helps employers and consumers make informed decisions.

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Ultimately, respecting ASL interpreting begins with a willingness to understand its nuance and uniqueness. It means listening to Deaf people, acknowledging power dynamics and recognizing the expertise interpreters bring to every interaction. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about ASL interpreting and for your commitment to positive outcomes for the Deaf community.