How ASL & Language Access Connect With Language Interpreting
ASL (American Sign Language) is its own natural language, complete with its own grammar rules and linguistic properties that sets it apart from spoken English. And even though it is technically based on spoken English, it is classified as its own language. Communicated with specific movements of the hands and face, American Sign Language requires people to learn new rules and vocabulary. Language access - or language accessibility- is a term that describes the belief that everyone should have access to the same information; regardless of the languages they can actually understand.
To ensure that language remains accessible for all, means investing a great deal of time, money and effort into language translation and localization services. Although we see examples of translation localization on a daily basis, it is most noticeable in public areas like airports. As of 1944, every airport was mandated to have all signs written in English and their country's official language. Which has definitely helped reduce misunderstandings in high traffic areas. But does this consider all people, everywhere?
The connection between ASL, language access & language interpreting
According to the National Association of the Deaf, there are approximately 48 million Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals living in the United States. Since humans have a hard time visualizing large numbers, let us make this number more accessible for you. There are roughly 48 million people currently living in Spain. Which means, the entire Deaf or hard-of-hearing population in the United States, is roughly equivalent to Spain's entire population.
The hard-of-hearing population in the United States rely on language translation and interpreting services just as much as Spanish or French speakers do. They rely on language professionals and their work to access important services, resources and information. Without them, navigating important areas of life like education, healthcare, legal proceedings and community spaces would be difficult if not impossible. And yet, out of all the professional language interpreters, there is a large shortage available for the ASL community.
Our interactive interpreter training focused on American Sign Language makes language more accessible for everyone in your community. The remote language interpreting courses enable bilingual adults to learn online in real time, from expert instructors. Which is a skill that will be reinforced throughout our language interpreter school, regardless of whichever class you enroll. All of our language interpreter courses teach different techniques, skills and vocabulary required for different industries. Whichever specialized interpreting training course one you select, your work will be critically important. So what are you waiting for? Get more information today.
Our online translator classes are taught by expert instructors ✅ who have real-world experience in their interpreting specialty. They have worked hard to make fully remote online courses that are unique and engaging ✅ using a hands-on approach that is unparalleled by the competition. If you or someone you know is interested in our online Medical Interpreter Training Programs with live instruction✅, our fully remote yet real time classes ✅ are offered in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Farsi, French, Hindi, Korean, Somali, Urdu, Ukrainian languages online and onsite.
