Reading Between the Signs Workbook: A Cultural Guide for Sign Language Students and Interpreters / Edition 1

by Anna Mindess

Overview

This helpful workbook functions as a companion and supplement to Anna Mindess's earlier book, Reading Between the Signs: A Cultural Guide for Sign Language Interpreters, a recognized classic text for sign language interpreters and ASL students. It is arranged to correspond with the theory presented in the book and expands its focus to the relativity of politeness and the distinction between direct and indirect communication styles, both of which are important elements in comparing Deaf and mainstream cultures. Hands-on exercises allow students to better comprehend the sometimes-puzzling differences of culturally appropriate behavior. The book also helps students explore their own culture as well as the American Deaf culture in ways that reveal the differences between the two. Role play, discussion topics and critical incidents increase first-hand understanding of the relationship between the Deaf and Hearing communities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781931930031
Publisher:	Nicholas Brealey Publishing
Publication date:	11/03/2003
Edition description:	Workbook
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	7.07(w) x 10.12(h) x 0.33(d)

About the Author

Anna Mindess has worked as a sign language interpreter in business, legal, educational, medical, video relay and performing arts settings for more than 25 years. A noted author, consultant and trainer, she has presented workshops on cultural issues in the U.S. and internationally. She is the author of Reading Between the Signs, the companion to this workbook, and co-creator of the DVD See What I Mean.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
I.	Introduction: Unpacking Your Cultural Baggage	1
II.	What Is Culture?	7
1.	The Iceberg	9
2.	Matching Values and Behavior	11
3.	Identifying Universal, Cultural, or Personal Behaviors	13
III.	The Intercultural Perspective: Seeing through Others' Eyes	15
4.	In the Mind of the Beholder	17
5.	D.I.E.: Description, Interpretation, Evaluation	21
6.	Double-Loop Thinking: Seeing Two Perspectives	29
7.	Decoding Cross-Cultural Dialogues	39
IV.	Basic Distinctions in Intercultural Communication	49
8.	Collectivism/Individualism	51
9.	High-Context/Low-Context Cultures	55
10.	Past/Present/Future Orientation	59
11.	Indirect/Direct Styles of Communication	61
V.	Examining Your Own Values	65
12.	The Things We Say: Culture in Casual Expressions	67
13.	Many Communities	71
14.	How American Are You?	73
VI.	Politeness Is Relative	77
15.	Your Polite Is Different from My Polite	79
16.	What's Your Limit?	81
17.	Advice Column	85
18.	Rudeness Is Relative, Too	91
VII.	Decoding Assumptions in Interpreting Situations	93
19.	Translating between Direct and Indirect Styles	95
20.	Medical Appointment	101
21.	Job Interview	103
22.	Administrative Hearing	107
VIII.	Suggestions for Further Study	109
IX.	Suggested Answers	113
X.	Bibliography	125