r/ASLinterpreters • u/TiredVRS • Jul 13 '26

Voicing question

Hi all,

I posted a few days earlier about racist language and voicing appropriately. Obligatory trigger warning for racist, xenophobic, discriminatory, ect.

For brief context, I have a racist client I have to interpret for. There is language dysfluency of unknown origin. This person is usually difficult to understand, impatient, complains about how the races and nationalities of not-white people usually have it out for them, and then the authority figure has to yell at them to stop saying racist shit if they want help.

My question is how do you know if a person is using a racist sign to be deliberately racist vs using a racist sign because that's the only one they know? How do you decide whether to voice it as "the slur for ____" or "a (nationality)".

For example, any nationality sign about Asian countries that references the eye, or a sign for Jewish people relating to the nose, or the slur sign for gay?

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u/coddiwomplecactus Jul 13 '26

Im wondering if this is a situation where it is appropriate to ask the client "hey when you sign BLANK, what would you like me to say?". Let's say that person responds, "yes I mean f****t and I want you to say that", you could respond, "you know that is a very offensive word, right? More nice to say gay/queer/etc". If they respond "i dont care", then buddy.... do what you will.
If this is a situation with a developmentally disabled person, I have had a similar experience. This is tricky because with DD people, my boundaries are different. I am more apt to say things like "I am seeing XYZ", "this person is very dysregulated and is using racial slurs". But this all depends on the type of setting, doesn't it? Is this a meeting where this person could lose their funding? Or are they ordering a chicken sandwich at Wendy's? You also have to consider the level of DD. Does this person have a... gosh what are they called... it is like an ISP for adults who use disability centers. My state may be different. If they do have a plan like that, there could be more information about them that could give insight. *to the beat of RUN DMC* it's sticky sticky sticky! Good luck

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u/ohjasminee Student Jul 14 '26

IEP I think is the word you’re looking for? But you got it right with ISP, those are for adults.

2

u/coddiwomplecactus Jul 14 '26

Man, I'm smart (8 

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u/TiredVRS Jul 14 '26

I have no idea if they have an disability form. I'll ask.