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15 Interpreting Services - Communication with People with
an Impairment
15.1 Leading in
Try to explain the meaning of the quotes and remember some situation in your life when you
could have used one of the quotes.
“Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left
unsaid.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
― George Bernard Shaw, Leadership Skills for Managers
“We speak not only to tell other people what we think, but to tell ourselves what we think.
Speech is a part of thought.”
― Oliver Sacks, Seeing Voices
15.2 Listening
Listen to the recording. Complete the sentences with the missing information.
Communication generally
a Everyone can communicate and everyone is an …………………in the way they communicate.
b There are hundreds of definitions of what communication is and how it is ……………………….
c Perhaps the simplest way of thinking about communication is that it is the passing on of
information from one person to another using any …………………………….possible.
d The best way for somebody to communicate with is ………………………………, because you
never know how the other person is feeling.
e It may be surprising that we get most of our information across ……………………..our body
language.
f The way people communicate is …………………………. of:
• Body language = 55%
• Tone of voice = 38%
• Words = 7%
g Remember, all communication is …………………………….., but you may need to work harder
to understand.
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15.3 Speaking
Speak in pairs about your meeting with a person with disabilities and try to remember what
difficulties you met in communication. How did you overcome them?
15.4 Reading
Read the text below and decide which word best fits each space. When reading the text find
some new ideas for improvement of your future communication with people with disabilities.
Communication with people with a learning disability
Working with someone with a learning disability may (1)………………………..your idea of what
communication is, and how you make yourself understood.It may make you think about
your tone of voice and your body language as well as the words you use, and (2)…………………
you that communication is not just about talking but also about listening.
If people with a learning disability have the right (3)…………………………… to learn they can
achieve anything, (4)……………………………….you communicate in an understanding way. It is
important to always use accessible language, and to (5)…………………………..jargon or long
words that might be hard to understand. You should also take into (6)…………………………any
physical disabilities the person may have that could make communication difficult for them.
• In person: many people with a learning disability say that the best way to
communicate with them is face-to-face and one-to-one.
• In writing: in writing, it is a good idea to use bigger text and bullet points, and to
keep writing at a minimum of 16 point. It is also important to remember that
(7)……………….much colour can make reading harder for some people.
• On the phone: the best way to talk to someone with a learning disability
(8)……………..the phone is slowly and clearly, using easily understandable words.
“When I (9)……………………….to go to the hospital the doctors usually spoke to my mum rather
than speak to me. So I didn't bring her to the hospital(10)……………………. Finally they started
to recognise I'm the one, I need to understand, not my mum.”
1 A challenge B invite C emerge D originate
2 A remember B awake C remind D make
3 A support B pillar C surprise D check
4 A after B as long as C unless D however
5 A use B prefer C refuse D avoid
6 A favour B care C sight D account
7 A evenly B hardly C too D highly
8 A on B through C by D in
9 A could B have C had D use
10 A than B already C anymore D still
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Vocabulary:
accessible (adj) /əkˈsesəb(ə)l/ přístupný, dostupný
achieve (v) /əˈtʃiːv/ dosáhnout, docílit
avoid (v)
something
/əˈvɔɪd/ vyhnout se, vyvarovat se
bewilderment (n) /bɪˈwɪldə(r)mənt/ zmatení, údiv
bullet point (n) /ˈbʊlɪtpɔɪnt/ odrážka (v textu)
jargon (n) /ˈdʒɑː(r)ɡən/ žargon,
mluvajistéspolečenskéneboprofesnískupiny
pass on (v) /pɑːs/ předatdál
remind (v)
someone of
something
/rɪˈmaɪnd/ připomínatkomu co
take into account
(v)
/teɪk ˈɪntuː əˈkaʊnt/ vzít v úvahu
15.5 Listening
Go through the Vocabulary below. Then close your eyes and listen.
Vocabulary:
assume (v) /əˈsjuːm/ předpokládat
embarrassed (adj) /ɪmˈbærəst/ v rozpacích
expression (n) /ɪkˈspreʃ(ə)n/ vyjádření, výraz
get stuck (v) /getstʌk/ uvíznout
humiliating (adv) /hjuːˈmɪliˌeɪtɪŋ/ ponižující, pokořující
jumble or jumble up (v) /ˈdʒʌmb(ə)l/ pomíchat
respond (v) /rɪˈspɒnd/ zareagovat, odpovědět
Try to imagine
• not being able to read anything
• not being able to tell someone else about it
• not being able to find the words you wanted to say
• opening your mouth and no sound coming out
• words coming out jumbled up
• not getting the sounds right
• words getting stuck, someone jumping in, saying words for you
• people assuming what you want, without checking with you
• not hearing the questions
• not being able to see, or not being able to understand, the signs and symbols around
you
• not understanding the words, phrases or expressions
• not being able to write down your ideas
• being unable to join a conversation
• people ignoring what you are trying to say, feeling embarrassed, and moving away
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• people not waiting long enough for you to respond in some way, assuming you have
nothing to say, and moving away
15.6 Speaking
In pairs role-play meeting a person with a communication problem and a social worker.
15.7 Speaking
Work with your partner and discuss which points in the text 15.5 are the most difficult and
humiliating in your opinion.
15.8 Writing
Describe a day of a person with communication problems using the possible problems
mentioned above.
15.9 Reading
You are going to read ten tips for good communication with people with learning disabilities.
Before reading think what tips you would come up with based on your own experience.After
that Match the first half of the sentences with the second half.
Tips for communication
1 Find a good place to communicate in
2 Ask open questions
3 Check with the person that you understand what they are saying
4 If the person wants to take you to show you something,
5 Watch the person
6 Learn from experience
7 Try drawing
8 Take your time,
9 Use gestures and facial expressions.
10 Be aware that some people find it easier to use real objects to communicate
a go with them.
b .– even if your drawing is not great it might still be helpful.
c but photos and pictures can really help too.
d don't rush your communication.
e – somewhere quiet without distractions. If you are talking to a large group be aware
that some people may find this difficult.
f If you are asking if someone is unhappy make your facial expression unhappy to
reinforce what you are saying.
g .– they may tell you things by their body language and facial expressions.
h .– "the TV isn't working? Is that right?"
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i – questions that don't have a simple yes or no answer.
j .– you will need to be more observant and don't feel awkward about asking parents or
carers for their help.
15.10 Reading
Read the texts and find sentences with modal verbs in them.
How to CommunicateWithDeafPeople
Deaf individuals communicate visually and physically rather than audibly. There are varying
degrees of deafness: hard of hearing, "profoundly" deaf, and completely deaf. You can often
recognize the hard of hearing by their hearing aids (although of course some people refuse
to wear them, or are unable to, and newer aids are becoming smaller and harder to see).
Deaf or profoundly deaf people may wear no hearing aid at all. Some will be able to lip read
and understand you nearly perfectly, however, many will communicate with sign language
rather than with words. This visual way of communicating can be intimidating and seem
strange at first, of course.
Interpreting Services for Deaf People
An interpreter must accurately convey messages between two different languages. An
interpreter is there for both the deaf and a hearing individual. When a hearing person
speaks, an interpreter will render the speaker's meaning into the sign language, or other
forms used by the deaf party. The other end of interpreting is when a deaf person signs, an
interpreter will render the meaning expressed in the signs into oral language for the hearing
party, which is sometimes referred to as voice interpreting or voicing. This may be
performed either as simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. Skilled sign language
interpreters will position themselves in a room or space that allows them to be seen by the
deaf participants and heard clearly by hearing participants as well as to be in a position to
hear and/or see the speaker or speakers clearly. In some circumstances, an interpreter may
interpret from one language to another whether that is English to English Sign Language,
English to American Sign Language, Czech to American Sign Language and so on.
Vocabulary:
aid (n), hearing aid /ˈhɪərɪŋeɪd/ naslouchátko
at all /ætˈɔːl/ vůbec
audibly (adv) /ˈɔːdəbli/ slyšitelně
become (v) became,
become
/bɪˈkʌm/ stat se
consecutive /kənˈsekjʊtɪv/ posobějdoucí
convey (v) /kənˈveɪ/ vyjádřit, tlumočit,dopravit
intimidate (v) /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/ zastrašit
language (n) oral language /ˈɔːrəl ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ mluvený jazyk
nearly (adv) /ˈnɪə(r)li/ téměř
profoundly (adv) /prəˈfaʊndli/ hluboce
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render (v) /ˈrendə(r)/ poskytnout, vylíčit, přeložit
simultaneous (adj) /ˌsɪm(ə)lˈteɪniəs/ souběžný, simultánní
15.11 Use of English
Translate the following sentences using correct modal verbs:
Do naslouchátek se musí používat malé baterie.
Mohou znakující lidé z různých zemí spolu komunikovat navzájem, jestliže neznají jazyk toho
druhého?
Znakování je také prováděno lidmi, kteří jsou schopni slyšet, ale nejsou schopni fyzicky
mluvit.
V 17. století se mělo běžně za to, že hluší lidé se nemohou vzdělávat.
Sousední kmeny domorodých Američanů byly schopny spolu komunikovat pomocí druhu
znakovaného jazyka.
15.12 Reading:
Lip-reading.
Lip-reading empowers someone with a hearing loss to lead an independent and fulfilled life.
Lip-reading is often described as a 'third ear'.
What are the skills involved in lip-reading?
• training your eyes to help your ears
• watching the movements of the mouth, teeth and tongue
• reading the expression on the face
• noticing body language and gestures
• using residual hearing
• anticipation
Of the eight to nine million people in Britain who have a hearing loss around 50,000 to
70,000 use British Sign Language as their preferred method of communication. Nearly
everyone else will rely to some extent on lip-reading.
Vocabulary:
anticipation (n) /ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃ(ə)n/ předjímání, anticipace
extent (n) /ɪkˈstent/ rozsah, míra
fulfilled (adj) /fʊlˈfɪld/ naplněný
gesture (n) /ˈdʒestʃə(r)/ gesto
language (n) body language /ˈbɒdi/ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ řečtěla
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lip-read (v) /ˈlɪp ˌriːd/ odezíratzertů
loss (n) hearing loss /ˈhɪərɪŋlɒs/ ztrátasluchu
movement (n) /ˈmuːvmənt/ pohyb
rely (v) on /rɪˈlaɪ/ spolehnout se na
residual (v) /rɪˈzɪdjuəl/ zbytkový, zbylý
15.13 Listening
Watch the short film I See What You Say about training lip-reading. Test your lip-reading
skills:
15.14 Listening
Watch two short filmsabout Helen Keller and answer the following questions. You may need
the following Vocabulary for the first film:
Vocabulary (sorted in order of appearance):
intact (adj) /ɪnˈtækt/ nedotčený
fever (n) scarlet fever /ˈskɑː(r)lət ˈfiːvə(r)/ spála
circumstance (n) /ˈsɜː(r)kəmstəns/ okolnost
obstacle (n) /ˈɒbstək(ə)l/ překážka
contribute (v) to /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ přispět
equality (n) /ɪˈkwɒləti/ rovnost
dedicate(v) to /ˈdedɪkeɪt/ zasvětit
archive (n) /ˈɑː(r)kaɪv/ archív
influential (adj) /ˌɪnfluˈenʃ(ə)l/ vlivný
atrocity (n) /əˈtrɒsəti/ zvěrstvo, krutost
wounded (adj) /ˈwuːndɪd/ raněný
underdog (n) /ˈʌndə(r)ˌdɒɡ/ oběť útlaku, psanec
diminish (v) /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ zmenšit
FDR - Franklin Delano Roosevelt
a What kind of disability did Helen have?
b Was she born disabled?
c Did Helen´s parents themselves teach her to communicate?
d What was the first word Helen learned?
e How many foreign languages could she understand?
f How could she help wounded soldiers?
g How many countries did she visit?
h What did she do in Japan?
i What did she mainly fight for?
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Watch another short film Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan and find out how learned to
communicate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdTUSignq7Y
Vocabulary (sorted in order of appearance):
dumb (adj) /dʌm/ hloupý, němý, oněmělý
impaired (adj) speech
impaired
/spiːtʃɪmˈpeə(r)d/ s postižením řeči
mute (adj) /mjuːt/ mlčící, oněmělý
imitative (adj) /ˈɪmɪtətɪv/ napodobující
observe (v) /əbˈzɜː(r)v/ pozorovat
instantly (adv) /ˈɪnstəntli/ okamžitě
thumb (n) /thumb/ palec u ruky
throat (n) /θrəʊt/ hrdlo, krk uvnitř
larynx (n) /ˈlærɪŋks/ hrtan
nasal (adj) /ˈneɪz(ə)l/ nosní
vowel (n) /ˈvaʊəl/ samohláska
blind (adj) /blaɪnd/ slepý
impaired (adj) visually
impaired
/ˈvɪʒʊəliɪmˈpeə(r)d/ se zrakovým postižením
deaf (adj) /def/ hluchý
hearing (n) hard of hearing /hɑː(r)d əv ˈhɪərɪŋ/ nedoslýchavý
deaf-blind(adj) /defblaɪnd/ hluchoslepý
15.15 Reading
Excerpt from:“What The Blind Can Do” written by Helen Keller
There is no law on the statute-books compelling people to move up closer on the bench of
life to make room for a blind brother; but there is a divine law written on the hearts of men
constraining them to make a place for him, not only because he is unfortunate, but also
because it is his right as a human being to share God’s greatest gift, the privilege of man to
go forth unto his work....
15.16 Ideas for Homework
Look at the web page of dcmp.org and find out which services they offer to deaf-blind people.
Search the Internet to find some services for deaf-blind people in the Czech Republic.
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15.17 Speaking
Describe the picture.
Do you know this sculpture in Prague? Where can it be found? How would you read it?
15.18 Reading
Write one word in each gap. The text begins with the example.
Spreadthesign
Spreadthesign.com is an international dictionary where all the sign languages of the world
(0)…….are……. accessible. This pedagogic self-learning tool is free (1)………………………… use for
all in the world.
Primarily it was done to improve a vocational pupil’s language skills when going abroad for
work practice. Spreadthesign.com also has sentences and not (2)…………………. single
words/sign.
A common question is: “Oh, you know sign language! Then you can (3)……………………. to deaf
people in Australia and the US, too?” Wrong! Sign language is not the
(4)…………………..everywhere. It is as different as all the spoken languages. Otherwise, there
would not be a great need for the web site spreadthesign.com.
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Spread the sign is an international EU project and the lifelong learning programme. In this
project the partnershipwith new countries (5)………………….enlarged, new signs are recorded
so each language has 15,000 signs documented. The EU and Leonardo (6)…………………… given
us the opportunity to show our capability to improve vocational education for deaf pupils.
Each country represented has (7)……………………… team with responsibility for their language
on this web site. Spreadthesign.com helps thousands of people every day to find the sign
they are searching (8)……………………….
15.19 Ideas for Homework
1) In pairs or groups of three find a word or a sentence in the spreadthesign dictionary in
different languages, learn it and show it to your class. They should guess the meaning of your
signs.
2) Find some information about Baby Sign Language.