’COOL’

AU S L A N

INTERPRETERS AREN’T JUST ‘COOL’ Words by Gabby Bakker

When NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet took office in early October, he was accompanied in his first two press conferences by an Auslan interpreter. Familiar faces on our screens since the COVID-19 pandemic began, it has become standard for press conferences around Australia to include sign language interpreters to communicate important content to the Deaf Community. In his next two press conferences, however, these faces were absent. NSW Health later released a statement confirming that continuing media events concerning COVID ‘may include the services of Auslan interpreters and [some] may not’. This is devastating for the Deaf community.

The increased visibility of Auslan interpreters has brought Auslan to the attention of the broader hearing community, with enrolment in Auslan courses increasing and several interpreters going viral. Whenever I tell people I’m in my third year of studying Auslan to become an interpreter, their first comment is often, “like the lady next to the premier!” The increased visibility of Auslan is undoubtedly a positive step, but when the Deaf community remains a marginalised group and interpreters on TV begin to disappear as we exit the pandemic, I worry this newfound interest is only a passing fad.

Somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 people in Australia use Auslan. Auslan is an entirely separate language from English, with its own unique grammar. For example, if someone says, “Would you like lunch?”, an interpreter would sign, “lunch you want,” with their eyebrows raised to convey the question. It’s for this reason that subtitles cannot capture the emotion of a speaker nor convey information in the visual way Deaf people require, rendering interpreters vital. Additionally English is the second or third language of many Deaf people, creating another barrier that further marginalises the Deaf community;especially when the language used in press conferences is formal and full of difficult terminology.

Many hearing people’s first encounters with Auslan interpreters is at press conferences, however interpreters are present in many facets of the lives of Deaf people. Interpreters work at job interviews, family events, doctor’s appointments, and more… Interpreters around the world have gone viral and drawn mass attention for their presence at rap and metal concerts. This is not to say their work isn’t important and vital, but an obsession over interpreters betrays a worrying trend in hearing perceptions of the Deaf community. There’s something awfully uncomfortable about interpreters going viral just doing their jobs while Deaf people’s access to Auslan interpretation and to the language itself remains limited. There is no existing legislation to mandate interpreters at press conferences, and aside from these conferences, the news is rarely interpreted, let alone other television programs. The onus for booking an interpreter is also always put on a Deaf person themselves in the majority or scenarios, creating a significant mental load. Additionally, many deaf children born to hearing families are denied access to Auslan and the Deaf community in favour of oralist education that prioritises spoken English over signed language. We cannot fawn over how “cool” a hearing interpreter looks while they sign or how “into it” they may be at a music concert while Deaf people remain a marginalised group.

COVID subsides, the public’s interest in Auslan will fade in the same way as other lockdown ’trends’, like sourdough and Squid Game. If Auslan interpreters exit our screens along with COVID press conferences, will the hearing community only acknowledge Auslan when another interpreter goes viral at a music concert or by staring at Deaf people signing in public? The Deaf community have safeguarded Auslan through decades of discrimination and oppression. We can’t let positive change fade!

Fortunately, there’s lots we can do! First and foremost, hearing people need to be aware of the Deaf people in our community. Support Deaf advocates campaigning for press conference interpretation. If hearing people can wince at Dan Andrews telling people not to “get on the beers”, it’s only fair that Deaf people can too. Make sure your own events are accessible by booking interpreters and agitate for public events to be accessible. Learn some Auslan if you have the time and means and request Deaf Awareness Training at your place of work through Deaf-led companies like Sign Language Australia. Auslan interpreters are more than a fun person to watch when the case numbers get a bit depressing, and Auslan is more than a fad! Let’s treat Auslan and the Deaf community with the respect they deserve!

Deaf Etiquette with Interpreters

If you meet a Deaf person with an interpreter, there is etiquette you should follow. Remember that the interpreter is there to do their job of language translation, and that you are really speaking to the Deaf person through the interpreter! Avoid language such as “tell them” or “explain to them” and instead talk naturally. Face the Deaf person and focus on them. Avoid personal conversation with the interpreter – it’s not rude to not acknowledge them, it’s their job. Chatting with someone through an interpreter isn’t as weird or scary as it may seem! You will find that conversation flows naturally once you focus on the Deaf person.

Resources for Learning Auslan

When I tell people I’m studying Auslan, I hear over and over again, “Oh, that’s so cool! I’ve always wanted to learn sign language!” My response: “Do it! Just do it! Find a Deaf-led business and get started!”

For in person classes, TAFE provides full-time and part-time courses to learn Auslan with native signers. For an option with less commitment, Sign Language Australia is a Deaf-run business that runs five-week Auslan courses in the evenings for two hours a lesson. There is also Deaf Butterfly Effect, who provide one-onone tutoring if that’s your preference.

If in-person classes aren’t your thing or money is an issue, there are many online options. The Deaf Society run short and long online courses, and there are many independent teachers with cheap online workshops, like Open That Door and Trip in Auslan. Trip in Auslan has many other resources for learning Auslan and can guide you towards educational resources. There are also many Deaf-run Instagram and TikTok accounts like Auslan With David, where David shares a sign a day for his followers to learn.

References

Boon, Maxim. “The shocking reason Dominic Perrottet no longer has Auslan interpreters at press briefings.” TimeOut, October 12, 2021.

Kirkness, Jessica. “COVID has brought Auslan into the spotlight, but it would be wrong to treat the language as a hobby or fad.” The Conversation, January 5, 2021.