Look-pause-nod: A linguistic case study of a deaf professional and interpreters working together

The art and science of sign language interpreting (Stewart, Schein, and Cartwright 1998) has been discussed in the literature for many years and has characteristically focused on the presence of interpreters at communication events where deaf people are seeking access to some kind of information. Discussion has often concentrated on key areas such as educational interpreting (Winston 2004), medical interpreting (Metzger 1999), legal interpreting (Russell 2002), and community interpreting (Harrington and Turner 2001). In terms of power dynamics, the deaf person is not in a position of power or authority in these discussions. He or she is characteristically the student, patient, defendant, or witness. The deaf person in those situations is not the expert; rather, he or she is relying on the expertise of others.