Suggestions for Working with these Texts

Objective: To prepare for interpreting medical appointments related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The following series of activities are designed to support you in achieving the objective above.

1. Do some research on terminology and procedures related to childbirth. (See links for OB/GYN appointments.)

This link has suggested resources for developing a better understanding of concepts and processes related to childbirth. There is a wealth of information on the internet, as well as many books, designed to give future parents a better idea of what to expect. These resources can also be of assistance to an interpreter preparing to interpret for situations related to pregnancy and childbirth. For more>>>.

2. Watch the video and analyze use of language to describe terms and processes related to childbirth.

The video from each couple is divided into segments to allow you to watch different portions. Some of the video describes more about the processes of life surrounding childbirth...dealing with accomodations at work or in other arenas of life. Other portions of the video is more focused on the technical processes of birth and dealing with the medical profession. Descriptions underneath the video links give suggestions of topics to look for in each of the video portions. Using these suggestions, watch the video to add to your own ideas about how to talk about childbirth in ASL.

3. Describe certain processes in ASL.

After watching the couples talk about childbirth in ASL, pick certain concepts or processes and describe these in ASL. For example, you may choose to describe a C-section as if you were explaining it to a Deaf friend who was unfamiliar with what happens in that procedure. You may want to videotape yourself so that you can watch your rendition and see how effectively you were able to incorporate the language features demonstrated in the video.

4. Interpret from ASL to English imagining the setting being a Doctor’s appointment asking for past history.

After all of this preparation and analysis, voice interpret the segments with the imagined target audience of a doctor looking for past history related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Earn CEUs:

A study packet, This One's for You, Baby! , is available to allow interpreters to work with this CD and Birth Companions to earn RID CEUs.