NAD Transliteration & Language Modalities 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary distinction between interpreting and transliterating in the context of ASL and English?
- Interpreting works between two distinct languages (ASL and English), while transliterating works within one language in different modalities (Correct answer)
- Interpreting is only for spoken language while transliterating is only for written text
- Transliterating is always more accurate than interpreting
- Interpreting requires certification while transliterating does not
Correct answer: Interpreting works between two distinct languages (ASL and English), while transliterating works within one language in different modalities
Interpreting crosses linguistic boundaries between ASL and English, while transliterating converts between modalities of a single language.
Question 2: Cued Speech is best described as:
- A visual phonemic system using handshapes near the mouth to supplement speechreading (Correct answer)
- A simplified form of American Sign Language
- A system for representing written English in signs
- An alternative to cochlear implants for Deaf children
Correct answer: A visual phonemic system using handshapes near the mouth to supplement speechreading
Cued Speech uses eight handshapes and four positions near the mouth to make spoken language phonemes visually distinct.
Question 3: Contact Sign (formerly called Pidgin Signed English or PSE) is characterized by:
- A blend of ASL signs in English word order with some ASL features (Correct answer)
- A fully grammaticalized signed system equivalent to ASL
- Fingerspelling every word of English
- ASL grammar used with spoken English words
Correct answer: A blend of ASL signs in English word order with some ASL features
Contact Sign is a code-mixed variety that uses ASL vocabulary primarily but follows English syntax, emerging from contact between ASL and English users.
Question 4: Signed Exact English (SEE) is designed primarily to:
- Represent English morphology and grammar visually sign-for-word to support English literacy (Correct answer)
- Be a natural language of the Deaf community
- Replace ASL in educational settings permanently
- Facilitate communication with hearing people who do not know ASL
Correct answer: Represent English morphology and grammar visually sign-for-word to support English literacy
SEE was invented to manually represent English structure exactly, including grammatical morphemes, to support written English development.
Question 5: In which professional context is transliterating (using a manually coded English system) most commonly requested?
- Educational settings where the Deaf student is learning English and prefers English-based signing (Correct answer)
- Legal depositions requiring verbatim transcription
- Medical emergencies requiring rapid communication
- International Deaf conferences
Correct answer: Educational settings where the Deaf student is learning English and prefers English-based signing
Transliterating is most common in educational settings, particularly for students who use SEE or contact sign to align with English instruction.
Question 6: What does the RID Specialist Certificate: Transliteration (SC:TC) recognize?
- Advanced competency in transliterating between spoken/written English and manually coded English systems (Correct answer)
- Competency in interpreting between ASL and English
- Expertise in international sign interpreting
- Specialization in medical interpreting settings
Correct answer: Advanced competency in transliterating between spoken/written English and manually coded English systems
The SC:TC certifies interpreters who have demonstrated specific competency in the transliteration modality.
NAD Transliteration & Language Modalities 1
What is the primary distinction between interpreting and transliterating in the context of ASL and English?