8th Annual Ramp up the Conversation
8th Annual Ramp UP℠ the Conversation Interpreter and ISP Continuing Education Conference
THEME: Equivalent Messages = Accurate Interpretation
What’s an Equivalent Message?
SESSION: What’s an Equivalent Message?
Presented by Debra Gorra Barash
Sign Language Interpreter CI, CT, SC:L, Q-MHI
Abstract: 5 hours (3-hour performance based / 2-hour ethics)
Interpreters tend to remind others that they are not translators, and yet there is a lot that interpreters can learn from written text to improve interpreting skills.
Increase your knowledge and practice of text analysis to become a more effective interpreter of the equivalent message.
Engage with colleagues to expand and enhance language options. Practice together to fine tune the equivalent message and develop team collaboration.
Learning Outcomes
Session attendees will:
- Review and analyze the text and meanings of terms in the code of ethics, etc.
- Gain a memorable, compelling perspective on the impact of text analysis.
- Expand working language vocabulary.
- Collaborate to identify key language and vocabulary and put this vocabulary to the challenge to effectively communicate the scenarios.
- Practice text analysis and its application in the three modes of interpretation.
- Apply cross-cultural significance of the equivalent message.
- Have some fun while learning in a multilingual experience.
about the presenters
Debra Gorra Barash, Sign Language Interpreter CI, CT, SC:L, Q-MHI
Debra Gorra Barash, Sign Language Interpreter CI, CT, SC:L, Q-MHI
Debra Gorra Barash, Sign Language Interpreter CI, CT, SC:L, Q-MHI
Debra Gorra Barash is a nationally recognized professional sign language interpreter. Over the past 35-plus years, Debra has earned numerous specialty and advanced certificates that include the Specialty Certificate: Legal from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Qualified Mental Health Interpreting (QMHI) credential, and Fam
Debra Gorra Barash is a nationally recognized professional sign language interpreter. Over the past 35-plus years, Debra has earned numerous specialty and advanced certificates that include the Specialty Certificate: Legal from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Qualified Mental Health Interpreting (QMHI) credential, and Family Mediation Certificate. Debra is especially proud of the Wisconsin SCR 63, Code of Ethics for Court Interpreters, as she chaired the subcommittee that authored these guidelines.
For more than 10 years, Debra served as a vital member of the Committee to Improve Interpreting and Translation in the Wisconsin Courts, under the Honorable Chief Justice Abrahamson. Debra presents various professional training sessions at conferences such as the Wisconsin Judicial Conference, Wisconsin Judicial College, Wisconsin District Attorney Conference, Court Commissioners Conference, Court Reporter Conference, Wisconsin Guardian ad Litem Conference and the Hmong Interpreter Conference. In addition, Debra has served as mentor, trainer and teacher in various professional programs, such as WisRID Legal Training Program, UWM Interpreter Training Program, and both the Wisconsin and Minnesota Orientation Programs for Court Interpreters.
With her college degree in business administration, Debra has extensive business experience that has served her well over the past 30 years. After being awarded the Wisconsin Chapter of RID (WisRID) Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding contributions to the profession of interpreting, Debra founded and co-owned Professional Interpreting Enterprise, LLC, a successful Sign Language Interpreting company, which has been recognized as an innovative leader in its field for quality service. The Ramp UP the Conversation Interpreter and ISP conference recognized Debra for her vital role in establishing and upholding the high standards that guarantee language access in our diverse communities. In addition to her entrepreneurial journey, Debra served as an executive director for two nonprofit organizations.
She has experience serving on various committees relating to ethics and ethical behavior, character and fitness issues, disciplinary complaints and grievance appeals cases on both state and national levels. Combining her unique and diverse interpreting, training and business background, Debra continues to be called upon to conduct seminars specializing in legal interpreting, understanding ethical behaviors and the roles of interpreters in the legal system. She also offers consulting services and serves as an expert witness on interpreting issues.
Debra is the author and instructor of the 280-hour Legal Certificate Program for ASL and Spoken Language Interpreters launched with UWM School of Continuing Education in August, 2020.
Shawna Stevenoski, CCI, CMI-Spanish, Event Director
Debra Gorra Barash, Sign Language Interpreter CI, CT, SC:L, Q-MHI
Debra Gorra Barash, Sign Language Interpreter CI, CT, SC:L, Q-MHI
Owner of Bilingual Training Consultants LLC and host for the event. She brings 28 years of experience in training, business administration, education, and interpreting to our communities. She has a BA in both Spanish and English. She worked as an ELL instructor and elementary school principal in Mexico City, Mexico where she lived in th
Owner of Bilingual Training Consultants LLC and host for the event. She brings 28 years of experience in training, business administration, education, and interpreting to our communities. She has a BA in both Spanish and English. She worked as an ELL instructor and elementary school principal in Mexico City, Mexico where she lived in the campo militar for ten years before returning to WI to continue her work as a professional trainer and interpreter. She is a Certified Medical Interpreter and WI and IL Certified Court Interpreter since 2005. She authored the 40 Hour Plus Right Meaning Interpreter Skills and Performance Training for Healthcare and Medical Interpreters and for interpreter services providers. She served as the Wisconsin State Chapter Chair for the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) 2012- 2016 and served as faculty with the WI Court Interpreter Orientation Training Program. Additionally, she has had the honor of co-instructing the 280-hour Legal Certificate Program with Debra Gorra Barash at UWM School of Continuing Education. This unique program written and established by Ms. Gorra Barash in the interest of improving interpretation in the WI courts and to address the “hidden injustice” that occurs in our WI courts regarding language access.