Interview with an ASL interpreter for Utah Coronavirus Taskforce
Apr 5, 2020, 8:15 AM | Updated: 8:30 am
SALT LAKE CITY — During the daily briefings from the Utah Coronavirus Taskforce, you may have noticed two hard-working gentlemen interpreting in ASL for the various speakers. Jeff Caplan had the opportunity to interview one ASL interpreter, Clay Anderson, on Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on Friday.
Anderson works with Trenton Marsh who he describes as the the “go-to for all of this”
He said, “he’s [Marsh] had a passion for interpreting during disasters for years”
“it’s essential to get information to individuals who don’t have a way to access that any other way,” Anderson said.
It may surprise you to know that Marsh is actually deaf and in order for him to relay the information from the speakers, Anderson needs to be translating for him.
“I’m Trenton’s ears in that moment in time, I mean if you want to use maybe a little bit of a sports analogy, Stockton, and Malone, we’re a team, ” Marsh said.
While Anderson is relaying basic information to Marsh, Marsh is relaying that same message in more detail to viewers with a great amount of facial expression which has a lot to do with grammar in American sign language.
Anderson said, “A radio host isn’t seen. So you’ve got a lot of dynamic features that you utilize to get your message across to your audience. And I would say that is similar to what facial expressions do for American sign language grammar.”
When asked, “How difficult is it to interpret during such stressful times and with such technical, complicated topics?”
Anderson said a lot of prep work goes into it.
He said, ” Trenton gets a lot of talking points and does his best to retain a lot of that information before we even go on.”
“The hardest thing for me to do is when they come on and they read of the names of 5 different people from 5 different organizations as fast as they can,” he said.
You can see Anderson and Marsh doing the wonderful work they do Monday through Friday during the Utah Coronavirus Taskforce press briefings.
How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus
COVID-19 coronavirus is transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
- If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
- Get a flu shot.
Resources for more information:
LOCAL:
State of Utah: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
National Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
