Interpreting AA Meetings
by Kayla E.J. Kirkpatrick
Background
Although it happens
frequently in society today, it is still abnormal for a person to have
a problem with drinking requiring outside help. Further, there is
stigma among the general public towards people who cannot handle their
drinking. This is usually attributed to negative behaviors people
engage in when they drink too much.
Alcoholics Anonymous has it's own cultural norms
and values. Collectively, the group believes self-diagnosis is the only
real diagnosis; in self-diagnosis, there is a recognition and
realization of the problem, and only then can a person work towards the
solution.
A person is considered to be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous after they declare themselves a member, and this is a norm for the group. It would be difficult to learn all the rules and language of the group after just one meeting.
A person is considered to be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous after they declare themselves a member, and this is a norm for the group. It would be difficult to learn all the rules and language of the group after just one meeting.
Topic Selection Process
It was not
difficult to select my topic. I have a personal interest in the
substance abuse/recovery field. On a deeper level, I am interested
because I have seen the influence Alcoholics Anonymous has had on the
lives of suffering alcoholics, and the hope and solution it has to
offer. I am also aware that there are few interpreters willing and
available to interpret in this setting. Recently, this severe need was
even recognized by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing when they made the opportunity available for non-screened,
non-certified interpreters to work and get paid in this setting.
Purpose
Alcoholics Anonymous is a
sub-culture within the general American population. AA has its own
values, specialized language, text materials, and goals. The most
important goal of this high context society is to fully abstain from
alcohol consumption, but there is a fundamentally deeper meaning to
'sobriety' for AA members. This paper provides and overview of the
various types of meetings, and the course of a "typical" AA meeting:
the setting, scene, participants and discourse, shared goals, sequence
of events, key, channels, norms of interaction, and genre. Following, a
meeting with the addition of a Deaf person and an interpreter is
discussed focusing on the same issues. Finally, the influence and
ramifications of the additions in the presentation of the scenarios are
presented and specifically discussed.
It is the writer's hope that the reader walks
away with the realization that interpreting in a 12-step meeting is not
the low-language-level task it is often perceived to be. There are
inherent challenges that are deeply rooted in this environment, and
this job must be taken very seriously. Preparation is a must: reading
the Big Book, watching it on videotape (it takes up five 8-hour
videotapes), learning how AA members talk, and then how Deaf AA members
talk, and more. According to Deaf AA members, Deaf people in recovery
depend on AA meetings and the interpreted meeting the same way they
would entering an emergency room. However, results are generally not
seen quickly, which can be frustrating for the interpreter.
Research Process
The writer's goal in
researching 12-step meetings is to find out the truth. The way AA is
portrayed on TV, and the experience of AA members is very different.
What is the truth? What actually happens there? And if it is anonymous,
how would the people feel about an interpreter attending? The results
are that TV has a lot to learn about AA. There is so much more to it
than is ever shown!
Research was done through observations,
interviews with members, both hearing and Deaf, interviews with
interpreters who work in this setting, and through collecting and
reading related literature. Research was done very carefully, as to be
respectful of the subject matter and the anonymity of the interviewed
participants. When an AA member's confidence has been won (Deaf and
hearing), they will generally talk freely about themselves and their
experiences. I attribute this ease to both the Deaf and hearing
interviewees being from the same type of high context sub-culture. I
interviewed both male and female interpreters who are also members.
Both of them seemed to expect direct, focused questions, and they did
not go into more detail or offer any more information than what was
requested in the question.
The Setting
Types of Meetings
- Open
- All are welcome, but discussion must be confined to problems dealing with alcohol.
- Closed
- Attendance is limited to those who have a desire to stop drinking. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome at the meeting. Still, discussion must be confined to problems dealing with alcohol.
- Discussion
- Someone (most often, the meeting chairperson) picks a topic related to alcoholism or recovery for discussion.
- Big Book Study
- After a reading from the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, a topic from the reading is discussed, as it relates to alcoholism.
- Step Study
- After a reading from the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, the '12 x 12', a topic from the reading is discussed, as it relates to alcoholism.
- Special Interest Groups
- Gay, Young People's, Men's, Women's, etc.- Where members identify with others. These are not the "core" groups of AA, and some members even oppose their existence because they say they are "exclusive", rather than "all inclusive". The third tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous states, "The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking."
Course of a "typical" AA Meeting
Just like anything else these days, there is no "typical" meeting. Expect the unexpected.
Setting
The setting can basically be
anywhere. Some members set up clubhouses, where the only thing that
happens there are meetings and fellowship. Usually, signs are put up on
the wall: banners with the 12 steps and 12 traditions, plaques with
slogans, meeting times and announcements of AA related events on the
walls. There is always coffee, and people freely fill their cups during
the meeting. There is excitement for new people experiencing continued
days of sobriety. Group sizes vary. There are members as young as 10
years old, and others who are very old. The median is around 40 to 50
years old. The ratio of males to females seems to be roughly 65% to
35%, respectively. There is not a huge amount of racial diversity, but
it is present. Alcoholism knows no racial, geographic, socioeconomic or
any other borders; there are wealthy members, people who look as if
they live on the streets, and everything in between.
Scene
An AA meeting can take place
anywhere. Interpreters must be ready to deal with logistical issues
constantly. The atmosphere is varied, and there is representation of a
high context sub-culture who have their own language, set of rules and
values, and much "in-group" language: The Big Book-the fond name by
members of their basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous, chips, acronyms-
GSR, ICYPAA, DCM, idiomatic and metaphorical language-"Keep it simple,"
"Let go and let God," "If you turn it over, but don't let go, you end
up upside-down", the steps and traditions and language attached to
that, sponsorship, etc. AA members roll these terms and slogans off
their tongues quickly and frequently.
After a person attends the same meeting for a
period of time, the norm and expectation is that the group members will
get to know the person and their "story" (past) well. It is hoped that
the person will get to know the group members intimately, as well. When
a person makes a commitment to attend a meeting on a regular basis, it
is sometimes called their Òhome group.Ó Most people are attentive
toward others when they are speaking. They seem to laugh at seemingly
tragic stories because of their shared experiences. This happens
because participants are relating to one another's experiences or
because they are uncomfortable with what is frankly being discussed.
Participants and Discourse
The
participants are people who believe they have a drinking problem; it is
agreed among the group that no member can diagnose anotherÕs
alcoholism. The chairperson, who signs up in advance or is chosen by
the group, is actively involved with the discourse of the meeting:
making the decision to start the meeting with a moment of silence (for
the "still suffering alcoholic"), followed by the Serenity Prayer,
reading of the Preamble (the group's mission statement), making
announcements, leading the Lord's Prayer, etc. The chairperson, as
decided by the group, must have at least 90 days of continuous
sobriety. Anyone who has a desire to stop drinking can "share" (speak).
Some passive participants may be asked to speak and politely decline,
"I'm just listening today."
Speakers participate actively. Members also
participate actively by clapping when a person picks up a chip
(representing a set length of continuous sobriety decided upon by the
group: 24 hours to 29 days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months, 9
months, 1 year, and multiples of years). Active participation also
includes back channeling: nodding in agreement, smiling, ummms, gasps,
etc. The group believes that people who have drinking problems as bad
as theirs cannot stay sober alone. Thus, participation is shown
passively by people who are present, but do not share, and discussion
is tacitly restricted to personal experience, strength, and hope. It is
suggested that advice not be given. The group believes that alcoholics
do not like to be told what to do, so group members make "suggestions"
to one another, rather than requiring that someone do something.
All participants are supposed to have equal
potential to have an impact on the others present, but this is
sometimes an area of contention. Things that impact some members of the
group may not impact others, and vice versa. In teasing and
disagreements between members, sometimes the justification of being
right is, "I have more time [sober] than you!"
"Old timers," those with many years of
continuous sobriety (exactly how many years varies) are revered by the
group, and anything they say is regarded to be of high truth and
stature. They usually know most of the people in the room (so they
easily recognize a new person), and seem self-assured and happy.
Next, there are those with a few years
continuous sobriety. They are expected to be mentally and emotionally
stable. They should know, understand, and respect the rules and
language accepted by the group and have the ability to understand and
act on intuition. One reason for the high expectations of people with
longer continuous sobriety is that their emotional growth begins again
when they enter AA.
"Newcomers" are people with less than 30 days
sober up to a year, or people who have recently come back to AA after a
relapse, are also highly cherished. They show the recovering members of
AA that active alcoholics are continuing to suffer from alcoholism "out
there." They generally look like they feel uncomfortable and unsure of
themselves, although they may handle themselves arrogantly when others
are watching. One cliche for this behavior is, "An egomaniac with an
inferiority complex." For example; if a person has been sober for 15
days, they are expected to be on an emotional roller coaster. They are
apt to make bad decisions, not know how to take care of themselves, and
need lots of guidance and direction. Some have lots of repressed anger
and resentment towards the world in general, and lack in patience, they
are not expected to know or understand all the rules and language
accepted by the group. The groups believe that these behaviors are a
result of emotional growth being stunted when the person started
drinking alcoholically, so naturally, they do not know how to deal with
these things.
Some new members think AA is a cult. There is a
point in the meeting that "New Comers" and those with under 30 days
continuous sobriety are asked to introduce themselves, not as a means
to single them out, but to welcome them into the group. Many times,
expectations of a person's mental and emotional stability are related
to how long an individual has been continuously sober. Hopefully, they
work the 12 steps, which helps the individual with their problems
related to their alcoholic drinking. It is expected that the new person
will pick up on the rules of the group tacitly and quickly.
Shared Goals
Ideally, the overt goal is
directly stated in the Preamble of Alcoholics Anonymous, and is the
same among all participants: recovery from alcoholism. The success rate
is actually about 1 in 10, according to the General Service Office,
(GSO), of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Covert goals include desires among members to
save relationships, fix damaged financial situations, stay out of jail,
appease court judges, get out of driving under the influence offenses,
keep jobs, meet people, get children back, become happier, and many
others. Because of covert goals, there is sometimes conflict with the
group's "singleness of purpose" to stay sober. There is also conflict
with overt and covert goals when a person, not desiring to stay sober,
is ordered by court to attend meetings in order to complete their
sentence. The group believes that the number one priority is staying
sober, and if that is successfully done, covert goals will "fall in
place" by themselves, or be taken care of by their Higher Powers, which
some choose to call God. Covert goals are not encouraged by the group.
The group collectively agrees and believes that
if a person reads the Big Book and works the 12 steps of Alcoholics
Anonymous with the guidance of a sponsor (someone who has already done
all of these things), continually goes to meetings, finds a higher
power, or power greater than themselves, and other things the group
suggests, the person who is new to the group will greatly improve their
chances of staying sober.
Sequence of Events
The chairperson is
in charge of taking care of conflicts and difficulties, when and if,
they happen and asking people to stop talking if they are diverting
from the topic, or speaking too long. The chairperson has control over
the discourse of the meeting: the meeting starts with him/her calling
out, "My name is ________, and I am an alcoholic." This is followed by
a moment of silence, the Serenity Prayer, reading of the Preamble,
announcements, leading the Lord's Prayer, etc.
When it is time for another member to share, it
is done either by raising hands and being recognized by the chair, or
just calling out, "My name is ________, and I am an alcoholic." All
people are expected to introduce themselves in this same manner and be
attentive toward others when they are sharing. This is how one is
expected to introduce themselves before speaking. If someone does not
do this, another member will shout out, "Who are you?" because it goes
against the tacit format of the meeting for a person to start speaking
until they have identified themselves in this way. Turn-taking is
valued by the participants; while one person is sharing, others listen
attentively, and cross-talk (talking while another is talking or asking
direct, expansion questions) is not allowed by the group.
Some language commonly used within the group has
been adopted from the steps, traditions, or the Big Book: arouse
(meaning "create"), amends, higher power, moral inventory,
powerlessness (discussed as a positive thing), etc. Language used by
participants ranges from higher registers to incoherent. Language and
discussions are restricted to problems as they relate to alcoholism.
There is a lot of incidental learning ("Read the book! Call your
sponsor! Go to 90 meetings in 90 days!" etc.) that takes place, usually
before and after the meeting. The rules and language of the group is
reinforced by member discussions and behaviors, usually before and
after the meeting, although sometimes education in this capacity
happens during the meeting. One does not have to be directly involved
in communication to hear and see things related to their recovery from
alcoholism in AA meetings.
Key
Any range of emotions may be
displayed and thoughts expressed by individual members during a typical
meeting: anger, fear, laughing, crying, arrogance, jealousy,
complacency, happiness, the list could go on ad infinitum. This group
of people believe that any of these emotions could cause them to take a
drink, and that their drinking problems are related to the fact that
while drinking, any or all of these emotions were repressed. For the
same reasons, any range of emotions may be discussed during the
meeting: homicidal feelings , suicidal feelings , resentment,
acceptance, willingness, honesty, faith, open-mindedness, humility,
gratitude, happiness, freedom, loving, security, etc.
Channels
Speaking is the channel used
for discourse during the meeting, however there are deviations. The Big
Book is usually read from and referenced throughout the meeting, or
there will be references to the "12x12," a book that explains the 12
steps and traditions in greater detail. It is separate from the Big
Book. When a person is speaking, eye contact of the participants is
focused on the speaker, although some people look at the ceiling, the
tables, their fingers, or elsewhere. Participants engage in back
channeling behaviors while others are speaking: nodding in agreement,
smiling, ummms, quietly giggling, etc. Members are fond of sharing
"speaker tapes" with one another. A speaker tape is a tape of an AA
member telling "their story" of what their experience drinking
alcoholically was like, what happened while they were drinking and the
circumstances that brought them to AA, and what it is like now. This is
the normal way of interacting. Although there are slight deviations,
anything that deviates too much from this is considered by the group to
be abnormal. However, anything except drinking is acceptable in AA.
Norms of Interaction
Although more true
for women than men, hugging is commonplace, even when members do not
know each other well. There is not much handshaking. Unless you are new
to AA, if you do not engage in hugging, it is thought that there is
something 'wrong' with you. The new person may, or may not, engage in
hugging. If a person is new, they are excused. Hugging is not meant to
harm, but to welcome a person into the group. Also, when a person is
new to AA and does not have much continuous sobriety, physical
proximity distances are greater, and this is understood and respected
by the group. There does not seem to be as much physical space required
for comfort while members are in the AA group as they require when they
are not with other AA members.
It is taboo to get a sponsor of the opposite
gender, although it does happen. Within the group, fostering
relationships with all people is encouraged, but it is suggested for
the women to be supported by the women, and the men to be supported by
the men. This is especially true during the first year of continuous
sobriety and during difficult times. This is also true with the role of
sponsorship.
No one is ever banished from the group,
according to the group's agreed upon traditions. Most of the people had
never met before they met in Alcoholics Anonymous. There are exceptions
of people who had drank together, but a cliche among group members is
that, they are "people who normally would not mix." The fact that
alcoholism is a disease is a constant unifying factor.
Genre
Text of Serenity Prayer and
Lord's Prayer is frozen, although there is one variation in the Lord's
Prayer. Some members say "our daily strength," instead of "our daily
bread." During readings of the 12th tradition, many people will say,
along with the chair, "principles before personalities" when it is
read. Language is monologic and testimonial, "This is what happened to
me, and this is how I stayed sober through it." Sometimes, language is
questioning, "This is what I am experiencing, what did you (being the
whole group) do to stay sober when this happened to you?" As is usual
in a high context culture, shared experience is the norm. All members
may have different details, but feelings that brought the individual to
AA are understood to be shared, although no ONE member speaks for AA.
Addition of a Deaf Person and an Interpreter
Background
A Deaf person has "hit their bottom" (members reference
to the epiphany that brings a person to AA) and wants to go to
Alcoholics Anonymous. There are few interpreted meetings of AA. The
Deaf people I interviewed voiced some apprehension in going to AA due
to the grapevine effect among the DEAF-WORLD. They also discussed
difficulty in the fact that "non-alcoholic" interpreters are sometimes
not welcome at closed meetings. Interpreters should be prepared to
defend the Code of Ethics and your profession. The group's decision is
made by the entire group, not just one person, but it may be helpful to
get there early to help deflate the issue.
For discussion purposes, it is assumed that the
Deaf person attends this meeting on a regular basis with an interpreter
and has declared him or herself to be a member of the group. Also for
discussion purposes, we will assume the Deaf member being discussed is
male. Hereafter, this person will be referred to as, "Deaf member." The
other members have gotten to know him, and he has been sober in AA for
some time. He is familiar with the rules for interaction and the
language used. The interpreter has experience with AA meetings and its
intricacies.
Setting
Setting does not differ with the addition of a Deaf person.
Scene
The first noticeable deviation from this "typical"
meeting is the addition of a Deaf person and the interpreter. American
culture tends to be low-context. AA is a high context culture, and
members bring their primary culture into the picture, as well. With the
addition of the Deaf person, there is an addition of yet another high
context culture. The interpreter has a cultural influence, as well. The
meeting can be influenced culturally each time there is a different
speaker. From a cultural influence vantage point, things can get
culturally "confusing." An interpreter is advised to be clear about
their own values, morals, and ethics.
When the group's response is to laugh at
"seemingly tragic stories," an interpreter must be prepared for this.
Remembering that this is happening because participants are relating to
one another's experiences or because they are uncomfortable with what
is frankly being discussed and these people are trying not to live this
way anymore may help. An interpreter can easily change the environment
by having a negative reaction to something they hear.
Participants and Discourse
The participants are still the same.
Those who speak are actively participating. The
Deaf member participates with active involvement, the same way hearing
members do, and will most-likely share during meetings. The Deaf member
can actively participate by clapping when a person picks up a chip.
Interpreters are advised that specialized language used by the group
are also represented by specific signs. A Deaf member who is familiar
with the terminology will most likely use these specialized signs, so
the interpreter can be prepared. In addition, the interpreter needs to
make themselves available to interpret everything they hear because of
the incidental learning that takes place before and after the meeting
(i.e., "Read the book! Call your sponsor! Go to 90 meetings in 90 days
! " etc.). Language of the group is reinforced by members' discussions
and behaviors during and after the meeting.
Overt and covert goals must be reflected
appropriately in the interpretation, so the Deaf member can properly
identify their own goals. According to other interpreters, this can be
a place of thier own bias, as desire for the Deaf member to succeed can
cloud the interpretation.
Sequence of Events
The sequence of events in not altered because a Deaf
member chairs. The Deaf member chairs meetings as regularly as anyone
else in the group. If someone is being disruptive, the interpreter must
convey this information so the chair can handle it appropriately.
The interpreter must decide whether or not to
voice comments made by the Deaf person if they choose to violate the
turn-taking rules established by the group. It is not the interpreter's
responsibility to answer questions or protect the Deaf member for
something that may potentially be embarrassing.
Key
Emotions expressed vocally but not overtly in body
language must be interpreted. One way this can be done is to say, "It
seems like he is crying." This is important in maintaining the content
and spirit of the speaker. If a Deaf person is on an emotional roller
coaster, the voicing interpretation needs to reflect this, as well.
Members may want to talk with them after the meeting.
Channels
Speaking is the channel used for discourse during the
meeting, however there are deviations. American Sign Language is used
by the Deaf member, and indirect eye-contact may be frustrating or
irritating to the Deaf member. The Big Book and the "12x12" have been
translated onto videotape by a Deaf man. They are available from the
General Service Office of AA. It is a good idea for an interpreter to
be familiar with these in case the Deaf member makes a reference from
these texts, so that it can be voiced accordingly. Obviously, the Deaf
member does not participate in sharing speaker tapes.
Norms of Interaction
The addition of a Deaf person maintains the group
belief that they are "people who normally would not mix." The Deaf
member attending the meeting with the interpreter participates in a
similar fashion as the hearing members of the group. The Deaf member
has the ability to relate to the shared experience of the members, and
considers him or herself to be a part of the inner core of the group.
The norms of interaction will change simply because of the addition of
a Deaf person and an interpreter, however, the spirit of the meeting
does not change.
Genre
The interpretation should stay true to the spirit and
integrity of the interpretation, it may be testimonial or questioning.
If a voice to sign interpretation has been accurate, most likely a Deaf
member would also follow the linguistic format of using "we," instead
of "I." When the Deaf member shares, voicing needs to reflect the
spirit, because emotions are so highly valued by this sub-culture.
Scenarios
(background information)
Setting
In AA circles, the scenario is in a normal place for an
AA meeting. The make-up of this meeting is considered "typical," taking
into consideration the gender factor, the race factor, the age factor,
and others.
Scene
The Scene is typical, even with the addition of a Deaf
person and interpreter. If a Deaf person came to a meeting without an
interpreter, it is likely that the entire meeting could pass without
knowledge that a Deaf person was there (not only because of the
"invisible disability" factor. It is common, Deaf and hearing alike).
This is because sometimes people, even new people, come and go without
ever being noticed. This certainly would not be the case if a Deaf
person showed up with an interpreter.
The Deaf member can grasp the psychological feel
of the meeting, and be in tune with it because of the behaviors members
display as a participants, even though they get the information second
hand through the interpreter. When the Deaf member arrives at the
meeting with an interpreter, it usually takes time for the other
members to become comfortable with the presence of and using an
interpreter. It may be awkward and difficult at first, but it becomes
easier with time. It should be noted that a Deaf person attending may
feel very isolated and alone. These feelings are common among ALL
alcoholics. If the interpretation isn't accurate and does not stay true
to the terminology, content, and spirit of the speaker's message, the
Deaf person could feel even more left out.
Participants and Discourse
Members behave in a manner appropriate and acceptable
to their group, and the covert "social mores" need to be passed to the
Deaf person through the interpretation. The chairperson is supposed to
have 90 days continuous sobriety because it is supposedly an indication
of stability and commitment. The Deaf member can participate fully and
have full understanding, provided the interpreter is dedicated to
rendering the message faithfully.
The reason for using "we," as in, "we are
powerless over...," when speaking is to indicate shared experience and
that one is not alone in their fight against alcoholism. This type of
communication is common among high context cultures. The interpreter
would hopefully make this a part of her interpretation, as the concept
is integral to the group's goals. The Deaf member attending the meeting
with an interpreter would have potential to impact the group when
sharing because the other participants would have the opportunity to
hear what the Deaf member had to say. A Deaf person who has attended AA
meetings for some time is most likely aware of language adopted by and
used within the group. It can be expected and assumed that a Deaf
member who is aware of the linguistic differences of the group will use
specialized vocabulary freely and comfortably when chatting and sharing
in the meeting.
The Deaf member should have as much access to
incidental information as possible. The interpreter needs to plan to
"come early and stay late" as many of the members do. The interpreter
should interpret all incidental information if s/he is not already
interpreting something else.
Shared Goals
A member is made aware of covert goals and the conflict
with the overt goals by paying attention to what is being said in the
meeting. The Deaf member would be made aware of these during the
interpretation. Because the overt goal is stated in the Preamble, all
members should be fully aware of the overt goals of the group. The Deaf
member would have access to this information, provided the meanings of
the specialized language is included in the interpretation. The Deaf
member will learn covert and overt goals of the group over time, in the
same way a hearing member of the group would, but through the
interpretation.
Sequence of Events
All members introduce themselves with "My name is
_________, and I am an alcoholic." Hearing members learn how the
sequence of events unfolds over time by attending meetings, and a Deaf
person would learn the same way. It is believed by members that
recovery from alcoholism is a life and death matter.
Turn taking is highly valued by the group, this
information could be learned the same way for a Deaf or hearing member.
A Deaf member would know that if a person does not introduce themselves
in the manner dictated by the group, they are teased with the, "Who are
you?" comment discussed above. A Deaf member would learn that they will
be interrupted by the chair if they are diverting from the topic,
speaking too long, etc. In the interpretation of the meeting, the Deaf
member should be able to enjoy the variances in registers and styles of
the speakers. Through the interpreter, the Deaf member would be able to
use the common language and "buzz" words of the group. A Deaf person
learns the suggested linguistic restrictions of the group.
Key
The group believes that much of their drinking
"careers" were defined by not dealing with emotions. The Deaf member
accesses this information through the interpreter, and the
interpretation should include overt and covert information. A Deaf
member would have the benefit of being able to share their emotions, as
they related to alcoholism, and listen to the other members discuss
theirs.
As the group has expectations that new people will
tacitly pick up on the expectations of the group, a Deaf member
attending the meeting with an interpreter should still be allowed to
pick up on these, some through the interpretation, some not. The
interpreter decides what is and is not interpreted. A Deaf member
attending the meeting with an interpreter could interact with the other
members, offering guidance and direction to the newer members, and
sharing what they have learned from their time in AA. The Deaf member
also has a greater opportunity to learn and grow within the group.
Channels
Speaking and American Sign Language are the channels
used in the scenario. After time to adjust to this type of
communication, hearing members of the group will become comfortable,
even with a "non-alcoholic" interpreter. It can be anticipated that the
Deaf member will use the language used by the group because they have
probably paid attention for some time in meetings, and watched the Big
Book on videotape in ASL. Many Deaf (and hearing) members of AA are not
able to clearly understand the written version of the Big Book, because
it is written in English from the 1930's.
One thing that was explicitly expressed by both
interviewed interpreters was the perceived difficulty they were having
establishing communication with a Deaf person who was new to AA. They
both spoke of their eyes being like "black holes." They explained that
there was virtually no back channeling that would lead them to believe
they were interpreting clearly, being understood, or needed to modify
linguistic styles-nothing. They both said that when they asked if they
were clear, the answer was a nod, "yes," and after some time passed,
there was increasingly more back channeling behaviors.
Norms of Interaction
The Deaf member has the opportunity to understand the
significance of hugging among group members and is comfortable and
respectful of the group's hugging norms. S/He is considered to be part
of the inner circle. The Deaf member is aware of, and respectful of the
group's values. The Deaf member learns from the group about sponsorship
and that the men are to "stick with" the men, women are to "stick with"
the women. This would be learned in the same way for a hearing
member-over time.
Genre
The Deaf member and the interpreter can participate in
the Serenity Prayer and Lord's Prayer using ASL. Most often, the group
is seated during the Serenity Prayer, and circled up holding hands
during the Lord's Prayer. The interpreter can interpret the Serenity
Prayer from the place they are interpreting from, and stand just in
front of the Deaf member, but inside the circle for the Lord's Prayer.
The interpretation should keep up during these prayers. There is a
chant of, "Keep Coming Back!" after the Lord's prayer. The Deaf member
most likely would not participate by calling aloud "principles before
personalities" is when it is read during the meeting because of lag.
This is no big deal to the group.
Discussion
Many of these behaviors and linguistic differences are
learned over time. Certainly, for a Deaf person, they would be acquired
and learned easier through an interpreter. Again, it should be stressed
that it often takes hearing people some time to learn the group's norm,
value, and differences in language use, as well. It should be obvious
that the interpretation is important in learning the aspects of
interaction that takes place on many different levels. It can be
assumed that it would take longer for a Deaf member to learn and become
comfortable with the AA group's interactions than it would for a
hearing person who has a direct channel and access to incidental
learning. However, they would still have the ability to feel a part of,
and on the same level, in the same manner as hearing members of the
group over time.
References
Note: Several interviews with Deaf, hearing, and interpreter members of Alcoholics Anonymous took place. They asked not to be identified, even by first name, because the community is so small.
Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous (The "Big Book"). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1939.
Alcoholics Anonymous. "Carrying the AA
Message to the Deaf Alcoholic." Reference Sheet provided by Alcoholics
Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous. "How it Works" (sight translation). Provided by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous. "Information on
Alcoholics Anonymous." Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.,
pamphlet. also available on-line
http://www.recovery.org/aa/pamphlet/aainfo.html
Alcoholics Anonymous. Is AA For You? (sight translation). Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., pamphlet.
Alcoholics Anonymous. "Serving Alcoholics
With Special Needs." Reference Sheet provided by Alcoholics Anonymous
World Services, Inc.
Cheever, Susan (1999, June 14). Heroes and Icons of the 20th Century.
TIME Magazine. 201-204. also available on-line
http://www.pathfinder.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/wilson01.html
Deaf Member of Alcoholics Anonymous (male). Interview. 2 October 1999.
Deaf Member of Alcoholics Anonymous (female). Interview. 30 August 1999.
General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Hearing Member of Alcoholics Anonymous (male). Interview. 10 June 1999.
Hearing Member of Alcoholics Anonymous (female). Interview. 1 September 1999.
Interpreter Member of Alcoholics Anonymous (male). Interview. 15 October 1999.
Interpreter Member of Alcoholics Anonymous (female). Interview. 23 November 1999.
Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Miller, Betty G. Deaf and Sober: Journeys through Recovery, Glossary of Key Terms, pp185-188
Miller, Betty G. Deaf and Sober: Journeys
through Recovery ASL Gloss Translations of the Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions, pp344-345.
No comments:
Post a Comment