Deaf-centric and Sovereign: Translation as a Tool for Changing Audism and English Dominance

Abstract

This essay explores the way two languages typically considered “less-common”
can be connected through creative composition, translation and interpretation.
Working together in a course on Great Lakes History at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee, three co-authors confront the problem of creating culturally
informed translations of two indigenous texts. One author is the professor of the
course and an Anishinaabe poet sharing her own work with students. One author is a
writer and sign-language interpreter. One author is a long-distance Anishinaabe
cultural consultant. In the class, students learn to read and recite two texts originally
composed in Anishinaabemowin and translated into English. With Deaf students
enrolled in the course, an additional translation into American Sign Language (ASL) is
needed. An ASL interpretation of each text based only on the English translation is
useful, but does not contain the full meaning of the Anishinaabemowin original.
Together the team created an ASL version which reflects more detail and cultural
nuances. The primary aim of this essay is to demonstrate a method for reducing
audism by using inter-cultural methodologies to produce more accurate translations
and decolonial and deaf-centric interpretations. A secondary aim of the essay is to
compare and contrast Anishinaabemowin and ASL leading to the suggestion that
more work should be done to directly connect indigenous and sign languages.