Religious Interpreting Workshop for the Deaf to be Held at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Deaf educator Patrick "Pax" McCarthy will lead a workshop titled, "Religious Frozen Text Translations," on Sunday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 406 of the Hogan Campus Center. The workshop will be conducted in American Sign Language (ASL); no interpreter will be provided.

The workshop will focus on translating from frozen texts: prayers and songs commonly found in Hearing churches and temples. It will focus on improvising stylistic renditions and incorporating some commonly used ASL phrases. There will be hands-on translation activities with constructive critiques from participants.

McCarthy is a native user of ASL and a Deaf CODA. He received his bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.) and a master’s degree in Deaf education from Western Maryland College.

The workshop is sponsored by the College of the Holy Cross, Mount Wachusett Community College, Holyoke Community College, and the Northeastern University Interpreter Education Project.