Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Hanna Hoekman. (2021). "The Effects of Negative Thought Patterns on Sign Language Interpreters and Their Work." In ADVANCES IN EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETING, edited by Elizabeth A. Winston and Stephen B. Fitzmaurice, 193-209. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.
https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/A/Advances-in-Educational-Interpreting
This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter author.
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This study examines the impact of negative thought patterns on confidence in the work of sign language interpreters. A study of 471 sign language interpreters by Maddux and Nicodemus (2016), found that 65% of interpreters reported that their self-talk was demotivational and 14% percent stated their self-talk was always negative. Negative thought patterns or cognitive distortions are defined in this study as thoughts that negatively affect an individual’s mood, sense of self, behavior, and physical state. These were gleaned from the discipline of psychology; and more specifically, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Aaron Beck was the psychiatrist that developed and coined the term Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and these concepts were applied to this study. Data was collected from 37 sign language interpreters employed at a private university in the northeastern United States and analyzed as a mixed methods research study using pre- and postquestionnaires and focus groups. The responses from the questionnaires and focus group discussions indicated that there is not enough evidence to distinguish differences in frequency or prevalence of negative thought patterns in sign language interpreters based on experience and years in the field. Analysis of the focus group discussions revealed a lack of conversation and education surrounding how interpreters approach their work and handle stress.
Hanna Hoekman. (2021). "The Effects of Negative Thought Patterns on Sign Language Interpreters and Their Work." In ADVANCES IN EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETING, edited by Elizabeth A. Winston and Stephen B. Fitzmaurice, 193-209. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.
https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/A/Advances-in-Educational-Interpreting
This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter author.
+++++++
This study examines the impact of negative thought patterns on confidence in the work of sign language interpreters. A study of 471 sign language interpreters by Maddux and Nicodemus (2016), found that 65% of interpreters reported that their self-talk was demotivational and 14% percent stated their self-talk was always negative. Negative thought patterns or cognitive distortions are defined in this study as thoughts that negatively affect an individual’s mood, sense of self, behavior, and physical state. These were gleaned from the discipline of psychology; and more specifically, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Aaron Beck was the psychiatrist that developed and coined the term Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and these concepts were applied to this study. Data was collected from 37 sign language interpreters employed at a private university in the northeastern United States and analyzed as a mixed methods research study using pre- and postquestionnaires and focus groups. The responses from the questionnaires and focus group discussions indicated that there is not enough evidence to distinguish differences in frequency or prevalence of negative thought patterns in sign language interpreters based on experience and years in the field. Analysis of the focus group discussions revealed a lack of conversation and education surrounding how interpreters approach their work and handle stress.
![Sarah Katz announces her debut poetry collection, COUNTRY OF GLASS [ASL] [ENG CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LPX6yMAWNno/mqdefault.jpg "Sarah Katz announces her debut poetry collection, COUNTRY OF GLASS [ASL] [ENG CC]
Visual description and transcript below. Find more info on COUNTRY OF GLASS here: http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/country-of-glass.html
Description: Sarah Katz, a white woman with long, straight brown hair and wearing a black short-sleeved shirt. She is sitting in front of a green wall, signing American Sign Language, and at one point shows her copy of COUNTRY OF GLASS, which has a white cover and three large yellow dots with black title and author text.
Transcript: Hi, my name is Sarah Katz. I’m an author in the DC area. I’m deaf. I wrote a book called Country of Glass, published by Gallaudet University Press. I’m really excited to share this book with you that discusses different topics like deaf identity, trauma, traumatic brain injury, and much more. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for your support.")
![Video 29. –NEG5 possesses a bisegmental structure of mouth components [open] and [stretched].](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M45AoJt8_hM/mqdefault.jpg "Video 29. –NEG5 possesses a bisegmental structure of mouth components [open] and [stretched].
Piotr Tomaszewski and Wiktor Eźlakowski. 2021. Negative Affixation in Polish Sign Language. SIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES 21 (3): 290-332.
This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the authors.
Article Abstract
The article looks into the question of negative affixation in Polish Sign Language (PJM). Until today only one negative prefix and one negative suffix were recognized in PJM. Our research investigates further these two affixes looking into their etymologies, constraints, and new examples of their use. The negative prefix (NEG1–) results from PJM’s contact with spoken Polish, while the negative suffix (–NEG2) is an element native to PJM. Aside from a more in-depth analysis of the previously known affixes, our research uncovers new suffixes (–NEG3 and –NEG4), an interfix (–NEG1–), and a postfix (–NEG5). The interfix has the same origin as the negative prefix. The suffix –NEG3 comes from a sign meaning “lack of something.” The suffix –NEG4 originates from a natural gesture. The postfix is a result of a combination of a natural gesture and a sign.
Author Bios
Piotr Tomaszewski (ORCiD: 0000-0002-4083-067X; tomasz@psych.uw.edu.pl) is an assistant professor and scientist at the University of Warsaw (UW), Department of Psychology. His interests in research include sign linguistics and psycholinguistics. Wiktor Eźlakowski (ORCiD: 0000-0002-5107-8890; wiktor.ezlakowski@student.uj.edu.pl or w.ezlakowski@student.uw.edu.pl) is a PhD student at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and the University of Warsaw where he studies sign linguistics, concentrating on the evolution of Polish Sign Language.
Article Abstract
The article looks into the question of negative affixation in Polish Sign Language (PJM). Until today only one negative prefix and one negative suffix were recognized in PJM. Our research investigates further these two affixes looking into their etymologies, constraints, and new examples of their use. The negative prefix (NEG1–) results from PJM’s contact with spoken Polish, while the negative suffix (–NEG2) is an element native to PJM. Aside from a more in-depth analysis of the previously known affixes, our research uncovers new suffixes (–NEG3 and –NEG4), an interfix (–NEG1–), and a postfix (–NEG5). The interfix has the same origin as the negative prefix. The suffix –NEG3 comes from a sign meaning “lack of something.” The suffix –NEG4 originates from a natural gesture. The postfix is a result of a combination of a natural gesture and a sign.
Author Bios
Piotr Tomaszewski (ORCiD: 0000-0002-4083-067X; tomasz@psych.uw.edu.pl) is an assistant professor and scientist at the University of Warsaw (UW), Department of Psychology. His interests in research include sign linguistics and psycholinguistics. Wiktor Eźlakowski (ORCiD: 0000-0002-5107-8890; wiktor.ezlakowski@student.uj.edu.pl or w.ezlakowski@student.uw.edu.pl) is a PhD student at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and the University of Warsaw where he studies sign linguistics, concentrating on the evolution of Polish Sign Language.")
