Hanna Mignano

ASLS 202 / Fall 2020

1 hr 30 min

Daily Moth: Maverick Fisher Murder Trial Day 1

Nov. 5th, 2020

I viewed the first day of the Maverick Fisher murder trial, presented by Daily Moth and

DPAN TV. Maverick Fisher is a deaf man who has been charged with the murder of another

deaf man , Grant Whitaker in northern California in August. It was very difficult to hear and the

video was not close-captioned, so it was a very good challenge for my receptivity. This is still a

weak spot for me, but the more I view these longer interpreting videos the quicker I seem to be

able to keep up with the signing, which is a small but happy improvement. I found it very

interesting to observe interpreting within a real-world courtroom context, and although I only

viewed the first hour and a half of the first day of the trial, I already admire the team of

interpreters for their stamina and ease with which they interpret under such pressure. At times,

the interpreter was not the main focal point, but the last half zoomed in on the interpreter well

enough for me to pay close attention. Aside from a few new/revisited vocabulary words, I mainly

focused on each interpreter’s (there were 2 switching off) style. The first seemed to adhere to a

more simultaneously interpreted approach, clearly pausing to process the information before

fluidly translating it; the second interpreter seemed to be a bit more choppy, and right on the

words. However, I enjoyed both interpreters and felt like I learned a great deal just from

observing them; mainly on pacing, sentence structure, and confidence; and in particular , the

role shifting between the lawyer and witness questioning. I was impressed by their calm,

considering the subject matter and the obvious pressure they must be under in that situation.
Overall, this was a great real-world example to assimilate what we have learned so far in class,

and I feel as though I learn best observing interpreting situations like these. I am left wondering

how and when the team of interpreters decides to switch off with one another; is this

premeditated , or spontaneous? I also like how at one point there was bad mic feedback, and

the interpreter rolled with it as if it were part of the interpretation.