A friend's daughter is going to college to be a sign language interpreter. She wants to be the bridge between deaf people and those trying to serve them in the medical community. It takes work to understand the vocabulary of both sides, one expressed with swiftly flying hands and the other with eight syllable words.

 

There are times I wish I had an interpreter between John and I. When I ask a question with no ill intent,  he has been known to hear ridicule. 

 

"Did you fix the broken window yet?" I inquire at lunch. 

 

My son showed me an app that translates from Spanish to English instantly. There was another that translated from animal speech to human words, but they took it down. Maybe the cats complained about being misrepresented. Yet has anyone tried to develop one for husbands and wives?

 

"Is that what you are wearing to the party? Not on my watch."

 

would be better received if it went like...

 

"Honey cakes, you look absolutely great. Still I wonder if you would be even more stunning in the pale blue shirt and navy tie, rather than the turquoise polo and plaid tie, Here I will get it for you! It's no trouble at all."

 

or

 

"You stayed up how late playing video games??? I have a list as long as my arm of things I need you to do and you waste three hours on Mindcraft?"

 

could be easier to hear if it sounded like...

 

"You look tired, sweetie. Had a rough night destressing? Thank you for finding an outlet that does not involve fast cars, money or inebriation. I am glad you are safe."

 

I realize that some people go to great lengths to learn how to show someone else what it is that they see. I suppose I could work on that.