The Face Of ASL

The Face Of ASL
Marla BerkowitzAmidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohioans have turned to Governor Mike DeWine for reassurance, and with him comes the unforgettable facial expressions of Marla Berkowitz. Notoriously known for her ‘over-the-top’ facial expressions as she signs, Marla Berkowitz is a certified American Sign Language Interpreter with a secret: Berkowitz is actually deaf. When addressing the public, DeWine has a team of three interpreters with him; of those three, one addresses the room, and one addresses Berkowitz. The process may seem tedious, and the lag in translation may be apparent, but Berkowitz's facial expressions are key to properly addressing those who are hearing impaired. American Sign Language is a key aspect of communication for those with hearing impairments, and often those who translate fall short when conveying a message. Sign language is not just gestures; to truly convey the mood and severity of a message or any conversation, facial expressions are necessary. The team meets before DeWine’s address takes place to discuss the placement of the other interpreters and what will be discussed during the address. Berkowitz takes this very seriously when working to address the public during this pandemic. As the only Certified Deaf Interpreter in Ohio, Berkowitz is also a senior lecturer at The Ohio State University. On top of signing for governors and working as a lecturer for OSU, Berkowitz has also been an interpreter for a murder trial (The People vs. Anthony Pardon). As the only deaf member of her family, Berkowitz was introduced briefly to ASL while attending a school for the deaf in Queens, New York, and later, truly learned ASL from a friend's family. After graduating high school, she went on to attend NYU and became the 2008 President of The Jewish Deaf Congress. Berkowitz has also co-authored a book with Judith A. Jonas called Deaf and Hearing Siblings in Conversation. Yet Berkowitz is most proud of the work she has done for the community, bringing peace and awareness to those who are hearing impaired during this time with the support of friends, family, and her wife, Charisse Heine.

Written by: Rachel Marshall