Contact us by email at interpreting@alsglobal.net or via phone at 1-800-951-5020 for a free estimate on our ASL and CART services.

Trusted CART & ASL Services in San Diego, CA

American Language Services has been helping businesses and other entities reach the deaf and hard of hearing community for more than 35 years. While in-person interpreting, at one time, was the only option, recent technological advances opened the door to other options. Since we offer full-service Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), this article will be comparing Virtual American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting with Communication Access Real-Time Translation (AKA- Closed Captioning & Real Time Subtitling) known as CART.

 Please note that according to the American Disability Act (ADA) that deaf and hard of hearing community have the legal right to receive full access through the use of ASL and or CART services. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and providing ASL interpreters for deaf individuals complies with federal law and promotes equal accessibility.

Some interesting Facts About the City of San Diego

• San Diego has been called the birthplace of California because it was the site of California’s first permanent Spanish settlement. In 1769, Father Junipero Serra came to San Diego to establish the first of a chain of 21 missions that would eventually stretch all the way up to Sonoma.
• San Diego was home to everyone’s favorite wacky children’s author, Ted Geisel – more frequently referred to as Dr. Seuss.
• Water is a hot commodity in San Diego. The city imports an estimated 80 to 90 percent of its water, totaling 168 million gallons a day. 

• Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego.
• For pet lovers, San Diego is a safe haven. It has the highest number of dog-friendly restaurants per capita in the country. You can practically take your furry best friend anywhere in the city.
• San Diego hosts one of the most famous haunted houses. The Travel Channel referred to the Whaley House Museum in San Diego as “the country’s most haunted house.” The alleged house hauntings have been featured in numerous TV programs and publications since the museum’s opening in 1960.
• The Star of India is the world’s oldest active sailing ship and is anchored at the Port of San Diego.
• The first modern triathlon was held in 1974 at Mission Bay, San Diego.
• Housing more than 3,700 animals from 650 different species, the San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoological parks in the world. (It’s also among the best zoos in California.)
• The California burrito originated in San Diego. This iconic Golden State food is loaded with smooth sour cream, creamy guacamole, flavorful carne asada, shredded cheese, and crunchy fries. Taquitos, better known as rolled tacos, were invented in El Indio Mexican Restaurant near Mission Hills.
• The weather might be a dream in San Diego, but the traffic isn’t. The average motorist spends a grueling 256 hours a year sitting in their car.

• You can be fined in San Diego if you keep your Christmas lights up past February 2.

• The breathtaking San Diego-Coronado Bridge became an iconic landmark the moment it opened in August, 1969 during San Diego’s bicentennial. The first person to drive across the span was then-California Governor Ronald Reagan.
• Famous fast-food chain Jack in the Box started as a drive-thru hamburger joint on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego.
• San Diego has over 7,000 small farms—more than any other U.S. city—and produces the most avocados.

San Diego ASL & CART Language Interpreters

American Language Services is known for our high-quality, In-person and Virtual interpreters, as well as the outstanding client services we provide. We work in 200+ languages including Legal and Medical Certified and Qualified.  ASL and CART are the fastest growing languages in San Diego today a language interpreter can be a very underestimated professional in the world today. There are over 100 languages spoken in the San Diego Metro area alone. Many of us know one language, and we specialize in one field of study. Our San Diego Interpreters are fluent in English and at least one other language, and they are knowledgeable in a wide range of specialized fields including legal, medical, technical, manufacturing, and engineering.

A brief history of ASL Interpreting in San Diego

Most people know that ASL stands for American Sign Language. But not everyone knows that it is a distinct language—not simply an offshoot of American English. Though its beginnings are murky, many believe that ASL originated from a merger of French Sign Language (SLF) and local U.S. sign languages. While ASL and SLF are distinct languages, there are still some similarities between their signs.

What actually is ASL?   ASL a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages with grammar however that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face.  ASL is a language completely separate and distinct from English. It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order.  Because of the physical nature of ASL, a two-person team of ASL interpreters is required for assignments longer than 1 hour in duration.

The National Center for Health Statistics claims that 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, though only between two and eight percent of them are natural ASL speakers.  Helping these select individuals translate the audible into the understandable is the job of an ASL interpreter.  If you have ever been to a play, a concert or watched a government briefing, you have probably seen an ASL interpreter signing just out of view.  An interesting side note is that Statista estimates that there are currently around 60,000 active ASL interpreters in the USA.

The Benefits of ASL Interpreting in San Diego

When it comes to communicating with hard-of-hearing or deaf audiences, there are a few reasons you might want to opt for a San Diego ASL interpreter over CART services. These include:

• A More Personal Connection: A real person has several advantages over a computer screen. First, human interpreters have an easier time conveying emotion. Second, they are better equipped to point out speakers and assist with pronunciation issues. Finally, an interpreter gives a deaf or hard of hearing person a chance to bond with another person.
• Enhanced Speed: Skilled interpreters can hold pace with even the fastest speakers. Lack of delay makes it easier for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to keep up with the conversation.
• Cost Effective:  While costs range by the type of ASL you need (Legal, medical, business, etc.) and when the assignment is scheduled, the cost off ASL, across the board, is less money than CART.

What Is CART?

While the majority of people know what American Sign Language is, the same cannot be said for Communication Access Real-Time Translation. Often referred to as CART, this communication method for the deaf and hard of hearing is best described as subtitling for live discussions. Unlike ASL, which relies on a professional interpreter, CART services are provided by a well-trained stenographer or transcriptionist. They transcribe anything said and then broadcast the resulting text to a phone, computer, or TV screen.

CART is often seen as a cost-effective and efficient way to ensure everybody can follow along. While often used to help deaf students in the classroom, CART captioning benefits anyone that can read.  Much like ASL interpreting, it can be done both onsite with a physical transcriptionist or remotely with an offsite one.

Why You Should Consider CART for the San Diego Market

Communication Access Real-Time Translation is growing in popularity due to the following characteristics:

• It Serves a Wider Array of Deaf People: If you do a little math, you will realize that 65 percent of hard-of-hearing people in the USA do not speak ASL fluently. CART makes it so these people can join in on the conversation as well.
• CART Makes It Scalable: While people in the front rows can easily make out what an interpreter is signing, it gets harder as the distance increases. Since captions can be beamed to multiple screens simultaneously, they do not have to factor speaker distance into the equation.
• The Text Provides a Written Record: Having a transcript of everything your professor said would be a godsend come finals. Having a record of a meeting can also provide clarity to all those involved as well. The physical nature of CART recording makes that possible. This ability is one reason so many college students opt for CART over traditional ASL interpreting. 

About American Language Services

Founded in 1985, American Language Services was there to help pioneer the rise in remote ASL interpreting options. Our dedication to quality and client satisfaction in interpreting allowed us to shift from a one-woman agency into one of the most successful language agencies in the world. Our language experts provide ASL & CART interpreting services to people all around the world. Because of our 24/7 availability, you’ll never have to worry about us not being available, on off times, for an assignment.

AML-Global has some of the most impressive linguistic talents in the world. These highly skilled language professionals are recruited, screened, and tested to ensure high-quality work.

Contact us by email at interpreting@alsglobal.net or via phone at 1-800-951-5020 for a free estimate on our ASL and CART services.