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 Springfield, MA

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 Springfield

• The Hartford-Springfield region is known as the Knowledge Corridor because it has the 2nd highest concentration of higher-learning institutions in the United States.
• Recently, Springfield has become home to several biotech firms and high-speed computing centers. As of 2009 Springfield ranks as the 24th most important high-tech center in the United States.
• In 1777, George Washington and Henry Knox founded the United States’ National Armory in Springfield, which produced the first American musket in 1794, and later the famous Springfield rifle. (The Pentagon shut down the armory in 1968.)
• In addition to its nicknames, Hoop City, The City of Progress, and The City of Homes, Springfield is also known as The City of Firsts because of its many innovations.
• The American car was invented there in 1893.
• The American motorcycle was invented in Springfield in 1901.
• The modern fire engine was invented there in 1905.
• The UHF TV station was invented in Springfield in 1950.
• Springfield saw the first use of interchangeable parts and the assembly line in manufacturing, (1819, Thomas Blanchard)
• The discovery and patent of vulcanized rubber was also there. (1844, Charles Goodyear)
• The first American gasoline-powered car, (1893, Duryea Brothers) which in 1895 won the first automobile race in Chicago, Illinois was made in Springfield.
• Springfield was the city where the first successful motorcycle company was opened. (1901, “Indian Motorcycle Company”)
• Forest Park housed the United States’ first public swimming pool in Springfield. (1899)
• The first and most widely read American-English dictionary, Merriam Webster, was created in Springfield (1806)
• The world’s second-most-popular sport, basketball, was created in Springfield (1891, Dr. James Naismith.)
• Famous children’s author, Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka “Dr. Seuss”) was born in Springfield, which inspired much of his work.
• Springfield is home to Massachusetts’ largest Fortune 100 company, Mass Mutual Financial Group.
• Springfield serves as the headquarters of the professional American Hockey League, the NHL’s minor league. (My personal favorite fact!)
• The Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League (now located in Peoria, Illinois) was the oldest minor league hockey franchise in existence. In 1994 the team relocated to Worcester and was replaced by the Springfield Falcons, now Thunderbirds, who play at the Mass Mutual Center.
• Forest Park is one of the United States’ largest urban parks and one of its most historically important urban parks. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted – the famed designer of New York City’s Central Park – Forest Park is nearly as large, and similarly diverse.
• Springfield resident Mr. Everett Barney invented the clip-on ice skate and popularized the roller skate during the 19th century.
• Springfield is home to Massachusetts’ 3rd largest employer, Baystate Health, with over 10,000 employees.
• WWLP is the oldest TV station to air regularly scheduled programming in the market, launching its schedule on March 17, 1953, on Channel 61. (Now in Chicopee, MA)
• Springfield was home to the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States, and the oldest radio station of any kind in New England: WBZ, which broadcast live from Springfield’s luxurious Hotel Kimball at 140 Chestnut Street, (now the Kimball Towers Condominiums) before moving to Boston in 1931.
• Friendly Ice Cream Corporation – Founded in Springfield, 1935 (now located in Wilbraham, MA)
• Good Housekeeping Magazine – Founded in Springfield in 1885.
• Goodyear Tires – Founded in Springfield in 1844
• Milton Bradley Company (maker of games like Memory, Battleship, Operation, and Candyland) – established in Springfield in 1860 (now located in East Longmeadow, MA)
• Rolls-Royce of America Inc. was formed in 1919 in Springfield. A manufacturing plant was set up on Hendee Street. The factory’s 1,200 employees produced 1,703 Silver Ghosts and 1,241 Phantoms. The 1929 stock market crash led to the plant’s closure in 1931. The 1996 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Springfield Edition was made to commemorate Rolls-Royce of America’s 75th anniversary.
• Sheraton Hotels and Resorts – founded in Springfield in 1937 with the purchase of The Stonehaven Hotel, and later the famous Hotel Kimball.
• In 1968 Springfield Technical Community College was founded behind the Springfield Armory National Park. It is the only “technical” community college in Massachusetts and was founded to continue Springfield’s traditional of technical innovation.
• The Quadrangle, a cluster of 5 museums and a library (paid for by Andrew Carnegie) that surrounds a sculptural garden, includes the first American-made planetarium, designed and built (1937) by Frank Korkosz, and the most extensive collection of Chinese cloisonne outside of China.
• Volleyball was invented in nearby Holyoke, MA but it’s first exhibition match was held in 1896 at the International YMCA Training School, now known as Springfield College.

Reference Sources: Skin Catering, KidzSearch

Springfield 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 Springfield today a language interpreter can be a very underestimated professional in the world today. There are over 100 languages spoken in the Springfield Metro area alone. Many of us know one language, and we specialize in one field of study. Our Springfield 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 Springfield

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 Springfield

When it comes to communicating with hard-of-hearing or deaf audiences, there are a few reasons you might want to opt for a Springfield 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 Springfield 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.