Editor's note: Hao Shuxin, a girl whose parents are deaf (Coda), is a professional sign language interpreter. She builds a bridge between the hearing and silent world with love and passion.
Interviewee Hao Shuxin communicates with her client in sign language. (Yu Mulin/iChongqing)
"My parents are deaf. I can hear and use both spoken and sign languages."
"I work for the team providing legal counseling services to deaf people all over the country, and my role is sign language interpreter. We provide legal advice online, and people come to our office seeking support for legal defense. I regularly go to courts and public security bureaus to interpret for them."
Interviewee Hao Shuxin (Yu Mulin/iChongqing)
"Being a sign language interpreter is more than just a job; it is the greatest duty of my life. When deaf people have troubles in their lives, I will help them communicate and be a bridge between them and the hearing world."
"Most hearing children of deaf adults don't acquire sign language and only use spoken language. Because they rarely live with their deaf parents since they were born. Usually, they live with their grandparents, and the environment is not favorable for them to learn and use sign language."
"Many of my mom's deaf friends rarely communicate with their own children because of the language barrier. I used to help my mom's deaf friends as an interpreter when I was a child, and they needed my help when they wanted to talk to their children. It hurts to see how hard it is for them to communicate with the closest people in the world."
Interviewee Hao Shuxin in her office (Yu Mulin/iChongqing)
"I grew up with my parents, so sign language became my first language naturally. Many are reluctant to use sign language in public even though they can because it will always attract people's attention. People's stares have never stopped since I was born and since I could sign until now. But I am proud to sign. The confidence comes from my parents, who have given me lots of love. My mom, in particular, she always told me, 'You are my bridge.'"
"I am proud to be a sign language user. I don't mind people looking at me while I use it. And I want to promote the use of sign language. I not only want to be a bridge for my mother but also bridge the gap between the hearing and silent world."