In this issue:

• Sending a love letter

• The differences between who and whom
• Did you know? The first Valentine's Day card
• Ask TSW!

• Spotlight on…Doug Bowen-Bailey, Digiterp Communications

•Two new additions to the TSW family

Let us take care of your words.

SENDING A LOVE LETTER

A love letter is a wonderful Valentine gift, but you don’t always have to write one by hand. You can send a love letter via e-mail, pager, videophone, website or even a video, and use either written English or American Sign Language. A love letter is a wonderful thing to receive throughout the year and will warm your loved one’s heart like nothing else!

Even if you don’t like writing, all you need to know is how you feel about the person you send the letter to. Be specific and be personal. Say exactly how the other person makes you feel and why you feel that way. Some questions, as listed at the Women Today website, can help you get started:

• What is her/his greatest strength?
• What do you see in her/him that s/he doesn't see in herself/himself?
• What is the most romantic thing s/he has ever done for you?
• What does s/he do on a regular basis that shows you s/he cares about you?
  When did you fall in love with her/him?
• What is your favorite memory of the two of you?
• How has your world changed since you got together?

For more great tips, check http://womentodaymagazine.com/relationships/writeloveletter.html.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHO AND WHOM

The misuse of who and whom is common. People often make this mistake when they are trying to be grammatically correct. Here are some examples:

Who is properly the subject of a sentence or clause.

Who is teaching the ASL class?
John is the one who teaches the ASL class.

Whom is always the object of a sentence or clause, never the subject.

Whom did you ask?
Whom would you recommend we hire to interpret the workshop?
Louise couldn't remember with whom she danced (or whom she danced with).

In modern English, most people accept such expressions as, "Who did you ask?" – especially in spoken language and informal writing. In formal writing, however, you should generally use whom for the object of a sentence.

Source: www.yourwritingguru.com

DID YOU KNOW? The First Valentine's Day Card

The first Valentine's Day card was sent from a knight to his wife in 1415. The knight was being held captive in the Tower of London.

Source: http://www.amusingfacts.com/facts/Arts_and_Literature
(Image from www.lost-in-france.)

ASK TSW!

The Questions You've Always Been Too Embarrassed to Ask

A reader from Portland, Ore., asks:

What is the difference between these tenses?
-I am going to
-I go to
-I will go to
-I will be going to

It all gets confusing sometimes!

"Am going to" is called a present continuous tense. That means it is something that is happening now, and the action is continuing, without stopping. If you say "I am going to the zoo," it can mean either that you are getting ready to go there now, or pretty soon.

"I go to" is called a present tense. You could say "I go to the zoo," which means you are going right now.

"I will go to" is called a future tense. It means you plan to go somewhere soon...if you say "I will go to the zoo," that means you plan to go there today, tomorrow or sometime this week. There is no specific time if you use “will go to." It can also mean next month or any other time as well.

"I will be going to" is known as a future continuous tense, which means that you will go somewhere again and again. Here's an example: "I will be going to school" or "I will be going to the zoo." Either of these sentences gives your listener the impression that you plan to go there regularly.

Have a question about American Sign Language or English that you're too embarrassed to ask? Send your question to us at news@tswriting.com. We'll try to answer your question in an upcoming issue. All questions will be kept anonymous.

SPOTLIGHT ON...DOUG BOWEN-BAILEY

Each month, TSW profiles one of its clients. This month, we talk with Doug Bowen-Bailey, owner of Digiterp Communications.

If you ever visit Duluth, Minn., in the dead of winter, chances are you’ll see Doug Bowen-Bailey riding his bicycle effortlessly up one of the city’s intimidating hills. Never one to miss a chance to be at one with nature, he is also a nationally renowned expert in interpreting practices. The owner of Digiterp Communications and a certified interpreter, Bowen-Bailey champions alliance-building and respect of diversity and is often seen at events wearing t-shirts saying things like, “Got Privilege?”

Digiterp Communications creates resources that build bridges across linguistic and social divides. “The genesis of Digiterp came through my experience as a mentor for interpreters in educational settings. In my work, I noticed many gaps in resources that were both affordable and of a quality that met their professional development needs,” Bowen-Bailey explains. “It was at a time when I was taking some online courses for interpreter education and discovered the possibilities of digital video.”

Digiterp is probably best known for its CDs and DVDs offering innovative methods for professional development such as practicing interpreting for medical scenarios. It doesn't hurt that the discs are only $10-15 each. Digiterp has worked closely with T.S. Writing Services on several of these projects. “As a sole proprietor, collaboration is a necessity, and T.S. Writing Services offers great expertise in translation work between American Sign Language (ASL) and English,” says Bowen-Bailey.

The creator of a medical interpreting website for the CATIE Center at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul (www.medicalinterpreting.org), Bowen-Bailey also works with the National Interpreter Education Center at Boston’s Northeastern University on their Discover Interpreting website (www.discoverinterpreting.com). As if that weren't enough to keep him busy, he serves as director of technology and communications for the Conference of Interpreter Trainers, where he developed a new website and online newsletters utilizing ASL video.

Bowen-Bailey also has deep roots in the Duluth community. As the webmaster for Duluth’s Martin Luther King Holiday Committee and the Arrowhead Interfaith Council, he says he uses “the skills I have developed with Digiterp to assist in community organization and anti-racism education efforts.” He travels the nation as a mentor, facilitator, workshop presenter, and of course, interpreter.

Seeing how busy Bowen-Bailey is, it’s hard to believe that Digiterp is a one-person company. “Sometimes, having a small business is a source of humor. I will occasionally receive calls with people assuming that it is a much larger company with many employees – like when I will get a call for the marketing director,” Bowen-Bailey, who is married to Holly and father to Sylvie and Frost, says. “Sometimes, I wish my nine-year-old daughter could take on that role, as I am much better at making resources than I am at marketing them. At this point, however, I am pretty content with the small ways that I am able to help create resources that lead to a more just and accessible society.”

Digiterp Communications is at www.digiterp.com.

TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO THE TSW FAMILY

Congratulations to Trudy Suggs and Randy Shank, who welcomed a daughter, Eavan Idell, into the world on Dec. 19, 2007!

A congratulations also go to Michele and Erick Ketcham, who welcomed their second son, Aidan Donal Westfall Ketcham, on Jan. 27, 2008!

About TSW

T.S. Writing Services, LLC, is a Deaf-owned company that provides writing, editing, design, and translation services for American Sign Language and English users. For more information, visit www.tswriting.com.