how does a sign language interpreter deal with unfamiliar words?

Question

Gameshow I’m watching just asked which citrus fruit is also known as a shaddock and, having never heard of it, wondered if the interpreter was in the same boat and had to spell it out or something

In: 17

Answer 1

I mean yes that is an option. Interpreters can always default to spelling out a word to be clear.

But, in your case they might only spell it out the first time, and then after that just use the generic sign for “fruit”. Because spelling it out every time would be time consuming, and people would understand based on the context what they were referring to.