Legal Interpreting

How would you feel if you were accused of a crime and taken before a court and all the proceedings took place in a language you could not understand? To avoid this Kafka-esque scenario, anyone who needs one is legally entitled to a court interpreter (sometimes known as a legal or judicial interpreter).

This type of interpreting takes place not only in the courtroom, but also at police stations if necessary. It can be consecutive, where the interpreter relays testimony from a defendant or witness, or 'chuchotage', a kind of simultaneous, where the interpreter speaks quietly into the ear of the defendant or witness so that they can follow the proceedings as they happen.

Court interpreters need total mastery of the source and target languages, but in addition they also need a comprehensive understanding of the law and all the relevant legal terminology. It goes without saying that the role of the court interpreter is absolutely vital. A failure to correctly render what is said or any omission or addition could have drastic effects on the trial. In fact, poor interpretation can even be grounds for a mistrial.

In the UK, court interpreters have often obtained the Diploma for Public Service Interpreting (or DPSI) provided by the Chartered Institute of Linguists. The DPSI is available with four distinct specialisms: English Law, Scottish Law, Local Government and Health. It is a guarantee of professionalism and quality and proves that the interpreter has been tested in interpreting, sight translation and written translation. In addition, the choice of English or Scottish Law ensures that the interpreter will be appropriate for the task, regardless of what legal system he/she is dealing with.