defendant – The Interpreter Fellow

SIMULTANEOUS COMES OF AGE According to Mark’s Almanac of WKSU November 20, 1945, commemorates when the first of thirteen Nuremberg trials began to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. The criminal proceedings required interpretation for defendants and judges in English, Russian, French, and German. Hence, the birth of simultaneous interpretation with team interpreting. US ArmyContinue reading

Caught off guard

BEST TO PREPARE As of late I became lax and didn’t prepare properly for once-a-week hearings. Years ago I regularly researched terms, prepared a list with parties to appear with charges and case numbers. Discipline paid off and the hearings ran smoothly. Not for this assignment. The kindly court clerk had sent the findings thatContinue reading “Caught off guard”

TAKE TO THE MICROPHONE

ADJUST TO THE CHANGE Things change in the judiciary interpreting world, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. How to adapt? My courthouse and medical in-person assignments vanished as of 3/12 due to COVID-19. Our household’s revenue stream decreased by nearly half without any warning. Over-the-telephone assignments fill the gap for the interim. Imagine my surprise when aContinue reading “TAKE TO THE MICROPHONE”

State of mind terminology

RESEARCH, TRANSLATE, RECORD Listen to the story of a frightened assault victim. Research the underlined words (see state of mind below) and translate the testimony. Add the underlined words to a term list. Terms may appear on the written or oral court interpreter exam. Then, record your interpretation to practice sight translation (an oral translationContinue reading “State of mind terminology”

MOFONGO AND A LESSON

How does an interpreter set the stage as a professional? One tool that serves to that end is the pre-session or briefing session where the judicial interpreter states her role to the parties in both languages before beginning. Over the years I learned to say, “Counsel, may I introduce myself to your client?” Invariably theContinue reading “MOFONGO AND A LESSON”