5. Evolving views of the court interpreter´s role: Between Scylla and Charybdis
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Holly Mikkelson
Abstract
The role of the court interpreter in the United States, as in many other countries, has been defined by the legal profession in light of important precepts of the adversarial justice system. Interpreters, who are considered officers of the court, are strictly forbidden to give advice or provide explanations to clarify intended meaning, and are often instructed by judges to provide a “verbatim” interpretation. However, scholarly research on the role of the interpreter has revealed the shortcomings of the argument that interpreters are mere conduits transferring verbal messages from one language to another. This paper will examine the dichotomy between the need for interpreter neutrality in an adversarial setting and the limitations this imposes on their ability to convey the full meaning of culture-bound terms. It will conclude with some suggested guidelines for navigating the treacherous waters between the Scylla of literal interpretation and the Charybdis of active intervention in the communicative event.
Abstract
The role of the court interpreter in the United States, as in many other countries, has been defined by the legal profession in light of important precepts of the adversarial justice system. Interpreters, who are considered officers of the court, are strictly forbidden to give advice or provide explanations to clarify intended meaning, and are often instructed by judges to provide a “verbatim” interpretation. However, scholarly research on the role of the interpreter has revealed the shortcomings of the argument that interpreters are mere conduits transferring verbal messages from one language to another. This paper will examine the dichotomy between the need for interpreter neutrality in an adversarial setting and the limitations this imposes on their ability to convey the full meaning of culture-bound terms. It will conclude with some suggested guidelines for navigating the treacherous waters between the Scylla of literal interpretation and the Charybdis of active intervention in the communicative event.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- 1. Introduction 1
- 2. Interpreting as mediation 9
- 3. The role of the interpreter in the governance of sixteenth and seventeenth century Spanish colonies in the "New World": Lessons from the past for the present 27
- 4. Role definition: A perspective on forty years of professionalism in Sign Language interpreting 51
- 5. Evolving views of the court interpreter´s role: Between Scylla and Charybdis 81
- 6. Controversies over the role of the court interpreter 99
- 7. Interpreting in police settings in Spain: Service providers' and interpreters' perspectives 123
- 8. The role of the interpreter in the healthcare setting: A plea for a dialogue between research and practice 147
- 9. Hospital interpreting practice in the classroom and the workplace 165
- 10. Intercultural mediation: An answer to healthcare disparities? 187
- 11. Community interpreter self-perception: A Spanish case study 203
- 12. Sign Language interpreters and role conflict in the workplace 231
- 13. Migration, ideology and the interpreter-mediator: The role of the language mediator in education and medical settings in Italy 245
- 14. Perceptions of a profession 267
- Index 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- 1. Introduction 1
- 2. Interpreting as mediation 9
- 3. The role of the interpreter in the governance of sixteenth and seventeenth century Spanish colonies in the "New World": Lessons from the past for the present 27
- 4. Role definition: A perspective on forty years of professionalism in Sign Language interpreting 51
- 5. Evolving views of the court interpreter´s role: Between Scylla and Charybdis 81
- 6. Controversies over the role of the court interpreter 99
- 7. Interpreting in police settings in Spain: Service providers' and interpreters' perspectives 123
- 8. The role of the interpreter in the healthcare setting: A plea for a dialogue between research and practice 147
- 9. Hospital interpreting practice in the classroom and the workplace 165
- 10. Intercultural mediation: An answer to healthcare disparities? 187
- 11. Community interpreter self-perception: A Spanish case study 203
- 12. Sign Language interpreters and role conflict in the workplace 231
- 13. Migration, ideology and the interpreter-mediator: The role of the language mediator in education and medical settings in Italy 245
- 14. Perceptions of a profession 267
- Index 289
