CASLI Consecutive Interpreting 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a consecutive legal interpretation, the attorney asks the interpreter to summarize a long Deaf witness statement rather than interpret it fully. The interpreter should:
- Comply because the attorney controls the session
- Decline and explain that a full and accurate interpretation is required in legal proceedings (Correct answer)
- Summarize but note the summarization on the record
- Ask the judge's permission before deciding
Correct answer: Decline and explain that a full and accurate interpretation is required in legal proceedings
In legal settings, interpreters are bound to render complete and accurate interpretations; summarizing violates professional and often legal obligations.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of 'omission' in a consecutive interpretation rather than 'condensation'?
- Paraphrasing a qualifier phrase into a single adjective without loss of meaning
- Dropping an entire subordinate clause that contained a conditional that changed the meaning (Correct answer)
- Reducing three examples to one representative example when the point is clear
- Using a single ASL sign to replace a multi-word English phrase with the same meaning
Correct answer: Dropping an entire subordinate clause that contained a conditional that changed the meaning
Omission involves dropping information that alters the message's meaning, whereas condensation reduces form while preserving meaning.
Question 3: A consecutive interpreter is working in an educational team meeting for a Deaf student. The meeting shifts rapidly between multiple speakers without clear turn-taking. The interpreter should:
- Interpret only the lead teacher and ignore supporting staff
- Respectfully request that participants pause between turns to allow accurate consecutive interpretation (Correct answer)
- Switch to simultaneous mode without informing participants
- Stop interpreting and ask for a break until order is restored
Correct answer: Respectfully request that participants pause between turns to allow accurate consecutive interpretation
Consecutive interpreting requires defined turns; requesting structured turn-taking is a professional and practical necessity the interpreter may advocate for.
Question 4: How does source language interference most commonly manifest in English-to-ASL consecutive interpreting?
- Over-reliance on ASL spatial grammar and non-manual markers
- Producing English-word-order or initialized signs rather than natural ASL grammar (Correct answer)
- Using too many Deaf cultural references
- Consistently signing faster than the source speech rate
Correct answer: Producing English-word-order or initialized signs rather than natural ASL grammar
Source language interference in ASL production typically appears as contact signing, mouth movements synchronized to English words, or English syntactic order imposed on ASL.
Question 5: In CASLI performance standards, which descriptor best characterizes a 'skilled' consecutive interpreter?
- Consistently accurate with minimal errors, appropriate register, and natural target-language production (Correct answer)
- Occasionally accurate but requires frequent self-correction and consumer clarification
- Accurate only for simple conversational exchanges but struggles with technical content
- Highly fluent in target language production but omits up to 30% of source content
Correct answer: Consistently accurate with minimal errors, appropriate register, and natural target-language production
CASLI's skilled performance level requires consistent accuracy, appropriate register matching, and natural fluency in the target language across varied content types.
Question 6: When an ASL source passage contains a topic-comment sentence structure that differs from English subject-verb-object order, a consecutive interpreter should:
- Render the English using ASL topic-comment order to preserve structure
- Re-order the information into natural English syntax while preserving the meaning (Correct answer)
- Fingerspell the ASL topic to show the English audience it was present in the source
- Ask the Deaf speaker to restructure the sentence into English order before interpreting
Correct answer: Re-order the information into natural English syntax while preserving the meaning
Consecutive interpreting requires cross-linguistic restructuring; the interpreter must produce natural target-language grammar while preserving the source's meaning.
Question 7: Which practice most effectively reduces interpreter fatigue during extended consecutive interpreting assignments?
- Interpreting continuously for the full session to maintain flow and consistency
- Working in team pairs with defined rotation intervals and active monitoring roles (Correct answer)
- Drinking caffeinated beverages and standing throughout the session
- Limiting note-taking to reduce physical strain on the hands
Correct answer: Working in team pairs with defined rotation intervals and active monitoring roles
Team interpreting with scheduled rotations and active monitoring roles distributes cognitive and physical load, reducing fatigue and maintaining quality.
CASLI Consecutive Interpreting 5
During a consecutive legal interpretation, the attorney asks the interpreter to summarize a long Deaf witness statement rather than interpret it fully.
The interpreter should: