Ethics & Professional Responsibility Flashcards

A court interpreter realizes mid-proceeding that they misinterpreted a key phrase. What is the ethical obligation?

Answer: Immediately alert the court to the error and provide the correct interpretation

Interpreters must immediately notify the court of any interpretation error to ensure an accurate record.

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'completeness' in court interpretation ethics?

Answer: Rendering every element of a message without omission or addition

Completeness requires interpreters to convey the full message including all words, fillers, and pauses without omitting or adding content.

A defense attorney asks the court interpreter to explain what the defendant said in their own words after the session. The interpreter should:

Answer: Decline, as the role of interpreter does not extend to post-proceeding explanations to one party

Court interpreters must avoid becoming an advocate or information source for any party, even outside formal proceedings.

A court interpreter is assigned to interpret for a defendant whose dialect differs significantly from the interpreter's primary language variant. The interpreter should:

Answer: Disclose the limitation to the court and request a more qualified interpreter if necessary

Interpreters must disclose any language competency limitations that could affect accuracy to protect all parties' rights.

Under the NAJIT Code of Ethics, an interpreter who discovers that a fellow interpreter is consistently making material errors should:

Answer: Report concerns through appropriate channels to protect the integrity of proceedings

Professional responsibility includes addressing misconduct by colleagues through proper channels to uphold judicial integrity.

An interpreter is asked by a judge to serve as a 'language resource' to help evaluate the credibility of a witness's accent. The interpreter should:

Answer: Decline, as assessing credibility exceeds the interpreter's role and compromises impartiality

Credibility assessment is the exclusive province of the trier of fact; an interpreter who participates oversteps their role.

Which ethical principle requires a court interpreter to use the same register (formal, informal, vulgar) as the original speaker?

Answer: Accuracy and completeness

Accuracy requires preserving the speaker's register because word choice and tone are part of the message's meaning.