Language Proficiency & Interpretation Flashcards

When interpreting an oath administered to a witness, the interpreter must:

Answer: Render the oath verbatim in the target language

Oaths must be interpreted verbatim to preserve their legal validity; any paraphrase could undermine the solemnity and legal effect.

Which standard dictates that a court interpreter must interpret everything said in the courtroom — including sidebar comments and objections — within the hearing of the non-English speaker?

Answer: The completeness standard

The completeness standard requires interpreters to render all speech audible to the LEP party, including objections, rulings, and sidebar exchanges.

A court interpreter who is also a licensed attorney is asked for legal advice by the defendant during a recess. The interpreter must:

Answer: Decline, explaining that the interpreter role prohibits providing legal advice

The interpreter role is strictly communicative; providing legal advice, even if qualified, creates a conflict and violates professional boundaries.

What does 'chunking' refer to in the context of consecutive interpretation?

Answer: Dividing the speaker's utterance into manageable idea units for memory and note-taking

Chunking involves mentally and visually segmenting speech into logical idea units that can be held in memory and reproduced accurately.

During a hearing, an attorney objects that the interpreter's rendition changed the meaning of a question. The appropriate next step is for:

Answer: The judge to rule on the objection, and the interpreter to re-render if directed

Challenges to interpretations are ruled on by the judge; the interpreter should remain neutral and comply with the court's direction.

The term 'source language' (SL) in interpretation refers to:

Answer: The language from which the message originates and is being interpreted

The source language is the language of the original speaker or document; the interpreter renders it into the target language.

Which scenario represents an appropriate use of the 'interpreter speaks in first person' convention?

Answer: Interpreter says: 'I did not see the defendant.' (rendering the witness's words)

Court interpreters speak in the first person as the voice of the party, saying 'I' rather than 'the witness says,' to preserve the direct and immediate nature of testimony.