Translation Accuracy & Techniques Flashcards

In court interpretation, 'false friends' are best described as:

Answer: Words in two languages that look similar but have different meanings

False cognates (false friends) share superficial resemblance across languages but differ in meaning, making them a frequent source of translation errors.

Which technique is most appropriate when an attorney asks a rapid series of short questions during cross-examination?

Answer: Consecutive interpretation with note-taking for each question-answer pair

Consecutive interpretation with notes ensures accuracy for each discrete Q&A pair, which is the standard for witness testimony in U.S. courts.

A witness answers a question in Spanish but embeds an English idiom mid-sentence. The interpreter should:

Answer: Interpret the entire utterance, rendering the English idiom's meaning in context

Code-switching is part of the witness's authentic speech and must be interpreted fully, reflecting any shift in register or emphasis it signals.

Under the Court Interpreters Act (28 U.S.C. § 1827), competency for federal court interpreters is determined by:

Answer: Certification through the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or a recognized exam

The Act requires interpreters to be certified by the Director of the AOUSC or, where no certified interpreter is available, to meet defined competency criteria.

An interpreter realizes mid-testimony that she misinterpreted a key number (e.g., said 'fifteen' instead of 'fifty'). She should:

Answer: Interrupt with 'Interpreter's correction' and provide the accurate figure

Material errors must be corrected on the record immediately; allowing them to stand could compromise the integrity of testimony.

The term 'dynamic equivalence' in translation refers to:

Answer: Achieving an equivalent effect on the target audience as the source had on its audience

Dynamic equivalence, coined by Eugene Nida, prioritizes producing the same response in target-language readers as the source text produced in its original readers.

When should a court interpreter request clarification from the speaker before rendering an interpretation?

Answer: Only when the utterance is completely unintelligible or potentially mishears could cause material harm

Requests for clarification should be rare, used only when proceeding would produce an inaccurate or misleading interpretation, and must be flagged on the record.