CTC Ethics & Professional Responsibility 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A court interpreter realizes mid-proceeding that they misinterpreted a key phrase. What is the ethical obligation?
- Continue without interruption to avoid disrupting proceedings
- Immediately alert the court to the error and provide the correct interpretation (Correct answer)
- Correct the error only if asked by counsel
- Wait until a recess to inform the judge privately
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'completeness' in court interpretation ethics?
- Summarizing lengthy statements for clarity
- Rendering every element of a message without omission or addition (Correct answer)
- Providing cultural background alongside the interpreted statement
- Translating only the legally relevant portions
Correct 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.
Question 3: A defense attorney asks the court interpreter to explain what the defendant said in their own words after the session. The interpreter should:
- Provide a paraphrase since the formal proceeding has ended
- Decline, as the role of interpreter does not extend to post-proceeding explanations to one party (Correct answer)
- Agree only if the prosecutor is also present
- Provide a written summary to avoid miscommunication
Correct 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.
Question 4: A court interpreter is assigned to interpret for a defendant whose dialect differs significantly from the interpreter's primary language variant. The interpreter should:
- Proceed and adapt as best as possible
- Disclose the limitation to the court and request a more qualified interpreter if necessary (Correct answer)
- Ask the defendant to simplify their speech
- Use the standard dialect and assume the defendant will understand
Correct 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.
Question 5: Under the NAJIT Code of Ethics, an interpreter who discovers that a fellow interpreter is consistently making material errors should:
- Ignore it to avoid professional conflict
- Report concerns through appropriate channels to protect the integrity of proceedings (Correct answer)
- Correct the other interpreter's errors in real time during proceedings
- Inform only the defendant's attorney
Correct 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.
Question 6: 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:
- Assist the judge since it falls within linguistic expertise
- Decline, as assessing credibility exceeds the interpreter's role and compromises impartiality (Correct answer)
- Provide a written linguistic analysis after the proceeding
- Consult with counsel before responding
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which ethical principle requires a court interpreter to use the same register (formal, informal, vulgar) as the original speaker?
- Impartiality
- Accuracy and completeness (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality
- Professional demeanor
Correct answer: Accuracy and completeness
Accuracy requires preserving the speaker's register because word choice and tone are part of the message's meaning.
CTC Ethics & Professional Responsibility 2
A court interpreter realizes mid-proceeding that they misinterpreted a key phrase.
What is the ethical obligation?