CTC Language Proficiency & Interpretation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In simultaneous interpretation, 'ear-voice span' (EVS) refers to:
- The volume difference between the interpreter's voice and the speaker's voice
- The time lag between when the interpreter hears input and begins speaking the interpretation (Correct answer)
- The physical distance between the interpreter booth and the witness stand
- The number of words the interpreter can hold in short-term memory
Correct answer: The time lag between when the interpreter hears input and begins speaking the interpretation
EVS is the deliberate time lag that allows the interpreter to process enough context before rendering the target-language output accurately.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'register' in the context of court interpretation?
- The official log maintained by the court clerk
- The level of formality and style of language appropriate to the context (Correct answer)
- The interpreter's certified language pair
- The volume and pitch of spoken language
Correct answer: The level of formality and style of language appropriate to the context
Register refers to the variety of language used in a particular social situation, such as formal legal English versus colloquial street speech.
Question 3: A bilingual attorney asks the court interpreter to tell her privately what the defendant whispered. The interpreter should:
- Comply, since attorneys are officers of the court
- Interpret the whisper to the court on the record
- Decline and explain that all interpreted communications must be on the record (Correct answer)
- Inform only the judge after the session
Correct answer: Decline and explain that all interpreted communications must be on the record
Interpreters must keep all communications on the record; private disclosure to an attorney violates impartiality and transparency obligations.
Question 4: When a witness gives an extremely long, rambling response, the court interpreter should:
- Summarize the key points to keep proceedings efficient
- Interpret everything rendered, requesting the witness to pause if necessary (Correct answer)
- Interrupt the witness immediately and interpret in short segments
- Ask the attorney to rephrase the question
Correct answer: Interpret everything rendered, requesting the witness to pause if necessary
Interpreters must render complete, faithful renditions; they may signal for pauses when utterances are too long, but may never summarize.
Question 5: The Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE) assesses oral proficiency in which mode?
- Written translation only
- Simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation (Correct answer)
- Sight translation and written translation
- Consecutive interpretation only
Correct answer: Simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation
The FCICE evaluates candidates in all three modes — simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation — reflecting real courtroom demands.
Question 6: A court interpreter who speaks both languages fluently but has no formal training in legal terminology should:
- Accept assignments and look up unfamiliar terms during breaks
- Decline assignments until competency in legal terminology is achieved (Correct answer)
- Ask the judge to define terms during proceedings as needed
- Rely on attorney explanations provided before each hearing
Correct answer: Decline assignments until competency in legal terminology is achieved
Linguistic fluency alone is insufficient; legal terminology competency is required before accepting court assignments to ensure accuracy.
Question 7: In court interpretation, 'false cognates' between Spanish and English (e.g., 'embarazada' vs. 'embarrassed') are dangerous because they:
- Make the interpreter appear unprofessional
- Can produce seriously misleading renditions that alter the record (Correct answer)
- Are rarely used in legal contexts
- Slow down consecutive interpretation unnecessarily
Correct answer: Can produce seriously misleading renditions that alter the record
False cognates look or sound similar but mean different things; rendering 'embarazada' as 'embarrassed' instead of 'pregnant' could materially distort testimony.
CTC Language Proficiency & Interpretation 3
In simultaneous interpretation, 'ear-voice span' (EVS) refers to: