In:The Critical Link 5: Quality in interpreting – a shared responsibility
Edited by Sandra Hale, Uldis Ozolins and Ludmila Stern
[Benjamins Translation Library 87] 2009
► pp. 13–35
2. Forensic interpreting
Trial and error
Published online: 10 December 2009
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.87.03rob
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.87.03rob
This chapter reviews a number of key cases from different English speaking countries where poor interpretation created legal problems. The author attributes these problems to three major reasons: (1) The complete absence of an interpreter; (2) the provision of unqualified bilinguals or interpreters in the wrong language; and (3) the services of “professional accredited” but untrained interpreters who do not possess the required high level skills to perform as legal interpreters. The author argues that monocultural or Anglophone lawyers and judges often lack an understanding of the interpreting process and the work of interpreters, which may lead to forensic error. The chapter ends with recommendations for the way forward.
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