Norms, ethics and roles among military court interpreters

This study examined the activities of military court interpreters at the Yehuda Military Court near Jerusalem over a period of one year. The aim of the study was to examine the norms and ethical rules that guide the interpreters’ work. In-depth interviews were carried out with eleven interpreters and officers, and court sessions were observed. The questions asked related to the interpreters’ powers and duties, the nature of their work, their personal preferences, the rules that guide their work, and the training they receive. The findings show that the interpreters’ powers and duties cover a range of areas over and above interpreting per se, and include translating documents, acting as ushers in the courtroom, and handling logistical matters. The study also pointed to the lack of a clear set of rules in relation to the interpreters’ work, and revealed that training is provided only after they have begun working. The study suggests the need for a code of ethics defining and providing a framework for the interpreters’ powers and duties, which should be limited to interpreting, and should not encompass administrative tasks, as the current situation causes confusion over the ethical boundaries of the interpreters’ work.