Court interpreting is when a qualified professional communicates the spoken message from one language to another in a court hearing or trial. The three modes of interpreting used in the courtroom are consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation.
Interpreting is different than translating, although these terms are often confused in everyday speech. Translating is when someone turns something written from one language to another. At its simplest, interpreting involves spoken language and translating involves written language.
Court interpreters help people who are limited English proficient (LEP) – those who have a limited understanding of spoken English or who are not fluent English speakers – understand court proceedings in their primary language.
A competent court interpreter is able to fluently speak English and another language and has an extensive legal vocabulary in both languages.
Interpreters must have:
A court interpreter needs to be able to do several things at the same time: listen, understand, summarize, retain ideas, and restate the exact meaning of the message.
The interpreter is to:
Learn more about the necessary qualifications to become an interpreter.
Court interpreters use three types of interpreting in the courtroom.
Interpreters may be asked to interpret in virtually every case type in the state court system. Matters range from personal injury cases, small claims, landlord/tenant disputes, traffic, domestic violence, divorce and child custody, child support, sexual assault, drug offenses, murder, DUI, to name a few.
Yes. There are registered and certified interpreters. Each level involves different training requirements with a certified interpreter having achieved the highest level of training and successfully passing the National Center for State Courts' written and oral exams.
A “registered” court interpreter is someone who has successfully completed the interpreter training series through the Language Interpreter Center (LIC). The LIC maintains a list of “registered” court interpreters who can provide interpreter services to the Alaska Court System.
Certified court interpreters are individuals who have mastered speaking both English and a second language.
Certified court interpreters are able to perform the three major types of court interpreting (sight translation, consecutive interpreting, and simultaneous interpreting) and have passed a series of written and oral examinations.
Many new interpreters do not have all of these qualifications necessary for court interpreting. However, these skills can be improved over time through observation, study, and practice.
If you are bilingual and have a good command of English and another language, complete steps 1-4. to become a “registered” interpreter:
Step 1: Contact the Language Interpreter Center (LIC), attend the information session, and complete the screening process.
The LIC is a collaborative, multi-agency, public-private effort to train bilingual individuals to interpret in the legal, medical and community settings. The LIC will discuss the initial screening process with you.
Contact Information
Language Interpreter Center
431 W. 7th Avenue, #208
Anchorage, AK 99501
www.akijp.org/interpreter.html
Program Manager Barb Jacobs
barb.jacobs@akimmigrationjustice.org
Step 2: Successfully complete Introduction to Interpreting conducted by the Language Interpreter Center and its legal, medical, and social service partners.
Step 3: Successfully complete Orientation to Court Interpreting training provided by the Alaska Court System and the Language Interpreter Center.
Step 4: Participate in the practice sessions.
After you successfully complete these steps, your name is added to the LIC’s “registered” list of court interpreters. The LIC provides interpreter services for the Alaska Court System and will match your interpreting skills with the interpretation needs of the court system.
To become a certified court interpreter, you will need to complete steps 1-4 listed above and steps 5-6 listed below.
Step 5: Successfully pass the NCSC’s written examination.
The written examination from the National Center for State Courts is in English and has two parts: (1) multiple-choice test and, (2) written language assessment. The multiple-choice part has 135 questions covering general English proficiency, court-related terms and usage, and ethics/professional conduct.
Get an overview of the Written Examination
Next Written Exam Date: Fall 2013
To register for the written examination, contact: Program Manager Barb Jacobs, barb.jacobs@akimmigrationjustice.org
Step 6: Successfully pass the NCSC’s oral examination.
If an interpreter candidate passes the written examination, he or she can take the oral examination developed by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). The Language Interpreter Center and the Alaska Court System administer the oral examination once a year.
To pass the oral exam, interpreters must have a mastery of English and the other language at the level of a native speaker, and have a thorough understanding of legal concepts in both of the languages. In addition, interpreters must be extremely proficient in doing sight, consecutive, and simultaneous interpreting, and be able to convey messages accurately, completely and quickly.
The NCSC’s oral examinations are currently available in twenty languages.
When an interpreter candidate passes both the written and oral examinations, the Alaska Court System certifies the candidate.
If you have successfully finished all of the Language Interpreter Center’s training and become a registered interpreter, you may be ready to take the NCSC’s written exam.
When you pass the written exam, you may take the NCSC’s oral exam.
Read the resource articles:
The next written exam: Fall 2013
To register for the written examination, contact: Program Manager Barb Jacobs, barb.jacobs@akimmigrationjustice.org.
The next oral exam: May 8, 2013
For more information on eligibility and to register for the oral exam, contact Program Manager Barb Jacobs, barb.jacobs@akimmigrationjustice.org.
The The NCSC language access consortium consists of all 50 states and the territories and under the auspices of the National Center for State Courts located in Williamsburg, VA.
The Alaska Court System and the Language Interpreter Center (LIC) offer training programs to prepare bilingual persons for court interpreting.
General Information Session
This provides an overview of the interpreting profession and the training program. Following the general information session, the LIC will assist candidates with the pre-registration requirements for the specific training programs.
Introduction to Interpreting
This one-day training addresses these topics:
Introduction to Legal/Court Interpreting
This two-day training addresses these topics:
Interpreter Practice Sessions
These sessions allow candidates to practice interpreting in the three modes used in the courtroom.
Professional Development Sessions/Continued Education
These sessions are made available to the interpreters of the Language Interpreter Center to further develop their interpreter skills, improve vocabulary, and enhance their knowledge of the legal, medical, and community interpreting.
Preparation Session for the NCSC’s Written and Oral Examinations
These sessions help the interpreter candidate prepare for court certification exams.
For training dates and to register for the training programs, contact Program Manager Barb Jacobs, barb.jacobs@akimmigrationjustice.org.
If you have participated in training programs through the Language Interpreter Center and the Alaska Court System, online skills development is available:
Online training courses offered by the New Mexico Center for Language Access in partnership with the National Center for State Courts. Classes are limited to 15 participants:
begins June 4, 2012, registration deadline: May 31, 2012 or until full
begins June 25, 2012, registration deadline: June 18, 2012 or until full
begins June 11, 2012, registration deadline: May 28, 2012 or until fullAs officers of the court, court interpreters must uphold these professional standards:
Canon 1: Interpreters shall render a complete and accurate interpretation or sight translation, without altering, omitting, or adding anything to what is stated or written, and without explanation.
Canon 2: Interpreters shall accurately and completely represent their certifications, training, and pertinent experience.
Canon 3: Interpreters shall be impartial and unbiased and shall refrain from conduct that may give the appearance of bias. Interpreters shall disclose any real or perceived conflict of interest.
Canon 4: Interpreters shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the dignity of the court and shall be as unobtrusive as possible.
Canon 5: Interpreters shall protect the confidentiality of all privileged and other confidential information.
Canon 6: Interpreters shall not publicly discuss, report, or offer an opinion concerning a matter in which they are or have been engaged.
Language Interpreter Center
The Language Interpreter Center is a collaborative, multi-agency, public-private effort to create a pool of qualified language interpreters for public and private entities statewide. The Center provides trained and certified interpreters for court and legal interpreting.
National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
Coalition of state court systems who develop standardized exams to test interpreter skills and qualifications. The NCSC’s website lists resources on court interpreting, language barriers, cultural issues, interpreter training resources, with links to other helpful sites.
Alaska Court System
Provides links to the Language Interpreter Center, general court information, trial court records, court forms, CourtView, Family Law Self-Help Center, Law Library, legal research links, Alaska government websites.
American Translators Association
A professional organization of translators and interpreters that conducts conferences, hosts discussion groups, distributes publications, and provides helpful links.
Ethnologue
Useful information on world languages provided through a searchable database, as well as publications on cultures, software, and a bibliography on past research work.
National Association of Court Managers
An English glossary of common legal terms in plain English.
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)
A professional organization of court interpreters and legal translators providing conference announcements, degree programs, discussion groups, publications, and resource inks.
For more information or questions about language services in the Alaska Court System, contact:
Brenda Aiken
Resource Development Officer
Language Services Coordinator
Alaska Court System
820 West Fourth Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501-2005
baiken@courts.state.ak.us
| Rev. 13 March 2013 © Alaska Court System www.courts.alaska.gov |
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