To the Reader xi
Acknowledgements xiii
Chapter 1: How to Become a Court Interpreter and a Brief Sketch 1 of the Work
Who Should Become a Court Interpreter 2
Formal Training for Court Interpreting 3
Training on the Job 4
Training at Professional Meetings 5
Finding Work 6
Requirements for the Federal Courts 6
State Certifications 8
Free-lance v.. Full-time Work 8
Where Court Interpreters Work and What They Do 10
Expressions Used in This Text 13
Chapter 2: Case Preparation - A: Context and Documents 17
Purpose of Information 17
No-Paper 19
The Structure of a Felony Proceeding 19
The Plea Bargain 27
Documents and Information 31
Jury Instructions 33
Physical and Verbal Evidence 34
A Case Sheet 36
Chapter 3: Case Preparation - B: Terminology, Reference Books 46 and Dictionaries
Terminology Preparation 46
Forensic Reference Books 46
Kinds of Dictionaries 47
How to Buy a Dictionary 50
What to Do When a Word Is Not in the Dictionary 51
Chapter 4: In the Courtroom: Ethics, Roles, Procedures 63
Ethics 63
Projection of Interpreter Image 71
Need for Interpretation 72
Giving the Client Good Value 73
Neither Too Many nor Too Few Interpreters 73
Who Is Who in the Courtroom 74
Sound Equipment 77
Procedural Matters 81
Comprehension 87
Judicial Checklist 88
Author's Information for Judges 89
Chapter 5: The Rich Potential for Error 91
Errors that Originate with the Interpreter 91
Errors that Counsel Help Create 93
The Perils of Literal Interpretation 94
Chapter 6: Translation of Legal Documents 105
Sight Translation 105
Written Translation 107
Fax and Modem 116
The Use of Computers 117
Chapter 7: Tape Transcription and Translation 122
Procedures and Problems 123
Transcribing Original Language Allows Attorneys to See What Was Actually Said 123
Time Constraints 125
The Transcription 126
Translation of Transcription 132
Quality Control 135
Chapter 8: The Interpreter as Expert Witness 137
Impartiality 137
Critique 138
Presenting Your Own Tape Work or Translation 140
Preparation with Counsel 141
On the Witness Stand 141
When Not to Be an Expert 146
Chapter 9: Continuing Your Education and Enjoying It 148
Books 148
Periodicals 150
Television 152
Tapes 155
And in Closing 156
Bibliography 161
Appendices
1. The Court Interpreters Act of 1978 164
2. Seltzer and Torres-Cartagena v. Foley et al., 1980 171
3. Court Interpreters Amendments Act (1988) 184
4. Suggested Interpreter Oaths 188
Index 190
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