Current dilemmas in court interpreting: improving quality and access through smarter testing and administration protocols

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Published: Feb 10, 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6035/MonTI.2015.ne2.8
Keywords:
Court interpreting, Certification exams, Assessment, Interpreters of languages of limited diffusion, Bifurcated testing models

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Melissa Wallace
University of Texas at San Antonio

Abstract

Court interpreting certifying bodies face a plethora of challenges in their quest to identify competent judicial interpreters so that speakers of all languages might be assured of due process under the law and equal access to justice. For the entities which develop and administer the oral certification exams which act as gateways to the profession of court interpreting, two such dilemmas are of particular interest: the first is high rates of exam failure, with a frustrating number of candidates not meeting minimum levels of qualification to practice in court. The second is an increasing need for qualified interpreters of languages of lesser diffusion. In the face of ubiquitous budget constraints, this article explores an abbreviated testing model as a mitigator of extreme exam failure at the same time as it reveals the results of a recent pilot project which focused on centralizing interpreting services protocols while prioritizing interpreter quality. 

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How to Cite
Wallace, M. (2016). Current dilemmas in court interpreting: improving quality and access through smarter testing and administration protocols. MonTI. Monographs in Translation and Interpreting, 217–236. https://doi.org/10.6035/MonTI.2015.ne2.8
Issue
2015: Special Issue 2. Insights in Interpreting. Status and Developments
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Articles

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References

Brummond, Patrick & Karen Mikshowsky. (2012) District 7 Court Interpreter Pilot Program Report. Unpublished report.

Capati, Carmel. (2012) Minutes of the October 26th, 2012 Meeting of the Committee to Improve Interpretation and Translation in the Wisconsin Courts. Print.

Capati, Carmel. (2011) 2011 Court Interpreter Program Manager’s End-of-Year Report Submitted to the Committee to Improve Interpreting & Translation in the Wisconsin Courts. Unpublished report.

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National Center for State Courts. (2012) Court Interpreter Oral Exam: Overview Electronic version available at: http://www.ncsc.org/EducationandCareers/~/media/Files/PDF/Education%20and%20Careers/State%20Interpreter%20Certification/Overview%20of%20the%20Oral%20Exam%20REV7-31-2012.ashx

Wallace, Melissa. (2013) “Rethinking Bifurcated Testing Models in the Court Interpreter Certification Process.” In: Tsagari, Dina & Roelof Van Deemter (eds.) (2013) Assessment Issues in Language Translation and Interpreting. Frankfurt Am Main: Peter Lang GmbH, pp. 67-83.

Wallace, Melissa. (2012) Predictors of Successful Performance on U.S. Consortium Court Interpreter Certification Exams. Universidad de Alicante, Spain. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis.

Wallace, Melissa. (2010) Sight Translation in Wisconsin Courts. Thesis. Universidad de Alicante, Spain. Unpublished DEA (Diploma de Estudios Avanzados) thesis.