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10 Myths about Court Interpreters

How to Effectively Use an Interpreter in Defending a Federal Criminal Case Cathy Betancourt, Certified Spanish Interpreter Jeanette Alvarado, Assistant Federal Public Defender Office of the Federal Public Defender, D. AZ (Phoenix). 10 Myths about Court Interpreters.

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10 Myths about Court Interpreters

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  1. How to Effectively Use an Interpreter in Defending a Federal Criminal CaseCathy Betancourt, Certified Spanish InterpreterJeanette Alvarado, Assistant Federal Public DefenderOffice of the Federal Public Defender, D. AZ (Phoenix) Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

  2. 10 Myths about Court Interpreters • 1.Interpreter and translator are just two different words for the same thing. • 2. Anyone who speaks two languages is, by extension, an interpreter. • 3. Interpreters need no preparation to perform in specific setting: you just plug them in and everything will come out just perfectly.After all, they’re just talking. Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

  3. 4. There is only one possible interpreted version that can be made of a statement from any one language to another. • 5. A word-for-word version in the foreign language is the goal of any interpreter. • 6. The faster the interpreter produces the foreign language version, the more skilled s/he is. • 7. No matter how one expresses one's self in English, the interpreter will see to it that the non-English listener captures one's meaning. Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

  4. 8. The fact that the non-English speaker responds "yes" to the question "Do you understand what I have said?" automatically means that the English speaker's message has hit its mark. • 9. Since the person has some credential in the field, this means they must be the be-all and end-all of the field and no other assessment needs to be made. • 10. The fact that the non-English speaker is comfortable chatting with the interpreter and the interpreter is apparently explaining things to the non-English speaker bodes well for the case. Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

  5. Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

  6. Cultural Issues Impacting Communication • Perception of time measurement; punctuality; comparisons • Human Contact; Handshakes/touching • Eye contact • Government; Police; Bribery • Importance of family; Friendship • Marriage vs. common-law • Names • Truth • Religion • Curse words • Humor; Sarcasm • Formality vs. informality • Masculinity vs. femininity • Social strata • Race vs. ethnicity vs. national heritage vs. nationality • Respect • “You” treatment • Nonverbal communication Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

  7. Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

  8. Materials Provided by Scott Loos, Maricopa County Superior Court, Court Interpreter Coordinator/Team Developer, M.A., AOUSC Certified

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