An Introduction to Court Interpreting: Theory and Practice

An Introduction to Court Interpreting: Theory and Practice - Elena M. de Jongh

An Introduction to Court Interpreting: Theory and Practice by Professor Elena M. de Jongh presents an up-to-date treatment of the principal issues pertaining to court interpreting in the United States. Its principal objective is the dissemination of information that will contribute to the preparation of court interpreters. The author, an expert in the field of court interpreting, combines scholarly material with authentic texts derived from her own research and classroom experience teaching Spanish and court interpreting, and from her work in the courts as a federally certified interpreter since 1985. The book is divided into two principal sections: theory and practice, structured as two independent units that complement one another and allow for maximum flexibility in the use of the text. Part I provides a synthesis of information regarding court interpreting. The approach is interdisciplinary, dealing with languages in contact, bilingualism, dialectal varieties of language, the interpreting process, and legal issues. Part II contains authentic materials taken from legal cases and adapted for the practice of the various modes of interpretation used in court: sight translation, consecutive, and simultaneous interpretation. Although Spanish/English interpretation is emphasized, the general concepts presented are applicable to other languages. Specifically designed for use in courses on court interpreting, the book is easily adapted to other interpretation courses, and is a valuable reference for professional interpreters. An Introduction to Court Interpreting is an excellent resource for all persons interested in the rapidly-growing field of court interpreting and in issues regarding language and the law.