| The demand for multilingual professionals is ever | | | | terminology. Since people usually do not speak in one |
| important in today's multicultural world. This is | | | | sentence at a time, a good memory is a very useful |
| especially true in the court system, where it is vital | | | | trait as well. Their job is essential to the conduct of |
| that all participants be able to understand each other | | | | court proceedings when the witnesses come from |
| clearly. Court interpreters and court translators make | | | | diverse backgrounds. |
| this possible. There is a common misunderstanding | | | | Court Translator |
| that a "court interpreter" and a "court translator" are | | | | While the court interpreter works with the spoken |
| the same thing but in actual fact, they are two very | | | | word, the written word is the court translator's area |
| different jobs and require different sets of skill. Some | | | | of expertise. Their job is to convert documents |
| things they do have in common, are the absolute | | | | written in one language into another. |
| fluency in two or more languages (generally the | | | | Court translators need to be familiar with the |
| language of the court system and at least one | | | | languages that they work in on a literary level, |
| other), an understanding of legal terms in those | | | | because the written word is more complex and more |
| languages, and a general "feel" for how people | | | | formal than the spoken word. Their job is especially |
| understand the words in those languages - beyond | | | | important because of the very specific way in which |
| simple word-for-word conversion. There is more to | | | | legal documents are written. It is for this reason that |
| translating and interpreting than just those things, | | | | court translators need to have highly analytical minds |
| however. | | | | and excellent research skills, so that they can learn |
| Court Interpreter | | | | the vocabularies of many subjects in two or more |
| Court interpreters work with the spoken word. They | | | | languages while they work. Legal proceedings usually |
| listen to people as they speak in one language, and | | | | have hard deadlines, so they need to be diligent, |
| repeat the same thing in another language | | | | conscientious, constant workers. Finally, court |
| immediately after that. The court interpreter's job | | | | translators work with official documents, so their |
| function is sometimes called "simultaneous translation" | | | | spelling and grammar needs to be perfect. A court |
| and this could be one of the reasons why they can | | | | translator needs all the skills of a writer and an editor, |
| be confused for court translators. | | | | in addition to an excellent command of two or more |
| A court interpreter needs to be very alert and to | | | | languages. Today, almost all translation work is |
| have excellent listening skills. In addition, court | | | | performed on a computer, and most work projects |
| interpreters need to be familiar with the subject | | | | are received and submitted electronically. |
| matter of the court case other than legal | | | | |