Interpretapes

This volume of INTERPRETAPES includes six different practice texts closely based on authentic legal proceedings. The first four texts are meant to be used for practice in simultaneous interpreting and consist of the following: A1) an opening statement in a drug case; A2) a rebuttal in an armed robbery case; B1) testimony relating to a motion to suppress in a drug case; and B2) testimony relating to a motion to suppress in a case involving electronic surveillance. The source language for all of these texts is English, since court interpreters in the United States are rarely, if ever, called upon to do simultaneous from Spanish into English. Each text is recorded at two speeds giving the interpreter an opportunity to focus on language and content at a comfortable speed (110-130 words/minute), followed by an opportunity to perfect technique once content has been mastered (160 words/ minute). Spoken glossaries are provided between the two versions to provide some acceptable (and point out a few unacceptable) alternatives to lexical items and phraseology that might present some difficulties. They are meant to be used as guides and the choices given should not be construed as the - correct - or definitive ways to render a word or phrase. Following the four simultaneous practice texts are two consecutive texts. C1 is testimony in a child abuse case and C2 consists of expert testimony given by a medical examiner. These texts were chosen to provide interpreters an opportunity to deal with both high and low register speech and to practice consecutive interpreting both from English into Spanish and vice versa. This reflects actual legal proceedings. Each of the texts is recorded only once, and pauses are included in the recording that reflect approximately the time a competent interpreter would take to render an adequate version of the passages in the target language. However, if a practice interpreter needs or desires longer pauses, the pause button on the CD player can be used. The second CD in the set is the key. Federally Certified Court Interpreters were asked to give a working rendition of these texts in real time. There are two renditions of each of the simultaneous texts, one at each recorded speed. It is important to remember that these renditions were recorded in real time and are meant to provide examples of authentic interpreting as opposed to an ideal model version. As stated above in regard to the glossaries, they are not to be taken as - correct - or error-free versions, but simply as real-life versions. Only one rendition is given for the two consecutive texts, but the same concepts apply.