Many of today’s legal actions involve more than the English language. In fact, many depositions are taken of people who do not speak English. However, this can create situations where all parties involved have difficulty understanding and communicating with one another. When such situations happen, accurate and court-certified deposition interpreters are needed.
Why Interpreters Are Needed for Depositions
Depositions involve gathering out-of-court oral testimonies of witnesses. The main purposes of a deposition are to uncover what a witness knows and to preserve that witness’s testimony. However, not all witnesses speak English. In California, for example, there is a melting pot of different languages besides English—such as Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. Not only are there different languages, but there are distinct dialects within each language. These different languages and dialects often lead to language barriers between witnesses and attorneys, which can only be overcome through a court-certified interpreter.
Overcoming Language Barriers
Language barriers are communication break downs that occur when people of different languages try to communicate with one another. These barriers can become obstacles to obtaining crucial witness information during a deposition. Therefore, selecting the correct certified deposition interpreter is important for accurate communication and overcoming language barriers.
Responsibilities of Deposition Interpreters
It is the responsibility of the deposition interpreter to accurately interpret and translate for individuals without changing the speaker’s language register. Interpreters must repeat exactly what a witness says word-for-word, rather than giving a summary of what the witness said. Also, they must not add commentary or their opinions. The reason for this is because the interpreter’s translation of the witness’s testimony into English will be become part of the official record.
Need an Interpreter for a Deposition?
If testimony requires certified translations or interpretation for a particular case, our scheduling department can arrange such services for you. Only the best interpreters earn certification for criminal and civil proceedings in the courts of law and earn our trust. Contact us to learn more about our services.
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