16 The Linguist Vol/64 No/1
ciol.org.uk/thelinguist
FEATURES
What should interpreters do when asked to provide only
a summary at immigration appeals, asks Sangi Gurung
A
s much as one is prepared with legal
terminologies in any court interpreting setting,
interpreting a summary of submissions made
by respective representatives at the end of an immigration
appeal hearing can feel like information overload. Yet this
is what interpreters are increasingly being asked to do.
Indeed, where the appellant is legally represented, it has
become common practice, regardless of how well versed
the interpreter may be in providing such summaries.
Although we are usually given the choice of whether
to interpret simultaneously or take notes and provide
a summary at the end of each submission, it is not
always feasible to opt for the former. Interpreters may
feel obliged to agree to the judge's request for a
summary interpretation in order to maintain the smooth
flow of the hearings.
Although whispered interpreting is seldom an issue
in a big courtroom, it can be problematic in small
tribunal rooms unless interlocutors pace with the
interpreters, ensuring there are pauses. This is true
whether the interpreting is face-to-face or remote,
conducted through a secure cloud video platform.
Given the size of tribunal courtrooms, whispered
interpreting creates the possibility of interference
with the speakers, especially when appellants or
sponsors are hearing impaired, as headphones are not
readily available.
At times a legal representative may suggest that
interpreting submissions is not required and that they
will explain the details after the hearing is completed,
perhaps via a family member or a staff member of the
law firm who speaks the appellant's language. However,
when an appellant is self-represented, sentence-by-
sentence consecutive interpreting is instructed by the
judges so the appellant gets a fair opportunity to
understand the content thoroughly.
A summary trial?
IN BRIEF
Judges increasingly
ask interpreters to
provide summaries
of submissions in
immigration appeals,
rather than
interpreting in full
IMAGES
©
SHUTTERSTOCK
