The Linguist

The Linguist 55,4

The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology

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FEATURES thelinguist.uberflip.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 The Linguist 21 interpreting until the next day, as the first afternoon was for the lawyers' opening speeches and for me to acquaint myself with the case, which concerned a complex financial dispute. Nevertheless, in litigation there is always the risk that things can change fast. I also had to digest all of the French and English pleadings (documents filed with the court by the parties) on arrival in the court because the client had refused my request for advance disclosure on the basis of that old chestnut (excuse!) 'confidentiality'. Trying to keep up with my other work (essential for all who are self-employed) after a day's interpreting is always a challenge, but nightmarish when you also have to read reams of statements and reports in readiness for the next day's hearing. Some overnight reading is always necessary in long-running court cases but this one was a big 'ask'. During the Guernsey case, I declined an evening invitation to participate in my client's strategy meeting with their witnesses. I was initially worried about not attending, but, on the basis that no interpreting was needed as all of the participants spoke French, and also that my booking remit was limited to interpreting in court, I reasoned that I had made the right decision. The meeting dragged on until 4am, so I had a lucky escape. By comparison, the Jersey road traffic case was much easier to manage in every way. Firstly, unlike in Guernsey, the facts of the case were straightforward, and I have interpreted in hundreds of similar cases. Secondly, I was well rested as I had arrived the night before. Thirdly, I enjoyed working alongside my interpreter colleague and sharing breaks with him, while in Guernsey, I had been the sole interpreter as only one witness required an interpreter. My Portuguese colleague's local knowledge of the island was also a big advantage. He was able to enlighten me as to why the client had requested a Manchester-based French interpreter when there must be several French interpreters on the island. Given that Jersey is so small (five miles long and nine miles wide) everybody knows everybody else, so it can be difficult to get unbiased and objective interpreters without flying them in. The Guernsey case was a different kettle of fish: the financial stakes were high and the area of law very specialised. The client had chosen me because I am a (UK) qualified lawyer. Even so, a case of this nature, involving an area of law that I am not specialised in, meant working extremely hard each night to check my understanding of the legal issues and terminology involved. Fortunately the area of law involved terminology also used in English and Welsh law. In Jersey, my case unexpectedly ended after only a few hours, which meant that I was able to meet with some friends who live on the island. Their father was a former Bailiff (Chief Justice) of Jersey and they knew the prosecuting lawyer on my case as his wife was related to them by marriage. Which shows just how small the island is – and why sometimes it is necessary to bring in an unknown 'outsider'. Notes 1 For a fictitious but supposedly accurate account of the privations suffered by the Guernsey islanders, see Shaffner, M A and Burrows, A (2008) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Bloomsbury © SHUTTERSTOCK / 'J ERSEY AIRPORT GREETS TRAVELLERS WITH WELCOME TOJERSEY SIGN IN JÈRRIAIS', 3/2/07 CC SA 1.0

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