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Professional Standards and Ethics for
California Court Interpreters Pt 3 Questions
with Detailed Verified Answers (100%
Correct Answers) /Already Graded A+
California Rules of Court, rule 2.890(b)
Ans: An interpreter must use his or her best skills and judgment to interpret accurately without
embellishing, omitting, or editing. When interpreting for a party, the interpreter must interpret
everything that is said during the entire proceedings. When interpreting for a witness, the
interpreter must interpret everything that is said during the witness's testimony.
What are the two primary reasons the court provides interpreters?
Ans: To place non-English-speaking participants in legal proceedings on an equal footing
with those who understand English to the extent reasonably possible. To ensure that the official
record of the proceedings in English reflects precisely what was stated in another language by
non-English-speaking witnesses, defendants, or other parties authorized to participate in the
matter.
Additions/Embellishments
Ans: It is important never to add anything to or elaborate on the message you are
interpreting, not even for the sake of smoothing over choppy delivery by the speaker.
Additions/Clarifications
Ans: The information transmitted by the
interpreter in the target language should accurately reflect only the information received in
the source language. It is also inappropriate for interpreters to provide two possible
interpretations of a word
used by a witness. It may imply that the witness had hesitated between the two different terms
when in fact a single response was stated confidently. On the other hand, if a single word can
have more than one meaning in the context in question, indicate so to the court.
Additions/Converting Monetary and Measurement Units
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Ans: Under no circumstances should an interpreter become involved in the conversion of units
of
measurement or currency from one system to another.
Omissions
Ans: It is not within the discretion of the interpreter to decide which portions of the testimony
and proceedings will and will not be rendered into the target language.
Omissions/Editing
Ans: An interpreter has the sworn duty to interpret everything that is said in court during the
proceedings, including statements made by the court, a witness, a defendant, or an attorney,
and jury instructions.
Omissions/Third-Person References
Ans: Third-Person References
It is common for persons who use interpreters to preface their statements with phrases like
"Tell him that . . ." and "Ask him if . . ." rather than addressing each other directly. If they
do so, you must not edit out those phrases.
Omissions/Word Repetition
Ans: Repetition and redundancy are important factors in evaluating witness testimony. You
should not add or subtract any words for the sake of clarity or expediency. Any hesitations
should be conveyed. The exception to this practice is in the case of persons who stutter due to
a physiological or psychological condition.
Omissions/Redundancies
Ans: Attorneys' questions and comments are often redundant, often intentionally so. For
example, when an attorney says, "Did you watch and observe him at all times?" you should
not omit the seemingly redundant verb.
Omissions/False Starts
Ans: It is especially important in interpreting witness testimony that all such self corrections
be included in the target language version, so that the judge and jury can draw conclusions
about the witness's degree of certainty and precision.
Omissions/Filler Words
Click here for more: Preppass - Stuvia
Professional Standards and Ethics for
California Court Interpreters Pt 3 Questions
with Detailed Verified Answers (100%
Correct Answers) /Already Graded A+
California Rules of Court, rule 2.890(b)
Ans: An interpreter must use his or her best skills and judgment to interpret accurately without
embellishing, omitting, or editing. When interpreting for a party, the interpreter must interpret
everything that is said during the entire proceedings. When interpreting for a witness, the
interpreter must interpret everything that is said during the witness's testimony.
What are the two primary reasons the court provides interpreters?
Ans: To place non-English-speaking participants in legal proceedings on an equal footing
with those who understand English to the extent reasonably possible. To ensure that the official
record of the proceedings in English reflects precisely what was stated in another language by
non-English-speaking witnesses, defendants, or other parties authorized to participate in the
matter.
Additions/Embellishments
Ans: It is important never to add anything to or elaborate on the message you are
interpreting, not even for the sake of smoothing over choppy delivery by the speaker.
Additions/Clarifications
Ans: The information transmitted by the
interpreter in the target language should accurately reflect only the information received in
the source language. It is also inappropriate for interpreters to provide two possible
interpretations of a word
used by a witness. It may imply that the witness had hesitated between the two different terms
when in fact a single response was stated confidently. On the other hand, if a single word can
have more than one meaning in the context in question, indicate so to the court.
Additions/Converting Monetary and Measurement Units
, Page | 2
Click here for more: Preppass - Stuvia
Ans: Under no circumstances should an interpreter become involved in the conversion of units
of
measurement or currency from one system to another.
Omissions
Ans: It is not within the discretion of the interpreter to decide which portions of the testimony
and proceedings will and will not be rendered into the target language.
Omissions/Editing
Ans: An interpreter has the sworn duty to interpret everything that is said in court during the
proceedings, including statements made by the court, a witness, a defendant, or an attorney,
and jury instructions.
Omissions/Third-Person References
Ans: Third-Person References
It is common for persons who use interpreters to preface their statements with phrases like
"Tell him that . . ." and "Ask him if . . ." rather than addressing each other directly. If they
do so, you must not edit out those phrases.
Omissions/Word Repetition
Ans: Repetition and redundancy are important factors in evaluating witness testimony. You
should not add or subtract any words for the sake of clarity or expediency. Any hesitations
should be conveyed. The exception to this practice is in the case of persons who stutter due to
a physiological or psychological condition.
Omissions/Redundancies
Ans: Attorneys' questions and comments are often redundant, often intentionally so. For
example, when an attorney says, "Did you watch and observe him at all times?" you should
not omit the seemingly redundant verb.
Omissions/False Starts
Ans: It is especially important in interpreting witness testimony that all such self corrections
be included in the target language version, so that the judge and jury can draw conclusions
about the witness's degree of certainty and precision.
Omissions/Filler Words
