South African court interpreters’ perceptions of the phenomenon of interpreting

Abstract

It is difficult to define the complex phenomenon of interpreting as scholars conceptualise it in various ways, leading to different definitions. This may impact negatively on the performance of interpreters because they may understand their role differently, and as a result, interpret differently. This study is based on doctoral research and presents the results of a survey conducted in 2016 among court interpreters in South Africa. The aim was to explore South African court interpreters’ perceptions of the phenomenon of interpreting, with their definitions placed alongside other aspects. A qualitative research method was used to explore the definitions of the phenomenon of interpreting provided by court interpreters. Findings reveal that, in South Africa, there is no common culture of practice in court interpreting because court interpreters understand the phenomenon differently, as individual court interpreters rely on their personal understanding of the phenomenon. This could lead to misrepresentation of the speaker’s utterances with unintended negative results. There is a need for common practice in court interpreting. The study recommends the establishment of a single definition of the phenomenon of interpreting to minimise misinterpretation that can lead to adverse consequences for courtroom participants.