Holly Mikkelson (interpreting scholar)

TL;DR

Professor Mikkelson discusses her extensive experience in court interpreting and the evolving profession globally.

Transcript

we're with Professor Holly mikkelson in Monteray uh Professor mikkelson just tell me first what you do at monter what you do professionally at the moment I teach Court interpreting here introduction to court interpreting and normally in the second set of classes consecutive Court interpreting testimony and I am a court interpreter myself and I main... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Court interpreting involves challenges like insufficient training and varying procedures across states.
• 🙈 The profession has seen growth with the introduction of degree programs and improvements in pay for interpreters.
• 👨‍🔬 Research on court interpreting is crucial to understand the impact of language barriers on legal proceedings.
• 🤨 Language barriers in court proceedings raise ethical concerns about fairness and access to justice.
• 👨‍🔬 The field of court interpreting is evolving globally with more countries emphasizing interpreter training and research.
• 💦 Professor Mikkelson's work includes authoring practical manuals and textbooks in the field of court interpreting.
• 🖐️ Court interpreters play a vital role in ensuring effective communication in legal settings.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can you elaborate on the challenges faced by court interpreters?

Court interpreters face challenges related to the lack of standardized training, varying court procedures across states, and limited study materials while preparing for demanding certification exams.

Q: How has the profession of court interpreting changed over the years?

The profession has witnessed growth with the introduction of degree programs, increased professionalization, and improvements in pay for interpreters while working for government agencies.

Q: Is research being conducted on court interpreting, and why is it important?

Research on court interpreting focuses on the impact of interpreted testimony on decision-makers, highlighting the need for more studies to improve the understanding of language barriers in legal proceedings.

Q: What are the ethical implications of language barriers in court proceedings?

Language barriers in court proceedings pose ethical concerns as they contribute to inequality in understanding legal discourse, impacting the rights of non-native speakers in accessing justice.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Professor Mikkelson teaches court interpreting at Monterey and is a court interpreter herself, mainly focusing on depositions and administrative hearings.

• She has authored practical manuals for court interpreters and is currently revising a textbook on court interpretation.

• The field of court interpreting has evolved significantly with increased training programs and certification exams.