美國國會於1978年通過「法院口譯員法」,據此,聯邦法院建立了法院口譯員制度,隨後,法院口譯以三個面向邁向制度化與專業化。(1)美國各州州法院次第跟進建制。(2)建立法院口譯員認證與考試制度。(3)法院口譯的研究逐漸受到重視,成為法學、語言學、翻譯學的跨領域課題。美國庭審採陪審團制,口譯的良窳是否會影響或誤導陪審員對被告控罪的判定,更是社會心理學研究的新焦點。
作者獲美國國家科學基金會(U.S. National Science
Foundation)獎助,進行大規模長達七個月的田野調查,選定數家法院,將有口譯的庭審錄音後製作雙語謄錄稿,比對外語(西班牙語)證詞與英語互譯,歸納出常見口譯落差,再以模擬陪審團,進行語言心理學實驗,探討口譯落差有無影響聽者(陪審員)對說話者的印象及影響程度。本書1990年的一版與2002年的增訂版都在法界與語用學界享有極佳口碑。作者獲悉將有中文譯本後,於2017年大幅擴增為二版,放眼全球各地司法口譯機制與口譯在警訊或庇護聽審的現狀。
譯者為加州法院認證口譯員、台灣高等法院通譯,將此一經典譯成中文,應可為國內學界(應用英語系、翻譯系、法律系等)與實務界(司法、律師)帶來新的觀點。
Susan Berk-Seligson’s groundbreaking book draws on more than one hundred hours of audio recordings of Spanish/English court proceedings in federal, state, and municipal courts—along with a
number of psycholinguistic experiments involving mock juror reactions to interpreted testimony—to present a systematic study of court interpreters that raises some alarming, vitally important
concerns. Contrary to the assumption that interpreters do not affect the dynamics of court proceedings, Berk-Seligson shows that interpreters could potentially make the difference between a
defendant being found guilty or not guilty of a crime.
This second edition of the The Bilingual Courtroom includes a fully updated review of both theoretical and policy-oriented research relevant to the use of interpreters in legal settings,
particularly from the standpoint of linguistic pragmatics. It provides new insights into interpreting in quasi-judicial, informal, and specialized judicial settings, such as small claims court,
jails, and prisons; updates trends in interpreter certification and credentialing, both in the United States and abroad; explores remote interpreting (for example, by telephone) and interpreter
training programs; looks at political trials and tribunals to add to our awareness of international perspectives on court interpreting; and expands upon cross-cultural issues. Also featuring a
new preface by Berk-Seligson, this second edition not only highlights the impact of the previous versions of The Bilingual Courtroom, but also draws attention to the continued need for critical
study of interpreting in our ever diversifying society.