REDEFINING INTERPRETERS’ AND TRANSLATORS’ ROLES

UNVEILING FORENSIC EXPERTISE IN LAWFUL INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATION

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21783/rei.v10i2.817

Keywords:

Interpreter, Translator, Roles, Intercept Interpreting, Communication Surveillance, Translation

Abstract

In multilingual societies, translation and interpreting play pivotal roles in facilitating access to essential services provided by public institutions for individuals speaking languages other than the official language. However, prevailing assumptions among professionals in these institutions often regard translation as a mechanical process, overlooking the inherent interpretive nature of interlingual transfer. This study examines the interventions of intercept interpreters/translators (IITs) in the translation process within the criminal justice system, focusing on covert communication surveillance. An analysis of 538 translated intercept records (TIRs) reveals that IITs significantly intervene in selecting and interpreting content, often decrypting vague or encoded terms used in intercepted conversations. These interventions, which include annotations and comments, shape the evidentiary value and comprehensibility of TIRs. The findings highlight the complex nature of communication surveillance and underscore the need to reconsider the roles of translators and interpreters. This study contributes to our overall understanding about the ambiguous roles interpreters and translators may play in public institutions. As for IITs, the study suggests a re-evaluation of their roles that recognizes their specialized skills and multiple tasks.

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Author Biographies

Franziska Hohl Zuercher, Université de Neuchâtel

Franziska Hohl Zürcher is legal sociologist and post-doctoral researcher at the law faculty of the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. She conducted research in the areas of production and reception of written records in criminal proceedings, communication surveillance, and transnational corporate corruption.

Nadja Capus, Université de Neuchâtel

Nadja Capus is professor of criminal law at the law faculty of the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. She was principal investigator of several interdisciplinary research projects, funded by Swiss National Science Foundation and the European Research Council.

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Published

2024-05-04

How to Cite

Hohl Zuercher, F., & Capus, N. (2024). REDEFINING INTERPRETERS’ AND TRANSLATORS’ ROLES: UNVEILING FORENSIC EXPERTISE IN LAWFUL INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATION. JOURNAL OF INSTITUTIONAL STUDIES, 10(2), 689–712. https://doi.org/10.21783/rei.v10i2.817

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Artigos Internacionais