N.M. 3rd Jud. Dist. Court Interpreter Standards of Practice and Payment Policies 2

a. Spoken Languages

The typical team is comprised of two interpreters who work in tandem, providing

relief every 30 minutes. The interpreter engaged in delivering the interpretation at

any given moment is called the active interpreter. His or her job is to interpret the

court proceedings truly and accurately. The other interpreter is called the support

interpreter. His or her job is to (1) assist the active interpreter by looking up

vocabulary, or acting as a second ear to confirm quickly spoken names, numbers

or other references; (2) assist the active interpreter with any technical problems

with electronic interpreting equipment, if in use; (3) be available in case the

active interpreter has an emergency; and (4) serve as an impartial language

expert in the case of any challenge to interpretation at the witness stand.

(Adapted from the NAJIT position paper, “Team Interpreting in the Courtroom,” which can be

read in its entirety at: http://www.najit.org/documents/Team_Interpreting.pdf)

b. Signed Languages

(Excerpted in its entirety from Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Standard Practice Papers: Team

Interpreting, http://www.rid.org/UserFiles/File/pdfs/Standard_Practice_Papers)

All team members are actively engaged in the process. They may be providing

direct interpretation services, actively working between the two languages or

functioning in a supporting role. This support is necessary to enhance the team's

performance and assure accurate communication takes place and may

include: monitoring the overall setting; assuring appropriate and timely transitions;

supporting/cueing other team members as needed.

At times, more than one team of interpreters may be needed. Some factors

determining the number of interpreters needed are: size of the audience,

setting, communication preferences of presenter(s) and audience type, and

interactivity of presentation, special communication needs of those in

attendance (including, but not limited to, the need for tactile, oral or close visual

range interpretation) and dynamics of the scheduled events (concurrent sessions,

off site tours, etc.)

When two or more interpreters are working together, the team will need a

sufficient amount of time prior to the assignment to determine placement, roles

and how to provide support to each other.