Tulkki oikeussaliviestinnän monitaiturina

Authors

• Nina Isolahti

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61200/mikael.145923

Abstract

This article deals with court interpretation and the function of interpretation in particular. The conclusions are based on observations made in court  proceedings across Finland. The article addresses the main phases of criminal court proceedings in Finland, with the aim of describing the purpose of interpretation in each phase. The starting point in this review is the fact that interpretation – as all activities – relies on its purpose, function. The function of interpretation determines the priorities of interpretation, the accuracy requirements and the selection of interpretation methods. The function of interpretation is situational. From the communication perspective, court proceedings form a heterogenic, dynamic event in which the participants have  different, even opposite objectives. The proceedings are regulated and each phase of the process has a purpose. The function of court interpretation changes continuously during the trial and it does not always coincide with the function of the communication in the original language. In order to succeed in his/her  task, the court interpreter must know the rules of the court proceedings, recognise the main phases of the communication event and the objectives of the  participants, and adjust the interpretation function to correspond to the communication needs in an optimal manner.