What’s Going On in Our Field Right Now? By Julli Jaramillo   I’ve been keeping up with what’s been happening in our field, and I think now is a good time to update everyone. There’s a lot shifting right now, and it’s not all happening in one place. You see...

A Brief History of The Couch Series [caption id="attachment_36172" align="alignright" width="300"] A symbolic representation of interpreters and translators fostering understanding, depicted by a figure on a couch and another actively listening[/caption] Since its debut in 2017, The Couch has been the place to provide our members with the space to discuss...

Language Access on the Biggest Stage By: Julli Jaramillo    Last month, millions of viewers tuned in to watch the Super Bowl Halftime show. As always, the spotlight was on the teams, the halftime show, and the commercials that quickly became part of the cultural conversation. But behind the...

Self-Care as an Ethical Necessity By: Athena Matilsky Be kinder to yourself. Then let your kindness flood the world. -Pema Chödron Have you ever found yourself skipping lunch, losing sleep and working 12-hour days even though you were your own boss? A few years ago, I had a...

Let’s Test Your Ethics: The Digital “Assist” The NAJIT Observer Team   Honoring the Lunar New Year Before we turn to this month’s ethical discussion, we want to pause to recognize the Lunar New Year. For many communities around the world, this celebration marks renewal, reflection, and the beginning...

Not An Infallible Technique, After All By Hilda Shymanik   Just recently, I was telling some colleagues how, since I started freelancing regularly in some of the best and interpreter-friendly courthouses in the area, I’ve found fewer topics to blog about. The reason? I rarely encounter situations that...

On Verbatim By Ángeles Estrada, M.A., F.C.C.I. Verbatim is a Latin expression that means “word for word,” and it is the golden rule for court-reporters whose charge it is to preserve the record. But, what about court interpreters? An interpreter's oath is different from the court reporter’s oath....

Preparing to Do Relay with a Colleague Abroad   Reme Bashi   Have you ever had to do relay interpreting with a colleague who is outside the United States, and who doesn’t speak English?  Here are some tips to help you achieve the best team interpreting performance. [caption id="attachment_37550" align="alignleft" width="300"]...

Interpreter's Fatigue: A Real Threat to Due Process   By Hilda Shymanik   Interpreting is a highly demanding and complex activity that requires a great deal of physical and mental effort. When the cognitive load becomes too much, as a result of working for long periods of time without...

About the LEP’s Right to “Hear Everything” in Court Janis Palma   [caption id="attachment_37467" align="alignleft" width="300"] The United States Supreme Court building, a symbol of justice and the rule of law[/caption] One of the rules of thumb that interpreters often follow in court is the if-then structure, which we...