It’s hard to believe that some 3,000 days have passed since I stepped foot onto the justice center grounds to begin my career as a court interpreter. Today, I filled my computer wastebasket with work logs that dated back to 2006, and I couldn’t resist...
Thank goodness for words like “judge”. Juez just rolls off the tongue so nicely. I can say it in French with no problem at all, and assuming there is a similar concept in any other language of choice, a bilingual dictionary would probably make me...
The annual conference is fast approaching! This year, join us for a weekend of learning, connecting, and reenergizing in Atlanta, Georgia. As part of NAJIT’s commitment to the future of our profession, we are proud to use this week's blog space to announce the “NAJIT...
“Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.” - Dalai Lama We use certain dates as “end” dates, and others as “start” dates: birthdays, anniversaries, New Year’s...
It was one of those “deer-in-the-headlights” moments. The judge proclaimed, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!” and then looked at me, pointedly, to interpret. The courtroom was silent. It is hard enough to come up with a good equivalent without...
On this blog, we dedicate a great deal of time and effort to the profession of interpreting for the courts. We tell stories, share experiences, propose new ideas, and issue calls to action. This week, let’s look briefly at some issues related to translating for...
Just another day in court: trapped in the middle of a contentious divorce trial between two pro se parties full of rage and completely unversed in the rules of law and trial proceeding. After hours of arguing, Mrs. Divorcee calls her first witness: her 92-year-old...
As I walked into the conference room I noticed the chairs where set up so the participants would sit in groups of six, with the tables forming a large crescent facing the front on the room. On each table was a random assortment of items...
Acrobatics: A metaphor for how to interpret with confidence and humility Those who know me outside of interpreting know that acrobatics (specifically partnered “Acroyoga”) is my not-so-secret other love. I am tempted to wax enthusiastic and convert you all to Acroyoga right here and now, but...
This week's post comes from Maria Teresa. Glad to post it on her behalf. - Kevin On my way to the terminal to catch my flight to Chicago at Newark Airport, I was on a shuttle bus. There, I saw a sign that caught my attention...
