HEARD IT IN THE COURTROOM # 2
Tricky terminology interpreters encounter in the courtroom
A short practice for the oral exam or an amusing exercise for the rest of us.
Tricky language heard in court
A short review for those practicing for the oral exam and an amusing exercise for the rest of us.
by Yvette Citizen, Federally Certified Court Interpreter
The Confident Interpreter blog is back! The Confident team is pounding the keyboard once again. During our brief hiatus, we spent many a day in court and have decided to resume with another Heard it in the Courtroom segment, where we share interesting – sometimes bizarre – utterances the TCI team or our followers have heard in the courtroom. How would you have interpreted the following?
If you’re preparing for the oral interpreter exam, this will be a good refresher and some light practice. Pay specific attention to the underlined terms.
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Three things are certain: death, taxes, and the defendant’s guilt.
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Theft, trespassing in a residence under construction, discharging a firearm within city limits, misconduct with weapons, promoting prison contraband, and now lewd and lascivious conduct.
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The fentanyl was hidden in the quarter panels and in the bumper. The MDMA was under the air filter in the air filter box in the engine area.
Car parts… always car parts…
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The defense will have you believe the defendant is a loving father and a caring grandfather; nothing but unicorns, puppy dogs, butterflies, and rainbows. He had over 5 kilos of cocaine and meth in the closet and a loaded firearm under his bed. A Glock 19, 9-millimeter Luger.
And if it’s not car parts, it’s guns.
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You can’t tell me you were going to use the silencers to hunt rabbits.
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Defendant: I told them not to bring guns, Judge. I didn’t know Jimmy had a gun with him.
Prosecutor: The fact he told the others not to bring guns indicated he knew guns could be present and that he had a managerial role.
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And finally…
Judge: Sir, are you chewing gum in my courtroom?
Judge a few seconds later: Good Lord, Baby Jesus, did you just swallow that? You could have just spit it out!
Sometimes being in court is amusing. How did you handle the religious language? Were you able to conserve the religious tones without sounding disrespectful or affected in your target language? Some judges are full of folksy expression.
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Let us know how you would tackle these, share your experiences, and don’t forget to check out our Free Resources and other materials at TheConfidentInterpreter.com
Feel free to repost but make sure you give us credit.
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