Judicial cases rely on oral evidence. Witness credibility is assessed based on the content of the testimony and the demeanour of the speaker. When witnesses do not speak English, their credibility is evaluated through an interpreter. Inaccurate interpretations can result in miscarriages of justice. Accuracy of interpretation is therefore paramount to produce just outcomes. The study addresses a significant social problem. The need for court interpreters in Australia is immense, and only likely to rise dramatically, with the increased refugee intake.This project examines…

The primary aim of this applied research project is to investigate the capacity of deaf people who use sign language to participate in the administration of justice by serving as jurors. Research of this kind has never previously been conducted in Australia or internationally. The project will expand Australia’s knowledge base about court interpreting and jury service, by pioneering the first study of its kind. Additionally, through collaboration with an international Partner Investigator with a proven track record in legal sign language interpreting research, this project will foster the…

Increasingly, interviewers rely on interpreters because they lack proficiency in the language spoken by the interviewee. Yet little is known about ways interpreters can affect the dynamics of the interview. The proposed study addresses this gap in the literature, by testing three practices to mitigate risk in interviews with non-English-speaking interviewees: (a) interpreter skill (e.g., training, experience, professional accreditation); (b) position of the interpreter in relation to the interviewer and interviewee; and (c) training intervention to raise interpreters’ awareness of the…

The primary aim of this applied research project is to investigate the capacity of deaf people who use sign language to participate in the administration of justice by serving as jurors. Research of this kind has never previously been conducted in Australia or internationally. The project will expand Australia’s knowledge base about court interpreting and jury service, by pioneering the first study of its kind. Additionally, through collaboration with an international Partner Investigator with a proven track record in legal sign language interpreting research, this project will foster the…

Increasingly, interviewers rely on interpreters because they lack proficiency in the language spoken by the interviewee. Yet little is known about ways interpreters can affect the dynamics of the interview. The proposed study addresses this gap in the literature, by testing three practices to mitigate risk in interviews with non-English-speaking interviewees: (a) interpreter skill (e.g., training, experience, professional accreditation); (b) position of the interpreter in relation to the interviewer and interviewee; and (c) training intervention to raise interpreters’ awareness of the…

This ARC Linkage project investigates how juries and judicial officers respond to evidence mediated by an interpreter under several alternate conditions. Whether an interpreter reduces or augments this bias is an empirical question investigated. Using an experimental design, this multidisciplinary study will show how the location of the interpreter contributes to juror…

Increasingly, interviewers rely on interpreters because they lack proficiency in the language spoken by the interviewee. Yet little is known about ways interpreters can affect the dynamics of the interview. The proposed study addresses this gap in the literature, by testing three practices to mitigate risk in interviews with non-English-speaking interviewees: (a) interpreter skill (e.g., training, experience, professional accreditation); (b) position of the interpreter in relation to the interviewer and interviewee; and (c) training intervention to raise interpreters’ awareness of the…

This ARC Linkage project investigates how juries and judicial officers respond to evidence mediated by an interpreter under several alternate conditions. Whether an interpreter reduces or augments this bias is an empirical question investigated. Using an experimental design, this multidisciplinary study will show how the location of the interpreter contributes to juror…

This project provides an overview of the current Interpreter/Translator accreditation system by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), with the aim to propose a new improved model for interpreter/translator standards, testing, assessment and training.

This ARC Linkage project investigates how juries and judicial officers respond to evidence mediated by an interpreter under several alternate conditions. Whether an interpreter reduces or augments this bias is an empirical question investigated. Using an experimental design, this multidisciplinary study will show how the location of the interpreter contributes to juror…

This project provides an overview of the current Interpreter/Translator accreditation system by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), with the aim to propose a new improved model for interpreter/translator standards, testing, assessment and training.

This project aims to examine the ways judicial officers can improve courtroom communication and prevent miscommunication and error, particularly in criminal cases where speakers of the 'new and emerging' and Aboriginal languages are involved, and where interpreters receive limited or no specialised training. Using an innovative interdisciplinary approach, the project aims to generate new knowledge in examining the variations in judicial officers’ communications practice when working with interpreters, and their…

This project provides an overview of the current Interpreter/Translator accreditation system by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), with the aim to propose a new improved model for interpreter/translator standards, testing, assessment and training.

This project aims to examine the ways judicial officers can improve courtroom communication and prevent miscommunication and error, particularly in criminal cases where speakers of the 'new and emerging' and Aboriginal languages are involved, and where interpreters receive limited or no specialised training. Using an innovative interdisciplinary approach, the project aims to generate new knowledge in examining the variations in judicial officers’ communications practice when working with interpreters, and their…

Judicial cases rely on oral evidence. Witness credibility is assessed based on the content of the testimony and the demeanour of the speaker. When witnesses do not speak English, their credibility is evaluated through an interpreter. Inaccurate interpretations can result in miscarriages of justice. Accuracy of interpretation is therefore paramount to produce just outcomes. The study addresses a significant social problem. The need for court interpreters in Australia is immense, and only likely to rise dramatically, with the increased refugee intake.This project examines…