Is the Simultaneous Mode Feasible and Desirable in Court Interpreting? The Hong Kong Experience and Experiment
Critical Link, (2001)Abstract
Under the existing arrangement in the present judicial system of Hong Kong, interpretation in the courtroom is conducted in the consecutive mode for witness examinations and judgements. Simultaneous interpreting, in the whispered mode, is usually limited to counsels' submissions. In order to increase time and cost effectiveness, the Hong Kong judiciary proposed the implementation of the simultaneous mode to all interpretation required in court proceedings. Two rounds of mock trials were mounted in order to evaluate the efficacy of simultaneous interpreting and its impact on the administration of justice. This paper discusses the Hong Kong experiment which led to the judiciary's decision to abandon plans to expand the use simultaneous interpretation services and facilities. The author summarizes the evaluation of the interpreters' performance in the mock trials, and gives an overview of the problems documented. He concludes by suggesting a possible justification for the judiciary's decision to retain the simultaneous mode in the interpretation of counsels' submissions.