Computer-Aided *Consecutive* Interpreting (how might I use transcriptionbuddy.com products?) Thread poster: Kevin Brown
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I'm a City University of New York student double majoring in Spanish/Translation & Interpretation. I'm also preparing for Federal Court Interpreter Certification, and am a 19-year veteran of law firms (proofreader, paralegal, word processor, legal secretary). In that time, I've done lots of transcription from tape machines. But I have recently been transcribing from CD ROM using my laptop, as opposed to a tape transcriber with foot pedal, and a project team member recommended your site to me.... See more I'm a City University of New York student double majoring in Spanish/Translation & Interpretation. I'm also preparing for Federal Court Interpreter Certification, and am a 19-year veteran of law firms (proofreader, paralegal, word processor, legal secretary). In that time, I've done lots of transcription from tape machines. But I have recently been transcribing from CD ROM using my laptop, as opposed to a tape transcriber with foot pedal, and a project team member recommended your site to me.
My question is how I might use transcriptionbuddy.com products to aid me in *consecutive interpretation*. Simultaneous interpretation, though not exactly easy, strikes me as in some ways more straightforward: you use noise-reducing headphones, concentrate only the speaker(s), and practice, practice, practice.
In the case of consecutive interpretation, I find that the most difficult thing is not so much rendering testimony from Spanish to English or vice versa. The problem is following the thread of multiple sentences or even paragraphs at speeds of 120 to 150 words per minute while not interrupting the witness, and then repeating, verbatim, with perhaps the aid of a few hastily scribbled notes, what (s)he said minutes ago.
I called one of the local court reporting services here in New York to ask what kind of equipment, aside from stenography machines, they use to aid interpreters in depositions, etc. I was told there *is* a way to «caption» on screen, whether overhead or on a laptop, exactly what the court reporter is typing in real time. This strikes me as one way to make consecutive interpreting more like "sight translation" in that, by using the "captioning" instead of taking notes, I can concentrate on translating accurately instead of having to *remember* everything the witness has just said.
Would DCR or one of your other products work this way? Can I use one of your products to capture testimony as a .wav file in real time so that, with the aid of headphones such a simultaneous interpreter would use, I could go back and replay snippets of witness testimony during consecutive translation without the need of interrupting the witness or being so busy taking notes that I fail to translate what s/he is saying more or less consecutively?
I realize this may be a confusing question to a non-specialist but I'm hoping a certified court interpreter will know exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks in advance for your help.
Kevin Brown
Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, P.C.
805 Third Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10022-7513
212-407-7781
[email protected]
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2004-08-05 21:35] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | A possible contact | Aug 5, 2004 |
Dear Kevin,
I do not know the answer, but you may want to try contacting Holly Mikkelson at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. She has been a Spanish/English court interpreter for many years, and she is a professor of the same. She might well know the answer, if anyone does. There is a link to her email addr... See more Dear Kevin,
I do not know the answer, but you may want to try contacting Holly Mikkelson at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. She has been a Spanish/English court interpreter for many years, and she is a professor of the same. She might well know the answer, if anyone does. There is a link to her email address at the following website:
http://www.miis.edu/gsti-faculty.html?id=65
It sounds fascinating! Good luck!
Carley ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Thanks, Carley! | Aug 6, 2004 |
I will forward this thread to the professor.
| | | | | Consecutive/Court Interpreting | Aug 10, 2004 |
Carley Hydusik wrote: Dear Kevin, I do not know the answer, but you may want to try contacting Holly Mikkelson at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. She has been a Spanish/English court interpreter for many years, and she is a professor of the same. She might well know the answer, if anyone does. There is a link to her email address at the following website: http://www.miis.edu/gsti-faculty.html?id=65 It sounds fascinating! Good luck! Carley
Kevin,
With your background and stated goals, your'e not going to get much better advice than what Carley gave you. Should Holly not be available at the miis address for whatever reason, please try
http://www.acebo.com/index.htm
That is her site and lists a wealth of information for court interpreting, preparing for the exam, etc. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Kurt
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| Thanks, Kurt. | Aug 10, 2004 |
Acebo materials are on my list for the Orals.
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