Observation of performance of Polish ALS interpreters in a Magistrates Court
3 ALS interpreters turned up at court (on time) today. They are not on the NRPSI. One was from Exeter, one was from Teignmouth and one was from Cardiff. The interpreter from Cardiff said that she had a lot of work but needed to travel a lot - in fact, she goes to Manchester, Birmingham and Yorkshire. She was of Polish origin but did not speak great Polish. She asked us whether we wanted to become interpreters and if we came as a part of our training (!). We asked her whether 'she had that diploma that you need for court interpreting' and she replied that she did (as I said I have checked the register and she's not on it).
The trial was adjourned so I only had a chance to listen to both interpreters in the court room for 5 minutes or so. I have picked up the following:
- "trial" was interpreted as "case"
- "unconditional bail" was interpreted as a "conditional discharge"
- "the prosecutor needs to review the case due to the new circumstances and the trial will be adjourned to 16th April" = "the judges need to have a think and the case is being postponed"
- and now to make my Polish colleagues smile: "please switch off your phones" = "prosze zgasic telefon" and "jestem w 2 trirze" :)
Before the trial started they were all talking amongst themselves about ALS, their rates, the fact that they were not being paid the amount they were supposed to be paid etc. They also complained that they were booked for a whole day but will only be paid for 1.5 hours.
