Japanese courts need ceritified interpreters
The Japan Times reports on the use of trial interpreters in Japan:
Interpreters play a vital role in criminal trials involving foreign defendants not fluent in Japanese. The law stipulates that the court is required to hire a translator proficient in the language used by the parties involved.
According to Supreme Court data, 7,195 out of the 89,016 people convicted in 2006 — or one out of every 12 — were foreigners who needed interpreters for trials.
Among them, 39.4 percent needed Chinese interpretation, 12.8 percent Korean, 8.3 percent Filipino, 7.4 percent Portuguese and 5.4 percent Thai, the data show. Those needing English interpretation ranked eighth, at 3.2 percent. 2006 saw 42 languages used for people from 71 countries and regions.
As of April 2007, the Supreme Court had a list of 3,903 designated interpreters on standby. But being listed as one doesn’t mean one is qualified because there is no professional title or qualified status.
The abilities of such interpreters can vary quite a bit – creating a dangerous situation for foreigners who find themselves assigned an interpreter lacking knowledge of legal terminology or adequate proficiency in their language. A group of lawyers and interpreters is currently working to establish an organization that can train and certify trial interpreters.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
- Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)
