On Shift Of Work Ethics In Interrogation Interpreting

Based on an interpreting practice in Guangdong People's Higher Court,this paper analyzes how external changes may affect an interrogation interpreter in choosing interpreting strategies.Different from other types of interpreting,such as conference interpreting or escort interpreting,interrogation interpreting involves more complexities and unexpected issues.It is widely accepted that working in legal settings is very safe.However,this doesn't exactly apply to interrogation interpreters,whose work usually involves interpreting for law authorities on the one hand and foreign drug dealers or even nefarious murders on the other.But in fact,these interpreters are not part of the legal system,at least not in China,and in most cases,there are no clearly stipulated legal procedures or work contracts to protect their rights and interests.The only thing they can do is to trust law officers will protect them.But if interpreters can't even feel a sense of protection from officers,their work performance will be greatly challenged,especially in choosing interpreting strategies.In this paper,because of unexpected variables,the interpreter adopted strategies that would seem unusual in other interpreting scenarios.As a result,her work ethics as an interrogation interpreter were affected to a large extent,including confidentiality,infidelity,impartiality and invisibility.This paper,by analyzing the interpreter's transcript,elaborates on what affected the interpreter's choice of strategies and her complying with work ethics,and then shares views on what can be done to minimize the negative influence.