Justice Translated: Need for more court interpreters in Calif.
November 18, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Andy Ta received his first interpreting assignment in 1984, when a lawyer visited the school where he worked in search of someone with bilingual capabilities.
“The Vietnamese community was relatively new back then,” said Ta, who speaks Vietnamese and received his first interpreting job that day. “And the courts did not have a Vietnamese interpreter available, so this lawyer had to search for someone who could speak both languages.”
What Ta thought would be a one-time job gradually developed into a career. For the past 14 years, Ta has worked with the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, as a certified interpreter.
“I saw how I played an important role in the legal process and really liked it,” Ta said.
Approximately 40 percent of California’s population speaks a language other than English in the home, and roughly 20 percent of Californians speak English less than “very well.” These figures are expected to increase as the state’s foreign-born population continues growing, thereby increasing the need for court interpreters.
But currently the average age of court interpreters is 53, and as they retire, California will see a growing need to recruit additional interpreters to ensure those with limited-English skills have the language assistance they need in court.
Earlier this year, the Administrative Office of the Courts launched a major recruiting effort to raise awareness of the increasing need for court interpreters throughout the state. In addition to educating the public about the need for court interpreters, the campaign also actively recruits individuals to the profession by highlighting the career benefits of becoming an interpreter.
“This career is quite rewarding both financially and personally,” Ta said. “It’s a very nice feeling to know you are making a difference. The public looks to you to be the bridge for non-English speakers.”
One of Ta’s most rewarding experiences as a court interpreter involved a shooting in Santa Clara where a Vietnamese woman was killed by a local police officer.
“Under pressure from the community, I had to interpret for the victim’s witness,” Ta recalled. “All eyes were on me — since this was a very contentious case, the court room was filled with cameras and reporters. After that case, I really felt the Vietnamese community values what I do.”
But it is not a profession without its challenges.
“As an interpreter, I constantly have to update my knowledge of the Vietnamese and English languages,” Ta said. “This really is a discipline where you have to have the confidence, competence and ethics.”
To learn more about court interpreter requirements and career opportunities: courtinfo.ca.gov/interpreters or (866) 310-0689.
Comments
Got something to say?