Consecutive Interpretation
Definition
The interpreter waits for the speaker to complete a stretch of speech, then renders it into the target language. Common in witness examination because it allows the questioner and interpreter to share the floor sequentially.
- Field
- Legal interpreting
- Method
- Speaker pauses, then interpreter renders the segment
- Common setting
- Witness examination
- Contrast
- Simultaneous interpretation (near real-time, overlapping speech)
Common questions
Why is consecutive interpretation preferred over simultaneous interpretation during witness examination?+
It lets the examiner, witness, and interpreter share the floor one at a time without overlapping speech, which makes it easier for the court reporter to produce an accurate transcript and gives opposing counsel a clear point to raise an objection between question and answer.
What error risks are specific to consecutive interpretation of testimony?+
Because the interpreter must hold a full stretch of speech in memory before rendering it, longer or complex answers increase the risk of omission, compression, or paraphrase that shifts nuance, which is why interpreters are trained to take structured notes and why courts scrutinise interpretation accuracy on appeal in some cases.
Related terms
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- Register
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- Simultaneous Interpretation
- The interpreter renders speech in real time as it is produced, typically used in international tribunal settings. Cognitively demanding and more prone...
- Verbatim Interpretation
- Reproducing the source utterance word for word or as close to it as the target language permits, preserving hedges, qualifications, and false...