JUDICIAL INTERPRETERS BRIDGE LINGUISTIC GAP|司法通譯專業溝通 協助跨越語言藩籬

As the number of foreigners in Taiwan continues to grow, thus the demand for translation and interpretation services has grown too, but other than for business and exchange purposes, interpreters are also vital in bridging linguistic gaps at police stations, judicial courts, correction facilities and immigration offices. The work of so-called judicial interpreters not only helps law enforcement solve cases, but ensures that the human rights of all parties involved are well protected as well. Carrie Chen, who came to Taiwan 19 years ago from Malaysia, speaks Malay, English, Mandarin and a little bit of Indonesian. For the past five years, she has been a frequent presence at local judicial courts and police stations, but that is because she is a judicial interpreter by profession. ==CARRIE CHEN, Judicial Interpreter== The first time I interpreted at a judicial court was for a domestic violence case. They were looking for an English interpreter. I was nervous, but who isn't nervous going to court? Feeling nervous is only natural, but the job needs to get done, because when a case takes place, without linguistic assistance, even the best detectives have their hands tied. Besides, to make complaints, defend or explain oneself in one's own language is a basic human right. Yet in Taiwan, a centralized system to train, accredit and assign judicial interpreters has yet to take form. For now, each locality is left to organize its own training and accreditation processes. ==LIN CHIEN-MIN, Chief of Foreign Affairs, Hsinchu County Police== So far in Taiwan, there hasn't been a proper accreditation mechanism for judicial interpreters. Having our own program ensures that all interpreters we work with are trained and qualified professionals. To ensure quality of service, the program at Hsinchu County includes 30 hours of training and a final written and spoken exam. But for interpreters, linguistic hurdles are never the only challenges. ==CARRIE CHEN, Judicial Interpreter== A while ago, I worked on a sexual assault case. I was interpreting just as I heard, but then the police officer I worked with. said I didn't sound threatening enough. ==DANG THI THU HANG, Judicial Interpreter== In the process, I deiced to soften some of the language I heard. I told the plaintiff that the migrant worker must have his reasons and asked him to go easy on him. In the end, he withdrew the case and only asked the defendant to return the stolen bottle of wine. I felt good for what I did. But then at a training session, we were told that interpreters do not take sides and should remain completely neutral. While the task is just as difficult for judicial interpreters as for conference interpreters, they are paid disgracefully less. While conference interpreters charge more than NT$10,000 per half day, judicial interpreters are paid no more than a few hundred dollars per hour, or sometimes, per case. ==DAVE CHAO, Judicial Interpreter== As I slowly deepen my involvement in the process, I begin to feel that our work deserves more recognition and perhaps even an independent government agency to oversee it. For some, what propels them is a desire to do good. ==CARRIE CHEN, Judicial Interpreter== One's language skills are in a way an advantage. If you could help others solve their problems, when you walk out of it, you feel like you've done something good, like girl scouts, doing good daily. As a highly professional line of work, judicial interpreting is vitally indispensable to justice and law enforcement. Despite its challenging nature and less-than-desirable remuneration, many remain committed to the profession, bridging linguistic gaps along the way. REPORTER：JEFF CHANG 隨著在台外國人士增加，翻譯需求也日漸提升，不過需要口譯的不只是一般商業或交流場合，其實在警局、法庭、看守所，還有移民署等地，口譯不只能協助雙方溝通，更是檢警辦案，以及保護當事人權益的重要關鍵，我們一起來看這則報導。 出身馬來西亞，通曉英語和馬來語，也略懂印尼文的陳鑀枚，來台19年，時常出入警察局和法院，不過這是因為她的工作是司法通譯。 ==中英馬司法通譯 陳鑀枚== 我第一個去法院協助翻譯 就是一個家暴案 當時也是需要英文的翻譯這樣子 是有點害怕 誰進法院誰不害怕呢 害怕卻還是勇往直前，因為近年來，在台外國人士已經超過八十萬人，一有案件，如果語言不通又沒有翻譯，神探也無可奈何。兩年前，新竹一起外籍人士殺人逃逸案，警方就是靠著通譯，解讀電話情資，成功逮人。不過，通譯對人權的保障，也至關重要。在台灣，相關機制卻尚未成熟。目前法院體系與移民署，都建置通譯名單，但司法通譯即使深夜也要隨傳隨到，電話常常打過一輪，也不一定找得到人，再加上司法通譯字字珠機，翻譯能力一定要把關， 許多地方地警政單位，於是自辦培訓、遴選人才。 ==新竹縣警察局外事科長 林建民== 國家目前並沒有真正的一個 通譯認證機制 所以我們警察局來辦通譯的話 至少做一個初步的把關 十週的課程，結訓後還得筆試再口試，就是要確保翻譯的品質，不過常常站在第一線的口譯員，也常常遇到立場的兩難。 ==中英馬司法通譯 陳鑀枚== 前一陣子才碰到 一個類似性侵害的案子 也照實的翻譯給警官聽 但是當時 我知道結束這個翻譯之後 警察人員有跟我說 陳小姐你太善良了 ==中越司法通譯 鄧氏秋恆== 翻譯的過程中 就用一些比較婉轉的語言 跟老闆講 就是那個外勞很可憐 你可以幫助他 他就撤銷了告訴 只是說 你要賠我那瓶酒就好了 就很開心啊 可是後來上通譯課的時候 才知道說當通譯 一定要當中立者 不可以幫任何對方 司法通譯難度不亞於專業會議口譯，但薪酬水準卻遠遠落後，以高等法院特約通譯為例，每次出勤，新台幣五百元至四千元，由法官依照案件繁簡而定，至於各警政或社政等單位，多以每件五百元起跳，或每小時兩百到五百元。反觀一般專業口譯，行情至少半天一萬元，全天兩萬元起跳，相差甚遠。目前很多通譯，都是本著一顆助人之心。 ==中英韓司法通譯 趙樹禮== 慢慢進入司法的程序裡面 會覺得應該給他們一個 司法通譯的地位 或是一個機關 倫理道德上應該要建立起來 ==中英馬司法通譯 陳鑀枚== 如果我們的語言 算是一種優勢 我們可以協助到當事人 可以解決他一些問題 走出來的時候 好像有做一件事 有點像童子軍這樣 日行一善 司法通譯專業性高，重要性更不在話下，而站在第一線的通譯人員，選擇持續付出，讓語言不再是溝通的藩蘺。 記者 張家福 劉漢麟 新竹報導