The U.S. Supreme Court accepts only around 80 cases a year, most of them involving Americans, and it is a rare event to have a Japanese citizen’s dispute come before the court. That is the case this week, however. Kouichi Taniguchi, a former professional baseball player, will have his case heard at the highest court in the U.S. on Tuesday. The dispute sounds as if it were … [Read more...]

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999 (30C/62) 2/21/2012 ~UNESCO Director-General's Message | Irina Bukova Nelson Mandela once said that “if you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his … [Read more...]

The Supreme Court of Ohio certified a dozen court interpreters on Jan. 19 at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center. It’s part of the Court's commitment to language access in Ohio’s judicial system. Rana Raad was one interpreter honored on Thursday. She said getting certified as an Arabic court interpreter is a dream come true. Though Arabic is her native language, Raad … [Read more...]

Nebraska courts have a serious shortage of fully-trained courtroom interpreters. And some court cases are facing delays while the court waits for someone who can translate the proceedings – and ensure a fair trial. “This is what America is about.” Raul Escobar says that sums up his strong belief in the service he provides in courtrooms around Nebraska. For over ten years … [Read more...]

The work of John P. Shaklee, a state-certified courtroom interpreter, is characterized by neutrality, unobtrusiveness, speed and precision. Like his colleagues at the United Nations and other diplomatic venues, the English-Spanish interpreter is one of a rare breed of people capable of listening in one language and simultaneously talking in another in an official … [Read more...]