Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Jeremy L. Brunson & Gino S. Gouby. (2021). "What Is Legal Interpreting? Introducing IPP Students to the Practice." In Jeremy. L. Brunson (Ed.), LEGAL INTERPRETING: TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND PRACTICE (pp. 3-16). Gallaudet University Press. https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/L/Legal-Interpreting
This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter author.
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This opening chapter was written by Dr. Jeremy L. Brunson and Gino S. Gouby.
When we give lectures to classes, we often start by asking them what they know about legal situations. We get answers that range from discussions of traffic or speeding tickets. They often show a very superficial understanding of legal settings. They often limit their definition of legal to those events that include a judge and attorneys and nothing more. However, we know that legal is far more. It is about rights and responsibilities. It can include contracts. These interactions are formulaic; there is a set procedure that must be followed. We encourage people to look more closely and gain a deeper understanding of legal interactions entail.
We also talk about different topics. For example, we talk about the use of language. We talk about the role and use of legalese. We discuss credentialing. That is, what is involved in earning a credential? Or, what should be the minimum requirements for someone to earn credentials? We also discuss the roles and responsibilities of interpreters in these types of interactions. We talk about interpreters, both deaf and nondeaf, and the impact of our actions on the proceeding that we are interpreting. We ask questions about impact on the field of the growing use of deaf interpreters. This is not only about the interpreting process but also includes a discussion of the training of deaf interpreters and training of deaf and non-deaf interpreters on how to work together.
We hope that people who read our work will begin to consider and discuss issues like what it means to be “efficacy”? How is notetaking done during legal proceedings? How might notetaking affect our process? What does it mean to provide access? And is providing complete access even possible? If so, how? We also hope that people will discuss what the minimum qualifications (knowledge, attributes, skills, etc.) should be for people wanting to interpreting in a legal setting? Also, what are the roles and responsibilities of credentialing bodies? And how do we ensure that those legal interpreters they are credentialing are qualified to do the work we know needs to be done?
Jeremy L. Brunson & Gino S. Gouby. (2021). "What Is Legal Interpreting? Introducing IPP Students to the Practice." In Jeremy. L. Brunson (Ed.), LEGAL INTERPRETING: TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND PRACTICE (pp. 3-16). Gallaudet University Press. https://gupress.gallaudet.edu/Books/L/Legal-Interpreting
This video may not be repurposed or incorporated into other works in any way without the express written consent of the signer and the chapter author.
+++++++
This opening chapter was written by Dr. Jeremy L. Brunson and Gino S. Gouby.
When we give lectures to classes, we often start by asking them what they know about legal situations. We get answers that range from discussions of traffic or speeding tickets. They often show a very superficial understanding of legal settings. They often limit their definition of legal to those events that include a judge and attorneys and nothing more. However, we know that legal is far more. It is about rights and responsibilities. It can include contracts. These interactions are formulaic; there is a set procedure that must be followed. We encourage people to look more closely and gain a deeper understanding of legal interactions entail.
We also talk about different topics. For example, we talk about the use of language. We talk about the role and use of legalese. We discuss credentialing. That is, what is involved in earning a credential? Or, what should be the minimum requirements for someone to earn credentials? We also discuss the roles and responsibilities of interpreters in these types of interactions. We talk about interpreters, both deaf and nondeaf, and the impact of our actions on the proceeding that we are interpreting. We ask questions about impact on the field of the growing use of deaf interpreters. This is not only about the interpreting process but also includes a discussion of the training of deaf interpreters and training of deaf and non-deaf interpreters on how to work together.
We hope that people who read our work will begin to consider and discuss issues like what it means to be “efficacy”? How is notetaking done during legal proceedings? How might notetaking affect our process? What does it mean to provide access? And is providing complete access even possible? If so, how? We also hope that people will discuss what the minimum qualifications (knowledge, attributes, skills, etc.) should be for people wanting to interpreting in a legal setting? Also, what are the roles and responsibilities of credentialing bodies? And how do we ensure that those legal interpreters they are credentialing are qualified to do the work we know needs to be done?
