Chapter Legal interpreting and the Chinese language

Overview & Synopsis

The interpreter/mediator in the legal field plays a fundamental but very complex role, particularly between very distant languages and cultures, such as the Chinese. Different legal systems presuppose different concepts and roles, and the terminology used does not always correspond to the target language. Adequate training is therefore necessary for this type of interpreter, since knowledge of the Chinese language and/or interpreting techniques alone is not sufficient when cultural and human factors come into play as in this context.