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This message comes to report on
the progress that the TT Project has made over the past year. This
information was presented to the NAJIT membership and conference attendees
this past weekend at the Houston Annual Conference.
Thanks to the notes and articles you have sent us, we have produced a first
draft on the subjects listed below:
• Why
Transcribe and Translate a Sound File?
• Tapes and Transcripts: Legal Issues
• Participation in Title III Operations
• Forensic Experts for the U.S. Attorney’s Office
• Forensic Experts for the Defense
• Admission of interpreters as expert witnesses
• Sources and Equipment – TT Ensemble
• Process
• Format
• Teaming
• Profile of the Practitioner
• Ethics
• Bibliography
We are happy to report that
Sylvia Zetterstrand, the first chair of this project, has graciously agreed
to review the drafts as the next stage. Other members of the project will be
working on the following subjects:
•
Orthography
• Punctuation – English
• Punctuation – Spanish
• Symbols
• Transcription of Verbal Content
• Transcription of Non-Verbal Content
• Transcription of Videos
• Translation Process
• Languages Other than Spanish
• Use of Non-Standard Language
• Client – Practitioner Relations
• Forensic Testimony
As a result of work already
drafted, we have completed a position paper entitled
On-site Simultaneous Interpretation of a Sound File is Not Recommended. This
paper was prepared in response to an inquiry submitted by a fellow
practitioner to NAJIT on this subject. Our thanks go to Roger Shuy, Silvia
San Martin, Liliana González, and Nadia Smith for their feedback and
editorial assistance. The position paper was well received at the
conference, and we were proud to present it on behalf of the entire TT
Project. This position paper will be posted shortly on the NAJIT website.
Other position papers on sensitive issues will follow as we proceed with the
TT Guidelines. These position papers will provide the community of
practitioners and service users with materials to review and comment upon,
giving us input as we move toward completion of the TT Guidelines.
The Houston Conference also showcased innovative and informative
presentations on TT. Attendance was high at Liliana Gonzalez’s presentation
entitled TT: Did You Really Hear That? The Panel Presentation including
Liliana González, Shelley B. Lorenzana, Sam Mattix, Dagoberto Orrantia,
Teresa Salazar, and myself on Teaming in TT was well received, and Jeck
Nevarrete’s presentation TT: Entering the Digital Age, was truly
enlightening and edifying. Maria Cecilia Marty also presented on the
interesting Florida case in which TT revealed that an interpreter’s work was
substandard, resulting in withdrawal of an appeal.
Another exciting development at this conference is the innovative software
idea proposed by Sam Mattix, entitled “TT Ensemble.” This software would
allow a practitioner to link audio and written records in a single file. It
has the potential to revolutionize the way that TT work is done. A
description of this concept will also be posted shortly on the NAJIT
website. We are in discussions with Brigham Young University about
developing a prototype for this software which would be freeware, available
to anyone who needs it. The NAJIT Board of Directors strongly supports this
project and has appointed Jeck-Jenard Navarrete as Chair of the Task Force
devoted to it.
Thanks to all of you who are involved in TT work and who support NAJIT and
our ongoing commitment to establish the vital guidelines and standards
needed for this work. We appreciate your support and input, and will
continue to keep you informed as we move forward.
Gladys Segal and Teresa Salazar, Co-Chairs, TT Project
May 25, 2006
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