At a Crossroads between Interpreting and the Law, or an Illustration of the “Introduction to English/Italian Dialogue Interpreting” Course at the University of Trieste

Abstract

A specific role-play design method has been used over the last few years at the University of Trieste to introduce students to dialogue interpreting. It simulates migrants’ interviews with Italian Territorial Commissions for the Recognition of International Protection, a communicative context in which the interpreting assignment is generally not given to qualified interpreters even though asylum is granted based on the credibility of the migrant’s story. The analysis of the recordings of the simulations in class suggests that students are generally not in a position to grasp and manage the translational, interactional and anthropological intricacies that characterise this communicative context. They produce zero-, non-close, expanded and reduced renditions, and often refrain from asking for clarifications, thereby failing to coordinate the interaction and providing a picture of the “dangers” of turning to inexperienced interpreters.