Un modello per un interpretariato giudiziario efficiente e di qualità in Italia: un approccio realistico all'applicazione della Direttiva 2010/64/UE

In Italy there is no system of certification or accreditation for the interpreters who work in Italy’s courts. Nor are there any guidelines to instruct the courts on how to select and work with these interpreters. The result is a totally arbitrary system in which legal professionals and court administrators take decisions about linguistic matters they have no training in and little or no knowledge of. The interpreters they chose and give instructions to are often at best just bilinguals with no training in interpreting, let alone court interpreting. These interpreters learn ‘on the job’, deciding themselves in almost complete isolation how to deal with the many problems they face. However conscientious and able these interpreters may be, they are rarely the ‘appropriately qualified’ interpreters required by Directive 2010/64/EU on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings. Often they do not even know the three basic interpreting techniques used in court interpreting. This paper provides a model of how Italy can realistically improve the quality of its court interpreters by adopting the best practices developed in countries that have already had to deal with similar shortcomings and in this way meet the requirements of the EU directive. This involves adopting a tiered approach. While a certification programme is being drawn up and training courses developed, those interpreters currently working in court must gradually be all made to attend an orientation seminar to ensure that they have an understanding of their role and the skills they need to develop.