Interpreters in the legal process in Italy: A survey

Annalisa Sandrelli, Anna Caterina Alimenti, Faculty of Interpreting and Translation, LUSPIO University, Rome, Italy

In Italy there is no national qualification for legal interpreters and/or translators and requirements to be put on the lists of official court interpreters vary in different areas. Depending on the geographical area, no professional interpreters may be available.

The proposed paper aims to present the first results of an on-going survey of legal interpreting practice being carried out at LUSPIO University (Rome). The aim of the project is to collect as much information as possible on the availability of interpreting/translation services in all the stages of the legal process in various areas of the country. The data that will be presented come from final-year dissertations and a number of smaller student projects produced within the “Community interpreting” module offered as part of the Conference Interpreting degree course. It is hoped that a more accurate picture of the current Italian situation may emerge from this on-going effort, so that practical suggestions may be presented to the relevant authorities (Ministry of Justice and Ministry for Education and Universities) in due course.

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Interpreters in the legal process in Italy.pdf