Varying realities: Patterned changes in the interpreter's representation of courtroom and external realities

Two layers of reality are manifested in the courtroom: that of the courtroo m itself, the courtroom reality, and that of the events under examination i n the case, the external reality. Both realities are represented through th e language used in the courtroom. While interpreters tend to faithfully int erpret language referring to the external reality, there are consistent and significant changes in their interpreted representation of the courtroom r eality. Such changes may have significant influences upon evidence, and hen ce upon the outcome of the case. This paper presents the results of a detailed analysis of courtroom transcr ipts involving Spanish-English interpreting by four interpreters in Sydney, Australia, where consistent changes in the interpreted versions were found .