Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
Home> Volumes> Volume CHR Vol.103> Article
Research Article

Examining the Role of Court Interpreters in Chinese-Spanish Legal Contexts: A Comprehensive Inquiry

Xiaowen TangRey Juan Carlos University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This study looks at the role and performance of Chinese-Spanish court interpreters, focusing on differences in service quality in legal field. It highlights the interpreter's key role in making sure communication which is accurate and the court is fair. All the data from an online survey of interpreters with different amounts of experience gave ideas about their backgrounds, challenges, and views on current practices. The results show that court interpreters are needed to bridge language and culture gaps but reveal mixed quality in translation due to a lack of standard rules and regular checking systems. These findings show the need for organized training, official licensing, and continuous testing which will helps interpreters work better. This study offers advice to improve interpreter training and habits, aiming to raise service quality.

Keywords: Court interpreter; Chinese – Spanish interpretation; Role of interpreter; Training of interpreter
Published: February 24, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.31793
Volume: CHR Vol.103
pp. 19-23
Download PDF

References

  1. Herráez, J. M. O. (2006). Análisis de la práctica de la interpretación judicial en España: el intérprete frente a su papel profesional. Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Granada.
  2. Mikkelson, H. (1996, October). The professionalization of community interpreting. In Global vision: Proceedings of the 37th annual conference of the American Translators Association (pp. 77-89).
  3. Pochhacker, F. (2015). Routledge encyclopedia of interpreting studies. Routledge.
  4. Inghilleri, M. (2003). Habitus, field and discourse: Interpreting as a socially situated activity. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies, 15(2), 243-268.
  5. Hale, S. B. (2004). The discourse of court interpreting: Discourse practices of the law, the witness, and the interpreter. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins.
  6. Cao, Y. (2010). Estudio del papel del intérprete judicial. Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Estudios Internacionales de Shanghai (SISU).
  7. Mikkelson, H. (1998). Towards a redefinition of the role of the court interpreter. Interpreting, 3(1), 21-45.
  8. Linell, P. (1997). Interpreting as communication. Benjamins Translation Library, 23, 49-68.
  9. Zhou, H. (2000). The reconstruction of the legal system for the buyback of shares from dissenting shareholders in limited liability companies in China. Journal of Liaoning University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), (5).
  10. Zhao, J., & Zhang, J. (2011). A study on the role of court interpreters as institutional gatekeepers. Chinese Translation Journal, (1).
  11. Han, H. (2019). Effect of topic-prominent features of Mandarin Chinese on English writing. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 10(2), 353-362.
  12. Contreras, J. M. (2016). Spanish Grammar in Context. London: Routledge.
  13. Zhou-Lian, X. (2023). Competencia terminológica en intérpretes judiciales. Estudio de caso español-chino. In C. Valero Garcés (Ed.), Traducción e interpretación en los servicios públicos (TISP) en transición / Public Service Interpreting and Translation (PSIT) in Transition (pp. 245-258). Editorial Universidad de Alcalá. https: //doi.org/10.37536/VISG5657
  14. Pochhacker, F. (2008). Interpreting as mediation. Benjamins Translation Library, 76, 9.
  15. Martin, A., & Herráez, J. M. O. (2014). Court interpreters' self-perception: A Spanish case study. In Interpreting and Translating in Public Service Settings (pp. 141-155). Routledge.
  16. Morris, R. (2010). Images of the court interpreter: Professional identity, role definition and self-image. Translation and Interpreting Studies. The Journal of the American Translation and Interpreting Studies Association, 5(1), 20-40.
  17. Du, B. (2010). The current situation and countermeasures of court interpreting in China. Journal of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, 32(2).
  18. Alonso Araguás, I., Hernández Cebrián, N., & Izquierdo Valverde, L. (2018). Responsabilidad penal y código deontológico de los traductores e intérpretes judiciales. In M. J. Ariza Colmenarejo (Coord.), Traducción, interpretación e información para la tutela judicial efectiva en el proceso penal (pp. 11-42). Tirant lo Blanch.
  19. Herráez, J. M. O., Abril, M. I., & Martin, A. (2009). Community interpreting in Spain: A comparative study of interpreters' self perception of role in different settings. In The Critical Link 5 (pp. 149-167). John Benjamins Publishing Company.
  20. Wei, L. (2006). On the appraisal rights of dissenting shareholders in American corporate law. Graduate Law Review, (3)