Depositions are standard legal procedures where lawyers take sworn statements of witnesses outside of a court. A written transcript of the testimony is produced from the deposition and may be used as evidence later if the legal case goes to court.
But what happens when a witness does not speak English? Since the United States has a significant Spanish speaking immigrant population, it is common for a language barrier to exist with some witnesses. That is when a Spanish interpreter must be contacted for assistance.
There are two ways a Spanish interpreter can provide their service. You can request to have it by phone or on-site. Let’s examine the pros and cons of each choice.
Spanish interpretation over the telephone does not require a smartphone, high-speed internet or video technology. The discussion participants can use a standard landline if necessary because only people’s voices will be heard.
Legal depositions require the attorney and witness to be present in the same room together. The witness cannot give a sworn statement over the phone. However, no rule says an interpreter has to be physically present at the deposition. You can call the interpreter and put them on speaker phone to assist in the conversation.
When the witness speaks in Spanish, the interpreter will repeat the words in English to the attorney and stenographer over the speaker phone. And when the attorney speaks in English, the interpreter will repeat the words in Spanish over the speaker phone. It is an easy way to eliminate the language barrier during a live deposition.
Of course, if you want to use video conferencing software on a smartphone, you can always choose that option as well. The interpreter still works from a remote location, but at least you’ll be able to see a live video feed of them. There is a network of remote-based interpreters who can work without an appointment at any time of the day.
On-site
Some attorneys might not feel comfortable having a telephone-based Spanish interpreter oversee the conversation at a deposition. They might require the interpreter to come on-site and deliver the interpretations in-person. It is undoubtedly the best way to receive a more accurate understanding because the interpreter can see the witness’s body language and gestures up close. That always helps with delivering accurate interpretations.
You need to schedule an appointment for an on-site Spanish interpreter to come to your location. But if you live in a small town, it may be more difficult to find an interpreter because they usually live near big cities. On-site Spanish interpreter services will certainly take more time to arrange, but they are not impossible to arrange. You just can’t request an immediate Spanish interpreter service.
Choose a Spanish Interpreter with a Specialty in Law
Whether you choose a phone or on-site Spanish interpreter for your deposition, please make sure they have a specialization in law. Your average Spanish interpreter understands basic English and Spanish terminology, but they don’t necessarily understand complicated legal terminology in either language. Even your average native speaker won’t understand legal terminology.
For this reason, you must hire a certified Spanish interpreter with a specialization in law or depositions. This specialization proves they have the proper educational background in legal terminology, which means it should be easy for them to interpret it. Then you won’t have to worry about mistakes in the interpretation of English to Spanish or Spanish to English.
Languagers.com is one of the most trustworthy websites for hiring Spanish deposition interpreters. They have an extensive network of qualified Spanish interpreters positioned all over the world. You can hire the remote-based interpreters whenever you’re ready to go. Otherwise, you can schedule a time, date and location for an interpreter to deliver an on-site interpretation service.
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