Like most African countries, postcolonial Zimbabwe is multilingual with more than 15 indigenous languages. Since Zimbabwe was a British colony, colonial policies ensured the entrenchment of English as the language of sports, education, records and law. English is spoken mainly as a second or even third language by the majority of Zimbabweans. Even for those who speak English fluently, or with near fluency, the technical vocabulary of legal English, and the specialised use of ordinary terms, often results in miscommunication in the courts of law. This complex sociolinguistic situation requires the services of interpreters to bridge the communication gap between the custodians of the law like magistrates, prosecutors and judges and ordinary people who do not speak the language of the court, particularly in difficult, sensitive and complex cases such as rape trials which normally invoke cultural, psychological and emotional responses for all courtroom players. This article investigates the interplay between language and society by examining the quality of the interpreting in cases involving alleged rape in Zimbabwean courtrooms. We analyse interpreter renditions during open court sessions and examine transcriptions of trials obtained in courtrooms. Our findings suggest that there are chances of miscommunication in courtrooms due to hitches in the interpreting process which have adverse effects on the rights of the accused and/or witnesses to a free and fair trial. Although the findings are based on Zimbabwean data, we believe that many of the issues that are raised in this article could be applicable to other countries with similar sociolinguistic profiles.
Background of the studyThe issue of interpreting quality and the rights of the accused and witnesses in court interpreting is probably one of the most contested areas of community interpreting. This article examines social and legal consequences arising from incompetent interpreting in courtrooms through a systematic study of seven extracts of cases heard at magistrates' courts in Zimbabwe. Although the issue of interpreting quality revolves around many inextricably connected questions surrounding interpreter training, such as the unwillingness to acknowledge the need for training, the absence of compulsory pre-service training for practising interpreters, the shortage of adequate training programmes and in some cases the question of quality and effectiveness of interpreter training programmes, this paper focuses on the consequences low-quality interpreting may have on the legal process and on the rights of ordinary people who are part of this process. The major reason cited for low-quality interpreting in different studies is the incorrect perception that interpreting is an unskilled activity that does not require any professional training (Dickinson and Turner 2009, Hetherington 2009). To counter this common misconception, there is need for research and awareness among users of interpreting services regarding the complexities of the interpreting process, the s...
Purpose: This study aimed to reconfigure nation branding theories and concepts through infrastructure financing intervention. Research methodology: Data were collected using a QUAL to QUAN sequential mixed methods. Results: Qualitative research informed that the infrastructure that is required for nation branding to be road networks; airports; Information Communication Technologies (ICTs); reliable power supply; industrial facilities; tourism facilities; healthcare facilities; educational facilities; educational facilities; and residential accommodation. These were then classified into two, namely, economic and social infrastructure. Results from quantitative research showed that there is a positive relationship between nation branding and infrastructure financing. Also, it showed that road infrastructure and airports were the most related to nation branding with public-private partnerships and bilateral/multilateral loans to finance their development, respectively. Limitations: As a result of the COVID-19, the research did not manage to have some focus groups for a depth understanding and comprehensive response of the participants. Contribution: The results will help the Zimbabwean government consider developing the road networks and airports to enhance the nation’s brand.
This article investigates the conflict between interpreters' ethical guidelines and the reality in ' (Mason, 2000: 9) face-to-face transactions involving two primary speakers and one interpreter.
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