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Court Interpreting in the United Arab Emirates: Recruitment Policies, Training Opportunities and Quality Standards

Al-Tenaijy , Mozah
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1448916912

Abstract Details

2015, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies.
The society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently experienced remarkable changes at the state level. Rapid economic and social developments, along with the international openness, have necessitated high quality interpreting services, especially in courtroom settings. The present study explores the current practice of court interpreting within the criminal and civil justice systems in the UAE. Issues related to recruitment policies, training opportunities within the organizations and the academic settings, and quality standards have been examined closely. This work highlights the professional challenges encountered by court interpreters in their work environment (i.e., code of ethics, remuneration, etc). Models and standards adopted in different national contexts have been utilized to propose a protocol for the court interpreting profession in the country. Further, this study is based on a qualitative approach to explore in depth the questions addressed in the research. Interviews with fourteen court interpreters in the UAE have been used as a major method of investigation. The interview questions are divided into the following categories: demographic information, recruitment policies, work conditions, professional tasks, preparation, training and career development, policies and standards, and job satisfaction. The data has been analyzed based on the findings in those categories. The study has also comprised field observation and document analysis (the job description and the qualifying exam for court interpreters). Two emergent themes are identified: power position and underestimating the court interpreter’s role. The main findings of the study suggest that there are no strict procedures implemented regarding the admission and recruitment processes. The current training courses offered do not meet the need of the court interpreters. There is a need to raise the standards in interpreting service provision by identifying the need for adequate interpreting training. The interpreter’s working conditions are often incompatible with high quality interpreting. This study calls on UAE government policy makers, academic program administrators, and service providers to take the responsibility for creating the conditions that will facilitate the development of effective court interpreting services in order to meet the multilingual needs of the UAE.
Richard Washbourne (Advisor)
170 p.
Language; Language Arts

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Al-Tenaijy , M. (2015). Court Interpreting in the United Arab Emirates: Recruitment Policies, Training Opportunities and Quality Standards [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1448916912

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Al-Tenaijy , Mozah . Court Interpreting in the United Arab Emirates: Recruitment Policies, Training Opportunities and Quality Standards . 2015. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1448916912.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Al-Tenaijy , Mozah . "Court Interpreting in the United Arab Emirates: Recruitment Policies, Training Opportunities and Quality Standards ." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1448916912

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1448916912
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© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.