Using Language Rights Concepts to Evaluate the Knowledge of Court Interpreters in Kenya

Abstract

Our objective was to assess the knowledge of the court interpreter on issues surrounding language rights, based on data collected from 10 practicing court interpreters in subordinate courts in Nyanza Province of Kenya. The evaluation was based on issues surrounding language rights such as language policy, provision of interpreters, territoriality and personality principles of language rights and the role of the interpreter in courtroom setting. The results showed that the interpreters were not trained and were aware of some issues and ignorant of others.