Sight translation is to read a written document in one language and speak it in another. It is one of the three sessions of court interpreter certification exam. (For more information on the exam, see our blog What You Don’t Know about Interpretation: How Good Are Court-Certified Interpreters?)
Sight translation is a practical tool that can be handy for both clients and interpreters.
Remember: Before starting sight translation, interpreters should take a moment to skim through the documents.
How can clients use sight translation?
1. Use it to screen interpreters
Clients may use sight translation as an interview and screening tool. Select one or two paragraphs related to the subject matter, and ask the perspective interpreters to sight translate it.
When using sight translation, please remember two things:
- It is not intended for formal or convoluted written materials; such materials are only suitable for written translation.
- Allow interpreters some time to preview the documents before starting the spoken rendition.
2. Have interpreters sight translate written materials onsite
Materials suitable for sight translation are short informal documents, such as emails and handwritten affidavits. Documents for sight translation should be limited to one-page or shorter.
IMPORTANT: Complex or lengthy written materials are not suitable for sight translation. Medical reports, technical reports, and legal documents, such as contracts, agreements, complaints, motions, and decrees, should not be sight translated. Such documents should be provided to translators in advance so that they have adequate time to prepare, and to consult resources, dictionaries and reference books for an accurate translation.
How can interpreters use sight translation?
1. Use it as a practice tool
Sight translation is a great tool for interpreters to hone their skills. This can be done as follows:
- Choose an article in Language A
- Sight translate it into Language B while recording yourself (Recording #1)
- Use Recording #1 as a source audio, play it and interpret it back to Language A while recording yourself (Recording #2)
- Compare Recording #2 with the source text for accuracy and for better choice of words and expressions.
2. Use it for assistance when receiving scripts onsite
Sometimes interpreters are handed onsite speakers’ or moderator’s scripts at the last minute. The interpreters should not solely rely on the scripts since speakers may have a different pace and may veer off the scripts. Nor should interpreters allow scripts to become a distraction. The best practice is to use the scripts as an aid, and use sight translation to help navigate some challenging points such as persons’ names, titles, and organization names.