Glimpses into the World of Court Interpreting in Cross-Border Cases

Time & Date：14:30-16:30, April 11 (Friday)

Venue：TxC201

Language：Chinese Mandarin

Abstract
In today’s globalized landscape, interpreters are indispensable in legal settings, handling court proceedings, criminal investigations, prosecutorial interrogations, and prison communications. More than mere linguistic transfer, they are essential for procedural and substantive justice. These professionals have to navigate a complex terrain of accuracy, neutrality, and confidentiality while grappling with ethical dilemmas and emotion-charged situations. This talk will unveil the unforeseen challenges experienced by legal interpreters and explore how they find fulfillment in this demanding yet vital profession.

Speaker
Louisa Shen, an Associate Professor of English, currently serves as the Chinese Principal of Benenden Bilingual School Guangzhou. She is the founder of Guangzhou Talenttrans Co., Ltd. Ms. Shen graduated from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) with a master’s degree in foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics and has been a government-sponsored visiting scholar at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Previously, she led English training programs for the Foreign Affairs Division of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and the Guangdong Provincial Prison Administration. From 2003 to 2016, Louisa Shen provided interpreting services for over 250 court trials at primary, intermediate, and high courts, as well as criminal investigations, prosecutorial interrogations, court document delivery, and prison management related to these cases. Most of the cases she interpreted were criminal, though she also handled some high-profile civil cases, such as Apple iPad trademark infringement case. Furthermore, Ms. Shen provided consecutive and simultaneous interpreting for international legal training sessions and conferences. Her Proposal for Standards on Court Interpretation in International Criminal Trials was adopted by the Intermediate People’s Court of Guangzhou, the Guangdong High People’s Court, and the Anhui High People’s Court.