Ideology In The Language Of Judges

Ideology in the Language of Judges

A text that will appeal to any reader interested in the relation of language to the law, or vice versa, Ideological Diversity in Courtroom Discourse focuses on the guilty plea as both a distinct procedure and a dialogue constrained by boundaries. The book argues that, although judges uniformly see themselves as formally and impartially ensuring the constitutional right to due process, a considerable variety exists in the interactions between judges and defendants. Susan Philips relates in much detail how this diversity stems from the judges' various interpretations of written law, from their personal attitudes toward control of the courtroom, and from their individual and politicized views regarding due process. She also shows how the ideological struggles in a given courtroom are central yet largely hidden or denied. Such findings will contribute significantly to the study of how speakers create realities through their use of language.

Ideology in the Language of Judges

Doing Justice to Court Interpreting

First published as a Special Issue of "Interpreting" (10:1, 2008) and complemented with two articles published in "Interpreting" (12:1, 2010), this volume provides a panoramic view of the complex and uniquely constrained practice of court interpreting. In an array of empirical papers, the nine authors explore the potential of court interpreters to make or break the proceedings, from the perspectives of the minority language speaker and of the other participants. The volume offers thoughtful overviews of the tensions and conflicts typically associated with the practice of court interpreting. It looks at the attitudes of judicial authorities towards interpreting, and of interpreters towards the concept of a code of ethics. With further themes such as the interplay of different groups of "linguists" at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal and the language rights of indigenous communities, it opens novel perspectives on the study of interpreting at the interface between the letter of the law and its implementation.