Explicitation in Courtroom Interpretation: Evidence from Kenyan Courts

Abstract

This paper explores the issue of explicitation in courtroom interpretation in subordinate courts in Kenya. Explicitation is one of the communication strategies that court interpreters employ in courtroom communication. It shows that the interpreters try as much as possible to place the non-English speakers as near as possible to the English speaking persons in court through the explicitation strategy. It argues that interpretation in courtroom communication is a model of language rights. Drawing data from interpretation in subordinate courts in Nyanza province the paper shows that the court interpreter uses explicitation in order to aid the flow of information between the non- English peaking litigant and the English speaking personnel in courtroom settings.