Translation, transcription, interpreting?

In this talk I discuss some of the problems involved in the transcription and translation of poor quality and/or covertly made recordings. My focus is on how Speech Act Theory can help inform transcription practice. I argue that transcribers should have a good understanding of the pragmatic level of language communication; I illustrate with real case examples how the lack of this understanding can lead to flawed interpretations (and thus potentially miscarriages of justice). I also discuss the problems inherent in forensic translation, where, given the evidential status of the material being translated, the translator’s linguistic choices are often circumscribed by elements of the legal context s/he may not be familiar with.