An Inuktitut translation of legal matters
Maria Canton
Northern News Services
NNSL (July 02/99) - Mary Hunt laughs when she hears people think she can speak 10 dialects of Inuktitut.
"That's so silly."
But as part of her job as a legal interpreter, Hunt speaks fluent English, Inuktitut and many of the dialects in the Baffin, Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions.
"I familiarize myself with the dialect of the unilingual person I will be speaking for," she says.
"That way, my translation will be in their voice."
Performing consecutive interpretation in the courtroom, Hunt will listen to an entire question or statement, translate it and wait for the answer before translating it back.
"It is very challenging and important work," she says.
"I have to be very accurate -- many idioms don't translate and I have to stop and tell the judge because it is wrong to guess or give approximations."
In Inuktitut, physical gestures and facial expressions make up a large part of the language and Hunt says reading body language is a big part of getting the unilingual person's story.
"In Inuktitut we raise our eyebrows when we say yes, or crinkle our nose to say no. I have to be able to see the person I am translating for to read the gestures."
Having always been interested in legal matters and the justice system, Hunt worked as a social worker, paralegal and RCMP special constable before taking a formal legal interpreting program from Eastern Arctic College in Iqaluit.
As a legal interpreter, she has conducted written and verbal translations for the NWT Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, Crown prosecutors, accused persons, witnesses and victims.
"The most important part of legal interpretation is not to influence either side through your translation," she says.
"By always being very professional and treating everyone the same, we maintain ethics and help to improve legal interpreting throughout the territories."
Since the NWT/Nunavut separation, Hunt says the need for Inuktitut legal interpreters has slowed down, but she continues to translate through her own translation business.
