International Journal of English Linguistics; Vol. 6, No. 1; 2016 ISSN 1923-869X E-ISSN 1923-8703 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Sociolinguistic Influences on the Quality of Interpreting for Foreign African Immigrants in South African Courtrooms Sam Erevbenagie Usadolo1 1 Department of Communication, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa Correspondence: Sam Erevbenagie Usadolo, Department of Communication, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: October 5, 2015 Accepted: December 15, 2015 Online Published: January 31, 2016 doi:10.5539/ijel.v6n1p13 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v6n1p13 Abstract The study presents some sociolinguistic influences on the quality of interpreting for foreign African immigrants in South African courtrooms. Data was collected using observation of courtroom proceedings and unstructured interviews. The sociolinguistic influences identified can be linked to factors such as the notion of equivalence, misunderstandings about the role of the interpreter by principal actors, code-switching, and interpreting in the first person and third person by interpreters. These factors are discussed in terms of their negative influences on the quality of interpreting and how they can be mitigated. Finally, based on the identified limitation of the study, suggestions for further study are given. Keywords: code-switching, interpreting, linguistic rights, notion of equivalence, terminology 1. Introduction In the South African Constitution (1996), the needs and rights of people using indigenous languages that were previously marginalised are recognised. These indigenous languages are isiXhosa, Sesotho, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa (or Northern Sotho), isiNdebele, Setswana, Tshivenda, Xitsonga and SiSwati and are now accorded official status in this legislation in addition to the two dominant official languages-English and Afrikaans (South African Constitution, 1996: sections 6, 30 & 31).