ABSTRACT
Critical Discourse Analysis explores relations of supremacy, discrimination, power and control, which manifest themselves in language use. Although CDA is suitable for the investigation of institutional communication, there is no critical-discourse-analytical research on interpreter-mediated criminal proceedings. This chapter examines what subjective positions are adopted by the interpreter and to what extent the interpreter influences the interaction by his own positioning. For this purpose, a method triangulation has been used: an audio-recorded and transcribed interpreter-mediated trial at the Regional Court for Criminal Matters in Vienna was subjected to CDA, a survey on the perception of the interpreter’s role was carried out among all participants, and an interview with the interpreter was conducted about his self-image. The analysis demonstrates that the interpreter identified himself with institutional representatives and that his role perception differed significantly from his actual role behaviour. The interpreter redefined power relations, he had authority, and he intervened in the interaction, changing its course. By applying CDA, these new insights into interpreter-mediated court interactions could be gained.
