MALTA

Country:                                            

Official or co-official languages

Maltese is the national language. English is considered co-official.

Brief description of linguistic diversity

The Maltese are generally bilingual. English is used for government, education, justice, politics, finance, industry, commerce, and entertainment. In the courts many can also understand and speak Italian well.

Foundations:

Current legislative mandates for LIT and certification

There is no legislative mandate for the use of LITs or for certification.

Responsible parties:

Current accrediting bodies

None for Legal Interpreting. The University of Malta provides a diploma leading to a Master's in Conference Interpreting.

Does register exist?

Since 2012 a formal register, kept by the court registrar (also available online) does exist. If a judge in a particular case knows an interpreter he has used in court before, he may appoint that interpreter without consulting the Register. The police have their own register and the courts often rely on the police to provide the interpreter in order to ensure continuity throughout the case.

Who develops certification exams?

Who/How many rate performances?

Collaboration

No, although the courts are now placing conference interpreters trained by the University of Malta on the register.

Test Format:

T & I in one exam?

Screening exam? Describe.

Test type/format

Domains tested

Scoring

Transparency:

Website? Dissemination of info about certification

There is no information on the website (i.e. the online register) besides a list of names and whether each person works as an interpreter or translator, or both.

Requirements to sit exam

Sample questions or practice exam available?

Additional qualifications for certification (experience, training, educational level, nationality)

There is no certification or testing. The basic requirement is speaking and understanding the languages involved. Interpreters are often accepted on the recommendation of embassies or the University of Malta. Lawyers are also commonly used if they have some knowledge of the languages needed. Only in the case of rare languages are ad hoc interpreters used.

Cost to candidate/#of locations/ frequency

Not available

Feedback on exam performance

Maximum nº of sittings

Post-certification:

Revocation of certification possible?

If so, for what reasons?

Performance monitored? If so, how?

Performance is monitored by the parties in court. If the interpreter does not work well, he will not be reemployed by the court.