Witness or Interpreter?

This study demonstrates that self-interpretation does indeed occur in Kenyan courtroom proceedings, a situation necessitates the use of language other than regular and official languages courts. Such rendered mostly terms has far-reaching ramifications on content, facts, style, meaning predispositions witness's testimony. Most studies communicative interactions, language, speech manifestations, have been largely dominantly sociolinguistic approach there is so much asserted dimension. However, this study's point departure it seeks to adopt Translation Studies analyze self-interpreted presentations made by four witnesses selected criminal cases at Kisii Law Courts Kenya. Their testimonies which constitute data used discussion were collected between October 2020 June 2021. The constituted: one murder case high court, rape case, two assault magistrate court. overarching aim an attempt show that, bilingual litigants, who habitually for long time regarded as persons limited competence, can practical renditions be astute self-interpreting testimony presentation. confrontational experience they undergo throughout adversarial effects facts eventual outcomes such cases, disadvantages their competence L2 (the court) notwithstanding. Consequently, translation approach, applied paper, offers framework reference through possible encumbrances comprehending legal procedures, terminology, propriety litigants accentuate shifts, stem contextual deviations besides overall factual misrepresentations emerge during result constrained imperatives traditional language.