question about a witness that you can't understand......help!

I was just wondering what a reporter should do if they are in a deposition and you simply can not understand your witness, whether it's due to accent or any other thing that might impare their speech?  This was a question on a test once, and I just didn't know the answer.  I know what I would do, but does anyone know what the "rule" is on this?  I would simply tell the attorneys that I can't understand the witness and that I'm sorry but we can't go forward.  It's my name on the certificate sheet.  Any comments? Thank you all so much!

Betsy

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Comment by Viola K. Newman on July 8, 2013 at 12:56

I would ask to have it on the record, that I can't understand the witness and think they need an interpreter.  Read back some of what you do have for them. 

 

I have had it happen when I could hardly understand someone so did the best I could.  When I went back over the file with the audio, I was surprised at how much more I got and understood, but it was a long, hard job putting that transcript together.

Comment by Betsy Schuster on July 8, 2013 at 6:23

I am scheduled to take my RPR written exam tomorrow at 2:00.  To me, this test is the devil!!  I have been reportring for 12 years all in the states of Florida and then  Virginia.  Now I live in Georgia and Georgia requires the RPR to work, so here I am after all of these years trying to pass this tests that ask you stupid questions that have almost nothing to do with being a real reporter.  Just wondering if anyone else agrees with me?  Any advice on taking the test?  Wish me luck, guys!!

Comment by Betsy Schuster on June 28, 2013 at 4:52

Thank you so much for that feedback.  That's what I have done in the past, but this question was on the NCRA written test, and none of the possible answers that they gave you to choose from were to stop the deposition.  I was just stumped on that question.  I hate that test!! 

Thanks, again!

Betsy

Comment by Janiece Young on June 27, 2013 at 12:02

The attorneys stopped a deposition once because the witness was Hispanic and his accent was so heavy we would stop.  We all disagreed on what he was saying so they called the depo.  They should have had an interpreter.  Yes, I think if you don't understand, you should speak up and say so.

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