Such a view, however, overlooks the true complexity of legal translation and the responsibility that the work entails.
The aim of a legal translator is not mere linguistic conversion, but the facilitation of understanding and effective communication. For this reason, legal translators and sworn court interpreters should be regarded as professionals whose work is governed by ethical and professional standards, rather than as technical “channels” through which text simply passes.
In practice, particularly in Croatia, the issue is further complicated by the lack of a clear and precise definition of the role of a legal translator. Inconsistent appointment criteria, the absence of a functional register, and ad hoc solutions have led to the importance of language and communication in legal proceedings being underestimated.
One of the most persistent misconceptions is the perception of interpreters as neutral and invisible machines that mechanically transfer words. Numerous scholars point out that such neutrality is more of a theoretical ideal than an achievable reality. In practice, the interpreter is an active participant in communication—a third party who inevitably influences the course and outcome of the interaction.
As emphasised in contemporary interpreting theory, interpreting is not only the transfer of meaning from one language to another (interpreting as translation), but also a form of interaction (interpreting as interaction). Languages never fully align, and differences between legal systems further deepen this gap. It is precisely the role of the legal translator to bridge this space of misunderstanding.
For this reason, it is misleading to speak of an “invisible interpreter”. The interpreter is present, visible, and accountable. A legal translator is not a machine that translates, but a linguistic intermediary whose purpose is to ensure that the parties in a proceeding truly understand one another. Without this human element, legal translation would not be interpreting, but mere conversion—and, as such, inherently flawed.
