Interpreters

The need for interpreters was evident from the earliest arrivals of Chinese people in Australia, particularly among the Amoy men who came under contract. These contracts were frequently broken, leading to many court cases. Difficulties with interpreters were commonly reported, and magistrates sometimes dismissed cases when no interpreter was available.

Over time, interpreters became more numerous, with some claiming to speak many Chinese languages and dialects. Among the Cantonese gold miners, many already knew some English or quickly learned it. There were also Europeans who acted as interpreters—people who had picked up Chinese in China or Hong Kong and later returned to the colonies.

Interpreters were most often used in court cases, though they were undoubtedly needed in many other situations that went unrecorded. Many Chinese people managed with basic English in daily life, and phrasebooks were produced to help them communicate in common circumstances.

“The Chinese here [Vegetable Creek/Emmaville] have amongst them a European interpreter, in deed he is more a Celestial than otherwise, as he resides with them, uses the chop sticks, feeds out of the same dish, smokes opium, is complete in all their customs, and speaks their language well."

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 21 June 1878, p.2.

Police Interpreter and need for Amoy

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/161105976