04 teaching legal tr

Teaching Legal Translation

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Teaching Legal Translation: Main topics 1

n Role of translation theories n Identifying translation problems, finding solutionsn Translation briefn Culture in translation studies, language and culture in

cooperation, tackling cultural barriesn Teaching students, ways and means, text analysis n Terminology training, lexicalization n Translation/interpreting and the classroom n Teaching and technology: tools, new media, distance

teaching, CATn Bilingual / bicultural education



n Translation analysisn Legal text and its linguistic featuresn Legal terminologyn Terminological / lexical consistencyn Legal vocabulary (semi-technical and EGP

words)n Translation difficulties and problemsn Multi-word lexical unitsn Semantic fields and lexical sets



n False cognates, calquesn Literal vs free translationsn SLT or TLT oriented textn Translation procedures and techniques: transposition,

modulation, modificationn Syntax of legal textsn Theme-rhemen Textual coherence,n Text connectors, cohesionn Professional translator or legal experts (Lavoie 2003, Meta)n Nonsense renditions (literal TR, loan TR in legal TR)


Legal translation?Conceptual vs textual nature of legal text:n Conceptual/language (arevi 2001)n LTR derives from legal texts, an partly from

terminology and language (R. Mayoral 2000)n Conceptual/language distinctions do not necessarily apply to

other levels, e.g. documents or texts (legislative, contracts, treaties, curts, commercial)

n The problem arises when scholars of legal LTR choose only one of them as prototype (not applicable to the other cases (Mayoral 2007)

n Mayoral: the notion of LTR mor a hindrance than a help for communication and understanding among practitioners and scholars


Globalisation and necessity for LTR?

n English lingua francan TR necessary most of the time for judges &

personal investorsn Multilingual documents (EU certificates and

docsn Legalese is fading out - democracyn BUT: eurojargon, eurolect, EuroSpeak, etc.n ELP (English for legal purposes): necesity for

teaching LTRn LTR is beneficial for any kind of translation


Features of a LTR course

n Knowledge of both legal systems and concepts should be a prerequisite. If lacking, it should be provided within the course.

n Knowledge of archaic and formal varieties of the original language is a must. Many of our current students lack it.

n Work with defective language and the possible influence of foreign languagesupon the original text should be included.

n Practical work in the course should be based on real documents. n Assessment of the quality of the work should be based on professional criteria

and not on linguistic-philological criteria. n Typology of documents should be a central element of the content of the

course. n Self-confidence of the translator within a legal environment should be built up.

The student should be familiar with the legal world and its agents. n Students should be given the resources for finding new specialised information.


Should legal translation be taught alongside other areas of specialism?

n It depends on the kind of course we are thinking about.n Training of specialised translators can be achieved in different

ways (undergraduate vs. postgraduate studies) and the students can have different backgrounds (a legal background or others)

n translation of literary texts a very useful element in the training of any kind of translator.

n Also, training in legal translation is beneficial for any kind of translator

n Currently, most professional translators are compelled to translate any kind of texts to make a living and

n very few of them can indulge in specialising in legal translation exclusively.

Interview with R. Mayoral


Who should translate legal texts?

n Lavoie, J. (2003) Faut-il tre juriste ou traducteurpour traduire le droit ? Meta, Traduction et enseignement, Volume 48, numro 3,www.erudit.org/revue/meta/2003/v48/n3/007599ar.html

n Northcott, J. & Brown, G. (2006) Legal translator training: Partnership between teachers of English for legal purposes and legal specialists, English for Specific Purposes 25: 358-375


What kind of education/training for legal translators? (J. Lavoie 2003)

n Faut-il tre juriste ou traducteur pour traduire le droit ? n Bien sr que non

n Alors pourquoi les traducteurs et les traductrices qui traduisent des textes teneur juridique devraient-ils sinonavoir une double formation(traduction et droit),


Jean-Claude Gmar (1988) being a lawyer is insufficient to translate legal texts

n [U]n juriste est la personne tout indique pour traduire des textes juridiques est universellement rpandue. n Nous prtendons, quant nous, quun juriste qui ne serait pas

form la traduction, ses mthodes, ses contraintes nest pas plus qualifi pour traduire quune secrtaire dentreprise, un comptable, un architecte, un mdecin ou un plombier.

n Or, particulirement au Canada, lon considre quun avocat(ou une personne dtenant un diplme de droit), dans la mesure o il possde quelques rudiments de langue seconde outroisime, est habilit ex officio traduire des textes de nature juridique.


Roberts (1987)

n Despite the prevailing belief that translators have problems grasping complicated legal concepts,

n translation graduates in the programme have done exceedingly well in the basic law courses offered to them by the Faculty of Law. []

n Over half of the law graduates who apply for admission fail the entrance exam because of inadequate language skills (1987 : 9).


Role of TR training in EU integration

n Acquis communautaire TR of a body of operativeEU legislative texts into national languagesn (legal) translators (with & without legal qualifications)n professionals from different fields with or without

translation qualifications (arevi 2001:22) n interdisciplinary specialists + lawyer linguistsn 80,000 pages of legislation and non-leg texts (TAIEX, EC

Technical Assistance and Info Exchange http://taiex.cec.eu.int)

n Translation centres in accession countries:n Linguistic & legal revision of texts, building databases of termsn Legal reviser for each countryn Most work carried out by linguists only


ESP-based approach to legal translator training

1. Interdisciplinary cooperation between law lecturers, ELP teachers & legal translators:n ELP teachern Literature (ELP teachers & subject specialists)n Background, contents & course designn Research methodology, data extraction, videoed

sessionsn Goal: resolve difficulties in understanding legal

terminology


2. Cooperation between ELP teachers & subject specialists:

TYPES OF ESP/LAW TEACHER LIAISON:n Cooperation: ESP teacher consults subject-specialis informantn Collaboration: language teacher and subject-specialis work outside

the classroom to devise materialsn team teaching: both teacher work together in the same classroomDIFFICULTY: Legal English a field presenting particular difficulties fro the

ESP teacher because of the close interplay od content and language(Gibbons 1999, Tiersma 1999)

APPROACH: genre-based approach- increasingly effective in teaching legal writing to L2 students (Bhatia 1993)

LITERATURE: most literature relates to studying law withing common law jurisdictions

PROBLEM: coperation in teaching TR training adapted to the needs of translators from civil law jurisdictions


3. Legal translation & terminological problems

n ESP teachers recognise the importance of the contribution of legal professionals in learning the language of the law

n Lesser recognition by legal specialists of the need for language input or assitance from language professionals!


Status of legal TR

1. legal language is simply one instance of speialist language and amenable to TR procedures for all specialised discourse (Harvey 2002)

2. Legal TR creates such unique problems that only trained TLRs are fully competent to engage in the TR process (arevi 1997)

3. Both operate at the language and law interface interdisciplinary coperation is essential


Legal terms via legal concepts:

n Most TLRs complain of their lack of understanding legal terminology, e.g. legal concepts in former socialist countries differ fom those of EU

n Reneval of concepts and terms i national languagesn EC Treaty: new terms coined for EC law concepts ie. Options

for neutral terms (with meanings independent of any existing law)

n Legal terms denote concepts and cannot be translated without conceptual understanding (e.g. polysemy in consideration, lexical gaps in trust, equity, mortgage) same term may designate different concepts in different legal systems(Northcott-Brown 2006)

n Pitfalls of literal TR


Further complaints / difficulties

n no good background in comparative lawn EGP words acquiring specialised meaning in legal

settings, vague terms (in good faith, reasonable endeavours)

n TLRs may misunderstand or misinterpret the deliberate intention t retain ambiguities in SLTn TLRs have no authority to resolve ambiguities in the SLT

n Different connotations from different ideological content (for socio-political or religious reasons), e.g. Code in EasternEU countries


Functional equivalence:

n If no equivalent can be found!n FUNCT. EQ: translating a concept in

SLT with a referent from the TL legal system which performs the same function (although not conceptually identical) semantic borrowing, e.g. mortgage hipoteka,


TLRs need to know how to ask the right questions:

n TLRs need to learn a new disciplinary approach:n think as lawyers do n develop legal competence

n In addition to a working knowledge of n legal terminology, legal competence presupposes an

extensive knowledge of:n both the SL and TL legal system, n a thorough understanding of the structure and n operation of legal texts and legal provisions, n drafting practices n and even methods of interpretation. (arevi 2001:7)


Language and legal concepts courses: Estonia + UK

n Estonian Translation and Legislative Support Centre (translators, linguistic and legar revisers) TR of Acquis Communautaire

n The Edinburgh University Law Facultyn IALS (Institute for Applied Language Study)

Objectives of seminars and language review sessions:n To improve conceptual knowledge of common

law systemsn To develop knowledge of EC lawn To mimprove knowledge of legal Englishn To find solutions to practical

translation/terminology questions


Legal language course/seminar (Estonia) -Topics

1. Legal language discourse features2. Individual lecturing style3. Terminology focus4. The role of the ELP teacher


Teaching discourse features of legal language:

n Simple sentence structuren Chunked legal phrases (e.g. commonality of

interests)n Repetition and reformulationsn Signalling language, discourse markersn Metaphor, similen Use of citationn Language of explanation


Individual lecturing style

n Ironyn Persuasivenessn Entertainments, rhetorical stylen Hyperbolaen Ways of claiming and establishing

authorityn Paralinguistics (body language, tones,

pauses)


Terminology focus

n Contextually focused nature of terminology n legal language within the context of the EC treaties n meaninglessness of decontextualised lexis

n System-focused terminology (linguistic and legal systems)n Different methods of explaining terminology and concepts (stabilisers,

decoupled income support, equity, statutory law, offence; award,judgement, sentence, ruling, decision; law of tort, probable cause, case, lawsuit, injury, statute of limitation, bye-laws; VERBS: allow, hold, sustain, uphopld, overrule, repeal, stay, set aside)n Function of changing terminologyn Politically mtivated or reflecting real changes in the system?

n Eurospeak, Eurojargon, Eurolectn Categorisation (lexical sets, semantic relations, etc)n Anglicisms (corporation:corporatif, incorporation, incorporer,

sincorporer, tribunal) n Calques, loan translations (statutory law, jurisdiction)


The role of the ELP teacher

n To spot when there is mutual misunderstanding

n Language review as post-lecture tutorial and aide-memoire to content to reacesss thinking at the time about the use of new concepts

n Focus on non-legal metasystems (content to which the legal act applies)

n Distinguishing lecturers attitude to his/her material and features of lecturers idiolect

n Facilitator and team developer


Data extracts and analysis (3. Terminology)

Ways in which TR team reacted with law lecturers to resolve different types of terminological problems (p. 367-373):

1. Undertaking2. Exorbitant3. Domicile4. Agricultural products categorisation (banana, citus fruit, cheese,

dairy product, beer, potatoes, timber, trees5. Stabilisers6. Decoupled income support7. Regulations, directives


Legal TR training course (Canada) -

Contents

0. Introduction gnrale : le systme juridique canadien et qubcois1. Systme financier canadien

1.1 Instruments financiers1.2 Marchs1.3 Acteurs du systme

2. Lgislation et organismes de rglementation2.1 Lgislation provinciale et fdrale sur les socits2.2 Loi sur les valeurs mobilires2.3 Commission des valeurs mobilires du Qubec (CVMQ) : rle et responsabilits2.4 Autorits canadiennes en valeurs mobilires (ACVM)

3. Socit par actions3.1 Processus de constitution3.2 Socit ouverte et socit ferme3.3 Dirigeants et actionnaires

4. Diffrents types de valeur mobilire4.1 Titres demprunt4.2 Actions4.3 Produits drivs4.4 Fonds communs de placement

5. Commerce des valeurs mobilires5.1 Processus de placement5.2 Appel public lpargne5.3 Prospectus


Legal TR training course - exercises

1. Traduction de courts textes tirs douvrages de droit gnraux (John E.C. Brierley et Roderick A. Macdonald, Quebec Civil Law. An Introduction to Quebec Private Law, 1993 ; Gerald L. Gall, The Canadian Legal System, 1990.)

2. Traduction de textes tirs douvrages dintroduction au droit des socits et au systme financier (Anthony J. VanDuzer, The Law of Partnerships and Corporations,1997 ; W. T. Hunter, Canadian Financial Markets, 1988.)

3. Analyse compare darticles de la Loi canadienne sur les socits par actions ; analyse compare de textes bilingues extraits du site web des ACVM : critiques et commentaires

4. laboration dun lexique bilingue des titres de fonction des dirigeantsdentreprise partir dun texte traduire

5. Rsums darticles de langlais vers le franais (section finance duGlobe and Mail, par exemple)

6. Traduction dun prospectus (ou dune partie seulement) ; analysecompare dun prospectus bilingue


Translating official documents

n Official translations are generally documents that serve as legally valid instruments. They include anything from certificates of birth, death or marriage through to academic transcripts or legal contracts. This field of translation is now as important as it is fraught with difficulties, for it is only in a few areas that the cultural differences are so acute and the consequences of failure so palpable. In a globalizing world, our official institutions increasingly depend on translations of official documents, but little has been done to elaborate the skills and dilemmas involved.

n

n Roberto Mayoral deals with the very practical problems of official translating. He points out the failings of traditional theories in this field and the need for revised concepts such as the virtual document, pragmatic constraints, and risk analysis. He details aspects of the social contexts, ethical norms, translation strategies, different formats, fees, legal formulas, and ways of solving the most frequent problems. Care is taken to address as wide a range of cultural contexts as possible and to stress the active role of the translator.

n

n This book is intended as a teaching text for the classroom, for self-learning, or for professionals who want to reflect on their practice. Activities and exercises are suggested for each chapter, and information is included on professional associations and societies across the globe.

n R. Mayoral 2003) Translating official documents, St.Jerome, 2003


Mayoral - Contents1. Introduction

2. Professional practice

3. Social context

4. Documents

5. The Official translator as a jurilinguistic expert

6. Different ways of translating

7. Common problems and frequent solutions

8 On the translation of different documents

9. Sources of information

10. Other professional aspectsn


Mayoral Contents 2

1. Introduction

2. Professional practice

2.1 Professional practice around the world2.2 Features of official translation in different countries and regions

3. Social context

3.1 Participants3.2 Loyalties3.3 The translator's ideology3.4 Across cultural distance

4. Documents

4.1 Types4.2 Information and functions

5. The Official translator as a jurilinguistic expert


Mayoral Contents 36. Different ways of translating

6.1 Adequacy conditions 6.2 Constraints6.2.1 Legal norms6.2.2 Ethical norms: Professional vs. personal6.2.3 Traditions and customs6.2.4 Constraints imposed by the client, the initiator or the recipient6.3 Freedom

7. Common problems and frequent solutions

7.1 Means of expression7.2 Format and typing conventions7.2.1 Belonging to the original vs. belonging to the translation7.2.2 Converting complex formats into paragraph sequences7.2.3 Text vs. image 7.2.4 Avoiding deception7.2.5 One source language7.2.6 Legibility7.2.7 Understandability7.2.8 Originality7.2.9 Other writing conventions7.2.10 Translating into different formats7.3 Validity and execution of documents 7.3.1 Signature and seal7.3.2 Certifying authorities7.4 Medium


Mayoral Contents 4

8 On the translation of different documents

8.1 Birth, marriage and death certificates8.2 Academic transcripts and diplomas8.3 Agreements and undertakings

9. Sources of information

10. Other professional aspects

10.1 Fees and estimates10.2 Professional associations


TR BRIEF - info on:

n (intended) text function(s)n TLT addressee(s)n (prospective) time and place of text receptionn medium over which the TLT will be transmittedn motive/grounds for the production or reception of TLTn referential (info on contents), appellative (expressive

elements, phatic (persuasiveness)n addresseesn time and place of receptionn medium:

written/spoken/www/layout/photos/diagrams/tablesn reason for text production and reception

C.Nord 1991


TRANSLATION ANALYSISP. Kussmaul (1995)

n Pragmatic analysisn Situational dimensionsn Communicative functions of utterances, texts and translationsn The cultural backgroundn Pragmatics and text typesn A case studyn Some didactic implications

n Semantic analysisn Meaning, comprehension and translationn A prototypical casen Lexical gaps how to fill themn Teaching meaning, comprehension and translation

n Text analysis and the use of dictionariesn Harmony between monolingual dictionaries and contextn Problems and examplesn Dictionary vs contextn Unusual / unidiomatic usen Stylistic labelsn Teaching the use of dictionaries


Legal TLR training:Other topicsn Understanding the legal consequences of errors in professsional translation (J.

Byrd)n Legal workshops (M. Marks: Ger-Engl)n (at) Sight translation www.acebo.com/sitintro.htmn Legal translation and tradition - Common law vs civil law

www.translationdirectory.com/article572.htmn Company law terms incongruity www.translationdirectory.com/article1185.htmn Options to choose in agreement composition

www.translationdirectory.com/article667.htmn translating law texts is translating culture

www.translationdirectory.com/article1064.htmn drafing of laws suggestions to teaching ways to express obligationsn The term homicide in two legal systems

www.translationdirectory.com/article1052.htmn Translating auditors reportsn Terminological equivalence and maritime law


References

n Alcaraz, E. & Hughes, B. (2002) Legal Translation Explained, St.Jeromen Cosmai, D. (2003) Tradurre per lUnione Europea. Hoeplin Gmar, J.-C. et V. Ho-Thuy (1997) : Difficults du langage du droit au Canada, 2e dition,

Cowansville (Qubec), Yvon Blais.n Gmar, J.-C. (1988) : La traduction juridique : art ou technique dinterprtation ? , Meta,

33-2, p. 305-319.n Kussmaul, P. (1995) Training the Translator. Benjaminsn Lavoie, J. (2003) Faut-il tre juriste ou traducteur pour traduire le droit ? Meta, Traduction

et enseignement, Volume 48, numro 3, www.erudit.org/revue/meta/2003/v48/n3/007599ar.htmln Mayoral,(%.A. (2003) Translating Official Documents. St.Jeromen Malmkjaer, K., ed. (1998) Translation and Language Teaching, Manchester: St.Jeromen Northcott, J. & Brown, G. (2006) Legal translator training: Partnership between teachers of

English for legal purposes and legal specialists, English for Specific Purposes 25: 358-375n Roberts, R. P. (1987) : Legal Translator and Legal Interpreter Training in Canada ,

LActualit terminologique/Terminology Update, 20-6, p. 8-10 n Scarpa, F. (2001) La traduzione specializzata. Hoeplin arevi S. (1997) New Approach to Legal Translation, Kluwer Law International, The

Hague, London, Boston, 1997n arevi S. ed. (2001) Legal Translation: Preparation for Accession to the European Union,

Faculty of Law, University of Rijeka, Rijeka
