Overview of challenges translators face while dealing with legal texts.

1. Olga Łabendowicz, MA
Specialized
Translation
#3
Legal Translation

2. DefinitionDefinition
A legal translationlegal translation is any used within the
legal system. This can mean all manner of
documents required by the civil and
criminal justice systems.

3. Examples includeExamples include: passports, death certificates, birth
certificates, last wills and testaments, immigration
documents, marriage certificates, powers of attorney,
evidentiary recordings of phone calls, police interviews,
court documents, contracts, complaints, affidavits,
judgments, adoption papers, summons, legal
proceedings, trusts, partnership deeds, sales contracts,
real estate titles or leases papers, permits, insurance
policies, trademarks and copyrights, service agreements,
escrow instructions, distribution agreements or
arbitration documents.

4. What's going on?What's going on?
Why is it difficult?
What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
Who can do it?

5. Legal parlance if it needs translation, needs the services of an
expert that is highly knowledgeable in legal termsexpert that is highly knowledgeable in legal terms and
practices.
Translators should not only possess general knowledge of legalgeneral knowledge of legal
terminologyterminology, they should also be well versed in statutorywell versed in statutory
requirements and the legal intricacies of foreign cultural andrequirements and the legal intricacies of foreign cultural and
legal systemslegal systems.
A legal translator must have the competencies in three areas: (I) competency
in the target language's particular writing style, (II) familiarity with the
pertinent terminology and (III) general knowledge of the legal systems of
the source and target languages.
There is no room for word for word translationno room for word for word translation when translating
legal documents.
Why is it difficult?

6. A certified translationcertified translation is one that has a document
accompanying it attesting to its accuracy or validity, but is
not notarized. With a notarized translationnotarized translation the
accompanying certificate is notarized by the relevant legal
representative.
Polish legal translation: Translators sworn and registeredsworn and registered
with the Polish Ministry of JusticePolish Ministry of Justice.
http://bip.ms.gov.pl/pl/rejestry-i-ewidencje/tlumacze-przysiegli/informacje-dla-osob-pragnacych-uzyskac-prawo-do-wykonywania-zawodu-
tlumacza-przysieglego/
Who can do it?

8. What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
One word may have different meaningsdifferent meanings in various
legal contexts.
For example, 'The testator died without an issue'. (offspring); 'The
passport was issued by the Liverpool office'. (done)
polysemy

9. What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
There is a tendency to use redundant (binominalbinominal or even
trinominaltrinominal) expressions.
redundancyredundancy
For example: 'false and untrue'; 'sole and exclusive'; 'last will and testament';
'make, constitute and appoint', etc.

10. What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
Using capital letters to signal important or defined termsto signal important or defined terms.
For example, 'the terms of the Lease'; 'podmiot określany dalej
mianem 'Zleceniodawca', etc.
capitalization

11. What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
'Shall' is used in legalese to define somethingdefine something or indicateindicate
obligationobligation.
For example, 'This Act shall be known as The Penal Code of
California'; 'The Company shall have the right at any time to
discharge or discipline any employee for good cause.
'shall'

12. What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
Many lexical items may have similar meaningsimilar meaning – it is for the
translator to determine which one is the more accurate
according to the conventional use in the target language.
Lexical
vagueness
For example, 'breach', 'infringement', 'violation', 'contravention' and
'transgression' all have to do with 'breaking'. Depending on the context
and the convention we'll use different terms.

13. What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
There are many Latin terms in English legal texts. Although
recent reforms encourage the use of English substitutes,
some Latin terms are so common that they are in generalin general
English useEnglish use.
Latin terms
For example, 'ad hoc' (for this purpose), 'bona fide' (in good faith), 'pro rata'
(in proportion), etc.

14. What are the problems on the way
of translation of legal texts?
A number of linking terms are used in written legal texts (case
reports, legislation, court reports, contracts, etc.) to refer toto refer to
other parts of the same text, to different legal documents or toother parts of the same text, to different legal documents or to
related contextsrelated contexts.
Linking terms
For example, 'hereby' (by this way), 'herewith' (with this), etc.

16. DIY #1DIY #1Latin terms
ad hoc
(EN) for this purpose – (PL) do tego
(dora nie)ź
affidavit
(EN) witnessed, signed
statement (PL) o wiadczenieś
pod przysi gę ą
caveat
(EN) warning, provision (PL)
ostrze enie/zastrze enież ż
exempli gratia
(EN) for example (PL) na przykład
ipso facto
(EN) by the fact (PL) na mocy
faktu/tym samym
per pro
(EN) on behalf of another (PL) z
upowa nieniaż
per se
(EN) by itself (PL) jako taki
prima facie
(EN) at first sight (PL) pozorny/
pozornie
ultra vires
(EN) beyond the power (PL)
przekracza kompetencjeć
videlicet (viz)
(EN) namely (PL) mianowicie
stare decisis
(EN) principles of binding precedent
(PL) zasada wi cej decyzji s duążą ą
wy szej instancjiż
affidavit; caveat; exempli gratia; ipso
facto; per pro; per se; prima facie;
ultra vires; videlicet (viz); stare decisis;
ratio decidendi; obiter dictum
ratio decidendi
(EN) the rule at law
reasoned (PL)
uzasadnione
postanowienie s duą
obiter dictum
(EN) persuasive
authority (PL) model
precedensu/punkt
odniesienia

17. DIY #2DIY #2Linking words
(legal & standard)
pomimo/poprzez
L notwithstanding
S despite
w niniejszym dokumencie/
tutaj
L herein
S in this (document)
w załączeniu/z niniejszym
L herewith
S with this (document)
do tego (L) hereto (S) to
this
wyżej rzeczony/powyższy;
niniejszym; poniższy;
pomimo/poprzez; w niniejszym
dokumencie/tutaj; w załączeniu/z
niniejszym; wskutek tego; tamże
wskutek tego
L thereby
S in that way/by that
tamże
L therein
S in that (document)
wyżej
rzeczony/powyższy
L the aforementioned/the
foregoing
S set out/written above
niniejszym
L hereby
S in this way/by this
poniższy
L the
undermentioned
S set out/written
below

18. DIY #3DIY #3capitalization
(I) This agreement and the benefits and advantages herein
contained are personal to each member and shall not be sold,
assigned or transferred by the member.
(II) Title to property in the goods shall remain vested in the
company (notwithstanding the delivery of the same to the
customer) until the price of the goods comprised in the contract
and all other money due from the customer to the company on
any other account has been paid in full.
(III) Lessor shall not be liable for loss of or damage to any
property left, stored or transported by hirer or any other person.
Hirer hereby agrees to hold lessor harmless from and indemnify
lessor against all claims.
(I) Agreement; Member (x2)
(II) Company; Customer; Goods;
Contract; Customer; Company
(III) Hirer; Lessor (x2)

19. DIY #4DIY #4Legalese
Part I
1) ___________________ is law relating to acts committed against the law which
are punished by the state.
2) ___________________ is concerned with the constitution or government of the
state, or the relationship between the state and its citizens.
3) ___________________ is rules which determine how a case is administrated by
the courts.
4) ___________________ is concerned with the rights and duties of individuals,
organisations, and associations (such as companies, trade unions, and charities), as
opposed to criminal law.
5) ___________________ is common law and statute law used by the courts in
making decisions.
prawo materialne/stanowione;
prawo cywilne; prawo
formalne/proceduralne; prawo
karne; prawo powszechne;
1) criminal law (prawo karne); 2) public law (prawo powszechne);
3) procedural law (prawo formalno-proceduralne);
4) civil law (prawo cywilne); 5) substantive law (prawo
materialne/stanowione)

20. DIY #5DIY #5Legalese
Part II
powód/powódka; umowa; zakaz
sądowy; mianować (na urząd);
wybierać (np. posłów); projekt
ustawy; umowa o dzieło; najemca;
drobne wykroczenie; wystawić
fakturę; uchwalić ustawę; na mocy
ustawy; poprawka (np. do ustawy);
zaniedbanie

22. (…) the professional translator of legal documents must
be part detective, legal scholarpart detective, legal scholar and linguistlinguist with the
amount of research work that needs to be done to be
able to decode the sourcedecode the source and write its actual meaningwrite its actual meaning
that will neverthat will never (…) deviate from the originate contentdeviate from the originate content,
even if an exact translation is not possible.
To conclude...To conclude...

24. http://www.translatorsbase.com/articles/1729.aspx
http://www.languageconnect.net/blog/legal/the-two-major-challenges-
to-overcome-with-legal-translation/#sthash.4iKi1RjG.dpuf
http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/legaltranslation.htm
https://www.academia.edu/1512975/Terminologia_frazeologia_i_stylisty
ka_umowy_o_prac _oraz_contract_of_employment_i_statement_ofę
_employment_particulars
LinksLinks

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