Introduction to Legal Translation

Dania Salamah
College of Languages & Translation, KSU
May 2017
 Table of Contents
1. History of Legal Discourse
2. Legal Language
3. Legal Texts
4. Features of Legal Language
5. The Plain Language Movement
6. Legal Translation
7. Translating Legal Language
8. Practice
9. References

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 1. History of Legal Discourse

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 In English..
 French and Latin were the languages of education.
 Legal English began as a combination of English, French, and Latin.
 French became the language of the law with Latin terms and word
order being used to make legal language more complicated.
 A law was passed in 1731 for English to be used as the language of the
law but the influence of French and Latin remained.
 Legal translation gained importance in the 20th century with
globalization and the establishment of international organizations (e.g.,
the UN).

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 In Arabic..
 With the rise of Islam, the Holy Qur’an set the laws for Muslims.
 The Prophet Peace be Upon Him and some of the Caliphates that
followed him signed treaties with different people.

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 2. Legal Language

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 • Shares some features with ordinary language, but it has features that are
specific to legal language as a technical language.
• Specialized or technical language – LSP (language for special purposes
OR Language for Legal Purposes “LLP”).
• May be incomprehensible even to proficient language users because
knowledge of the legal system is necessary.
• Only makes sense within the context of the legal system.
• A register (i.e., a variety of language) used for legal situations.
• Is performative in nature, for example, “You are guilty”, “You are fined
1,000 SR”, testimonials, contracts, wills, marriage ceremonies.

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 3. Legal Texts

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 1. Legislative texts (e.g., international treaties, laws produced by
lawmaking authorities, constitutions)
2. Judicial texts (e.g., texts produced during judicial processes by
judicial officers or legal authorities, cases, legal reports, court
rulings or verdicts)
3. Legal scholarly texts (e.g., texts produced by academic lawyers
or legal scholars)
4. Private legal texts (e.g., texts written by lawyers such as
contracts, deeds, and wills; and also texts written by non-lawyers
such as private agreements and witness statements – documents
written for legal purposes)

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 4. Features of Legal Language

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 Lexical Features
 Translators need to be careful because not all terms/expressions have
equivalents in the TL.
 The vocabulary of legal language is complex and unique. It is a
universal feature of all legal languages. For example:
• Formulaic expressions
• Very specific and precise wording
• Archaic words (e.g., hereby, thereby, aforesaid, hereof, said)
• Foreign words (e.g., lesser, lessee, court, evidence, jury, property)
• Formal usage (e.g., shall, may, your honor, His Royal Highness, I solemnly
swear….)

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 Syntactic Features

 Translators need to be aware of the special syntactic features of legal

language because they may create comprehension barriers.
 Some syntactic features of legal language:
• Nominalization – using a noun instead of its verb
• Long and complex sentences
• Passivization – to emphasize the formal, impersonal style of legal writing
• Binomial expressions/doublets and triplets – words that are synonyms or near-
synonyms that commonly occur together (e.g., breaking and entering, terms and
conditions)

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 Pragmatic Features
 Some pragmatic features of legal language:
• Performative models that express implicit speech acts (e.g., “may” for
permission, “may not” for prohibition, “shall” for obligation, and “shall
not” for prohibition)
• Performative verbs that express explicit speech acts (e.g., declare, announce,
promise, undertake, enact, confer, amend, certify, confirm)
• Ambiguity and vagueness to the extent that may cause uncertainties

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 Stylistic Features
 Legal language is characterized by an impersonal, formal style.
 Different types of legal language have their own features.

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 Textual Features
 Texts are divided into sections and subsections with headings and
subheadings
 Some types of legal texts include a section for definitions.
 Some cohesive devices are commonly used in legal language. For
example:
• Lexical repetition to avoid using pronouns if their use will cause ambiguity.
• Ordinary pronouns and demonstratives are usually avoided especially if they
may cause ambiguity and are replaced by other words (e.g., hereunder,
hereafter, herein, aforesaid, such, said)

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 5. The Plain Language
Movement

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  The Plain Language Movement was a movement that aimed to make
legal language more accessible to the layman. It called for:
 Replacing archaic, rarely used, and foreign words/terms/expressions with
those closer to everyday use
 Removing unnecessary words and expressions
 Reducing sentence length
 Reducing the use of passive voice
 Reducing the use of nominalization
 Ensuring the text is gender-neutral
 Replacing shall with must or the present simple tense

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 6. Legal Translation

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  Types of translation:
1. General Translation
2. Literary Translation
3. Specialized/Technical Translation

 Legal translation  Specialized/technical translation

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  Legal translation is the rendering of legal texts from the SL to the TL.
 It is the translation of texts used in law and legal settings
 Legal translation is generally considered difficult for the following
reasons:
1. Different legal systems have different laws
2. Linguistic differences between the SL and TL
3. Cultural differences between the cultures of the SL and TL

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 Types of Legal Translation
1. Legal translation for normative purposes: Both texts have equal legal
force (e.g., legal texts in bilingual jurisdictions such as Canada and Hong
Kong, multilingual legal instruments of the UN, multilingual laws of the
EU)
2. Legal translation for informative purposes: Only the ST has legal force
(e.g., the translation of different legal documents for the purpose of
informing target readers)
3. Legal translation for general (judicial) purposes: Translation of
documents used in court proceeding or as evidence

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 7. Translating Legal Language

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 ‫‪Shall‬‬
‫ُ‬
‫‪ ‬تستخدم للتعبير عن اإللزام وليس للتعبير عن املستقبل‬

‫‪ ‬في النص القانوين ُيترجم التركيب الفعلي الذي يبدأ بالفعل املساعد «‪ »shall‬إلى اللغة العربية باستخدام‬
‫صيغة املضارع‬

‫‪ ‬من املمكن أن يحمل التركيب معنى اإللزام الصريح‪ ,‬وفي هذه الحالة ُيترجم بما يفيد ذلك مثل‪ :‬يتعين على‬
‫أو على أو يلتزم أو غيرها من الصيغ العربية التي تدل على اإللزام مع مراعاة أن ال ُيترجم التركيب الفعلي‬
‫الذي يبدأ بالفعل املساعد «‪ »shall‬الذي يدل على اإللزام الصريح إلى اللغة العربية باستخدام الفعل‬
‫«يجب»‬

‫ً‬
‫‪ ‬وفي بعض السياقات ال يكون في معنى التركيب الفعلي الذي يبدأ بالفعل املساعد «‪ »shall‬إلزاما وفي هذه‬
‫الحالة ُيترجم باستخدام صيغة املضارع دون ما يدل على اإللزام‬

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  The Company shall be exempted from all custom duties.

ُ
.‫ تعفى الشركة من كافة الرسوم الجمركية‬

 The Life Insured shall pay to the Insurance Company every installment
in due time.

.‫ على املؤمن عليه أن يدفع إلى شركة التأمين كل قسط في موعده املستحق‬

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 ‫‪May‬‬
‫ُ‬
‫‪ ‬يدل استخدام الفعل املساعد «‪ »may‬على الجواز وعليه ُيترجم باستخدام «يجوز» كما تترجم « ‪may‬‬
‫‪ »not‬باستخدام «ال يجوز»‬

‫ُ‬
‫‪ ‬وفي بعض الحاالت يكون املعنى املقصود من السياق اإلمكانية وليس الجواز وفي هذه الحاالت تترجم‬
‫«‪ »may‬بما يدل على ذلك مثل‪ :‬قد أو من املمكن‬

‫‪ The Landlord may enter the property without the Tenant’s consent in‬‬
‫‪case of emergency.‬‬
‫‪ ‬يجوز للمالك أن يدخل العقار بدون موافقة املستأجر في حالة الطوارئ‪.‬‬

‫‪25‬‬
 Here/There + Preposition
 Using here + preposition is a feature of legal language. It functions like
a demonstrative and refers to the document in which it occurs (e.g.,
contract, agreement, treaty).

 Hereto, hereby, hereunder, hereof, herewith, herein, hereafter,

hereinabove

• Mr. Ahmad hereinafter referred to as the First Party…

...‫ أحمد واملشار إليه فيما بعد في هذا العقد بالطرف األول‬/‫• السيد‬

• Both parties hereby agree to the following:

:‫• يتفق الطرفان بموجب هذا العقد على ما يلي‬

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  Using there + preposition is a feature of legal language. It functions
like a demonstrative and refers to the person, item, or situation just
mentioned.

 Thereto, thereof, thereby, therewith, therefor, therein

• The bank or any branch thereof

‫• البنك أو أي فرع من فروعه‬

• The Agent shall have the right to open bank accounts and withdraw
and deposit therein
‫• يحق للوكيل فتح الحسابات البنكية والسحب من تلك الحسابات واإليداع فيها‬

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 Anaphoric Devices
 Anaphoric devices are pronouns and demonstratives.
 Some strategies are applied to avoid using anaphoric devices because
using them may cause ambiguity. Some of these strategies are:
1. Repetition
2. Using which + repeating the word
3. Replacing the anaphoric device with such, said, or the same
 If no ambiguity occurs, anaphoric devices may be used with care.

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 1. Repetition

 The Tenant shall pay the rent to the Landlord at his office.

.‫ يدفع املستأجر اإليجار إلى املؤجر في مكتبه‬

 The Tenant shall pay the rent to the Landlord at the office of the
Landlord.

.‫ يدفع املستأجر اإليجار إلى املؤجر في مكتب املؤجر‬

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 2. Using which + repeating the word

 Any dispute between Aramco and the Company shall be settled by

arbitration, which arbitration shall take place at the Department of
Contracts in Aramco.

‫ يتم الفصل في أي نزاع بنشأ بين أرامكو والشركة عن طريق التحكيم على أن يتم التحكيم بإدارة العقود‬
.‫في أرامكو‬

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 3. Replacing the anaphoric device with such, said, or the same
 Such and said  to replace demonstratives

• If the Contractor incurs any further costs, then the Employer shall
take such costs into consideration.

.‫ فعلى صاحب العمل أن يأخد هذه التكاليف في االعتبار‬،‫• في حالة تحمل املقاول أي تكاليف إضافية‬

• Said Party hereby agrees to purchase the premises.

.‫• يوافق الطرف املذكور بموجب هذا العقد على شراء العقار‬

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  The same  to refer to a word/sentence previously mentioned in the
text

• The Tenant shall pay all the taxes regularly levied and assessed
against the premises and keep the same in repair.

‫ ويحافظ‬،‫• على املستأجر أن يدفع كل الضرائب التي تتم جبايتها وتقديرها بشكل منتظم على العقار‬
.‫على العقار بحالة جيدة‬

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 The Proviso Clause
 The proviso clause is the expression provided that and it is a
conditional.
 It is translated into Arabic using an expression that gives the same
meaning (i.e., condition), such as:
• ‫بشرط أن‬
• ‫شريطة أن‬
• ‫على أن‬

 The Landlord shall have the right, subject to the Tenant’s consent,
to enter the dwelling to inspect the premises provided that the
Landlord may enter the dwelling without the Tenant’s consent in
case of emergency.

‫ يحق للمالك بشرط موافقة املستأجر الدخول إلى املسكن ملعاينة العقار شريطة أنه يجوز للمالك‬
.‫الدخول للمسكن دون موافقة املستأجر في حالة الطوارئ‬

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 8. Practice

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 Translate the following:
• Arbitration shall be held in Paris.
• The Renter shall be liable for any damage caused to the Owner by
reason of any breach by the Renter of any stipulation herein contained.
• The Employer shall indemnify the Contractor against all claims,
damages, costs, charges, and expenses resulting from any act or neglect
on behalf of the Employer.
• The Minister of Petroleum may enter into concession agreements with
foreign companies for petroleum exploration.
• The UN may hold fund, gold or currency of any kind.

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 • The Labor Contract shall be made and written in clear language leaving
no doubts or controversy regarding the rights and duties therein.
• No alterations in the terms and conditions of the contract or of the work
to be performed thereunder shall release the Second Party from any
liabilities hereunder.
• Both parties hereby agree to the following:
• If the Contractor suffers delay and/or incurs costs, then the Engineer
shall take such delay into account.
• The First Party hereby grants, sells, and transfers unto the Second
Party…

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 9. References

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 ‫ جمهورية مصر‬،‫ مكتبة ابن سينا – القاهرة‬:‫أسس الترجمة من اإلنجليزية إلى العربية وبالعكس للدكتور عزالدين نجيب الطبعة الخامسة – دار النشر‬
‫العربية‬
‫ترجمة العقود مع شرح واف ألهم سمات اللغة القانونية اإلنجليزية ملحمود محمد علي صبره‬
‫ مكتبة لبنان‬:‫) – دار النشر‬2000( ‫ تجميع حارث الفاروقي الطبعة الثالثة‬،‫املعجم القانوني‬

Cao, D. (2007). Topics in translation: Translating Law. UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
El-Farahaty, H. (2015). Arabic-English-Arabic legal translation. UK: Routledge.
Hatim, B. (1997). English-Arabic/Arabic-English translation: A practical guide. London: Saqi Books.
Macmillan Dictionary (2014). Legal documents and parts of legal documents: Synonyms or related words.
Retrieved July 8, 2015, from http://www.macmillandictionary.com/thesaurus-category/british/Legal-
documents-and-parts-of-legal-documents
Williams, C. (2011). Legal English and plain language: An update. ESP Across Cultures, 8, 139-151.

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 Thank you..
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://fac.ksu.edu.sa/dsalamah

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