Legal Translation
Legal Translation
Legal translation, like any other type of translation work, is the replacement of the source language with the target language. However, legal translation is different because law is culture-dependent. It uses content and terms within the legal system prevailing in the country where the source document originated. As the world becomes more globalized, the need for legal translation escalates.
Aside from the language barriers, the differences in legal systems make legal translation very complex. Legal translation is required to use the official language of the pertinent jurisdiction, thus it covers a wide variety of texts. It can be identity documentation, financial documents, official reports, transcripts, filed patents, precedents and legal rulings and witness statements. Legal translation is also needed for immigration documents, litigation papers, articles of incorporation, wills and trusts. Each country has its own set of regulations for legal translators. In many countries, legal translators must have a degree in business and legal translation. There are countries where there is a clear division between secular and religious law. But in other countries, these two laws are not clearly separated. For instance; In Saudi Arabia, the country’s legal system is greatly organized around the laws of Islam, but the government also added some secular codes because of the country’s desire to be a major player in global business. Morocco on the other hand has a legal system that is a combination of French law and Islamic law. In Argentina and Brazil, legal translators must be certified by the state. Countries like The Netherlands, Sweden and Spain require translators to swear legal oaths. Moreover, they are regularly examined to ensure their good practice and proficiency. They are also centrally regulated. In Italy however, all legal translations must be certified/notarized by a professional legal practitioner. The situation is different in the United Kingdom and the United States. These two countries are not very strict about accreditation of legal translators. Many language services providers (LSPs) provide certificates of accuracy if requested by the client. Some of them join trade associations and independent bodies that offer membership and qualifications, to signify accreditation. It is also used as a quality benchmark.
What Makes Legal Translation Different?
As mentioned, it is one of document translation’s most complex forms. Mistakes, ambiguity or misinterpretation, no matter how small, have no place in legal translation because the translated document can become void. Furthermore, there are huge legal and financial complications that can result due to even a simple error.
Adding to the complexity of legal translation is its unique terminology, coupled with cultural factors and difference in language. In legal translation, it is not just about replacing a word with another. The translator must transpose the legal concepts into another language. Because of the difference in legal expressions and traditions, the translator must be very specific about what language to use within the target jurisdiction. There is a specific type of language in legal text and if a judge or a lawyer sees that wrong words were used, the entire translation may no longer be trusted. Moreover, the translator must fit the purpose of the legal translation. There is a difference between legally binding legalese and legal translation for public consumption. Anyone familiar will legal text understands that legalese is wordy. Legal English contains different subjects and the sentence structures are usually compound and complex.