According to linguists, legal translation is one of the most difficult types of translation.
It affects not only the legal, but also the cultural, social component of the state and includes a wide range of texts and literature. Legal documents include:
Regulatory – laws, regulations, memorandums, decrees, orders;
Corporate – orders, charters, tenders, contracts;
Socio-legal – statements of claim, court decisions, powers of attorney, inquiries, testimonies;
Expert – conclusions, resolutions, protocols;
Educational and scientific literature
Features of legal vocabulary and the use of terms in translation
How difficult the translation of a text can be depends on the characteristics of the language pair and the number of terms used. For Russian-speaking translators, legal translation into English is complicated by the fundamental difference in legal systems. The legal framework for most English-speaking countries is structured according to completely different principles. For a successful translation into English, a translator must not only know the terminology, but also be well versed in the jurisprudence of both countries.
The sources of law in Russia are legislative acts – the constitution, laws, regulations, decrees, etc. The judiciary makes decisions based on the norms enshrined in these acts. The law establishes in advance what measures should be applied to whom and under what circumstances.
The Anglo-Saxon legal system is based on a precedent when the rules of law are actually formed by the courts in the process of law enforcement practice. At the same time, the court of any instance, examining the circumstances of the case, makes a decision on the basis of previously considered similar cases. If no similar cases and decisions are found, the court creates a new precedent, which is further codified and included in the general body of law. There is a kind of circulation of the rules of law, which are constantly changing and improving.
Legal systems have evolved over the centuries, and each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. They have many differences. These features play an important role in creating an adequate translation of legal documents.
Many legal terms used in one language are often completely absent from another. To make such a text understandable to a foreign reader, it is not always possible to translate it verbatim. Many words and phrases will have to be translated descriptively, footnotes or clarifications on them. At the same time, the translation should not be performed
“approximately”: it must be accurate and equivalent in meaning. This is a painstaking, responsible work, mistakes in which can lead to negative consequences: material damage or legal proceedings.
Legal translation requirements
The correct translation must be made taking into account the interlanguage peculiarities. At the same time, semantic distortions or omissions are not allowed. The material is presented in full, while maintaining the structure and logic of the text. An important place is given to the observance of the business style. Legal texts are structured. At the same time, standardized, internationally accepted turns of speech and text forms are used.
Translation Bureau “Prima Vista” cooperates only with certified specialists who have a good theoretical base, as well as practical experience in the legal field. Each legal translation into English in our bureau undergoes obligatory proofreading by native speakers and editorial review.
