THE CHALLENGES OF LEGAL TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH

oo often, translation is seen as simply transposing a word into another language. It is not that simple. As proof, you only need to read translations of usage instructions or even everyday consumer products.

Example of a washing indication on a clothing label: the English "Machine washed cold" is translated as "The machine washes the cold separately. The consequences are more important when it comes to legal English translation.

Error is prohibited

If translation errors sometimes make you smile, in legal translation,they can have important consequences. We need to pay them a lot of attention.

For example, a serious error is made by translating "execution of an agreement" into "execution of a contract." Because in American English, "execution" simply means "signature," whereas in French, "executing a contract" means fulfilling the obligations contained in the contract.

Beyond words, it is also a whole context that needs to be transposed and which can therefore be a source of errors. The equivalences to be found between the Anglo-Saxon common lawand civil law in force in almost all other jurisdictions in the world make professional legal translation necessary.

Translating the law is translating legal systems

Legal language is a precise and precise language,which is specific to each country and culture. It is therefore imperative to have legal texts translated into the language of the persons concerned.

Translating is not only to find the equivalent of a word in another language, it is also necessary to know how to adapt it. While retaining the meaning of the original term, it must be made fully comprehensible and legally correct by the person who will use the text.

Not all countries have the same rules, the same laws, but they are substantially similar. It is therefore a question of matching a term with that of the current law in the country of the recipient. Thus, to give a translation into French to an English contract involves moving from Anglo-Saxon law (common law) to Roman law (civil law) and must match the principles of the two systems.

Of course, the difficulties of translating legal documents do not end there. For example, legal translation into Chinese has its own specificities.

Legal translation has an earlier history than the translation of other texts, including that of the Bible. It has always been a tool for harmonization and exchange, provided it uses the services of professional eCommerce translators.