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SOLUTION: Impact of Transition in The Legal Translation Field Presentation
SOLUTION: Impact of Transition in The Legal Translation Field Presentation.
1
The impact of Transition in the Legal Translation Field
By
Student’s name
Student’s ID
Research proposal for the degree of
BA in [Department Name]
College of Languages and Translation
University of Jeddah
(Date: Month and Year)
2
The impact of Transition in the Legal Translation Field
Introduction
Legal translation is the translation field that essentially entails transforming legal
documents and materials from one language to another, adhering to the original meaning.
Understanding and assessing legal translation are significant. Unlike standard translation, the law
is culture-dependent: it employs terms within the legal system dominant in the state of the
document’s origin. Since translation is progressively shifting from traditional to modern form,
what challenges and opportunities has this transition caused? Studying this topic is crucial for
identifying and emphasizing the challenges that legal translators encounter while working.
Additionally, analyzing related works will aid in discovering the opportunities available and how
the shift has created these openings.
Literature Review
Several researchers have debated on the problems and concussions encountered in the
legal translation field. These problems are the main reason the area is not in a good state. The
existing encounters modeled by progressively complex multicultural circumstances relating to
performers from various language and cultural experiences hint at a diversity of complications in
legal translation (Way, 2016). Additionally, the perception of traditional legal translators has
resulted in the current ones lacking projection and required respect for the profession.
Traditionally, they were trained to be a sheer channel for transmitting information from one
culture or language to another and trying to be invisible or inconspicuous while working. Yet,
recent times have proven that translation cannot be perceived as an objective activity,
independent of interpretation (Tymoczko, 2007).
3
Based on several pieces of research, the challenges and opportunities of translation in the
legal field are founded upon technology, charging on legal translation, the quantity of legal
translation, legal translation on the society, legal translators on ethics and the profession (Way,
2016). Legal translation primary challenge is training highly qualified, capable legal translators.
As a discipline, translation studies have witnessed massive progress in the previous 30 years,
with precise attention to translator training in the previous ten years (Baer & Koby, 2003; Kiraly,
2000). Even though less attention was paid to legal translation before 1990, the new technologies
have proven immense significance in providing opportunities for legal translators.
Ingrid Simonnæs argues that culture-bound legal terms in a court differ in various
nations, affecting the translators’ tasks (Simonnæs). Principally, Simonnæs’ article claims that the
lack of knowledge for translators is the main reason they encounter problems, especially while
working in foreign nations. For instance, the difference in hierarchy and systems in Norwegian
and German courts may negatively impact the functioning of a translator. Moreover, the recently
recurring translation errors might be employed as an informational resource in specialized
translator training. Consequently, the NHH now offers online courses in legal translation
(Simonnæs).
Methodology
To determine the challenges and opportunities caused by this transition, this research will
utilize qualitative data analysis. For gaining a better insight into the challenges and possibilities
of the transition in legal translation, the semi-structured interview will be conducted with 20
traditional translators. Interviews, lasting about 15 minutes each, will also be conducted with
translator trainers and both current and traditional translators, with the answers recorded in an
electronic gadget. The interview will be transcribed, and thematic analysis will also be done.
4
This process entails coding the entire data before determining and reviewing the vital themes;
The themes will be examined individually to attain the subject’s motivations and perception.
The interviews will include 30 participants, ten from the three groups; traditional
translators, modern translators, and translator trainees, and will take place at Kent State
University. For observations, 15 translators will be observed while working in three law firms
and two companies, with the data recorded through audiovisual recordings. This process will be
under very serious supervision to allocate any mishandled documents. The research has been
estimated to take about six months for the researchers to get a clear investigation. Under existing
data, information will be collected through internet searches, libraries, and government
departments such as electoral statistics. However, materials analyzed ought to be from the
previous two decades and precisely from sources with the reliable academic connection.
This method is ideal for finding solutions to the research question because it entails
using questionnaires, interviews, and observations to generate findings. The qualitative research
method is also appropriate for this research as the outcomes are not guaranteed, it defines the
problem, develops the problem’s approach, and the exact solution. The method will also
profoundly analyze the issue and explore nuances linked to it. Observation would help a lot in
attaining the skills and having new ideas. Furthermore, conducting interviews and questionnaires
would immensely contribute to attaining new knowledge and understanding because directly
communicating to the subjects provides verbal and non-verbal responses.
Implications of the research
The study’s primary purpose is to effectively determine the challenges and opportunities
arising following the transition from traditional to modern translating. The responses of modern
5
translators, traditional translators, and translator trainees will be measured separately to attain
more accurate results before generating the main themes. This format, previously untested, will
lead to satisfactory findings and solutions for the research question. Although there are
disadvantages of the format being untested, advantages are plenty making the arrangement
suitable. In conclusion, translation in the legal field is more difficult because some languages
have words with different meanings, leaving the legal document having dissimilar implications.
6
References
Baer, B. J., & Kobe, G. S. (2003). Beyond the ivory tower: Rethinking translation pedagogy.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: John Benjamins.
Kiraly, D. (2000). A social constructivist approach to translator education: Empowerment from
theory to practice. Manchester, UK: St. Jerome.
Simonnæs, I. Challenges in Legal Translation – Revisited.
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.931.6001&rep=rep1&type=pd
f
Tymoczko, M. (2007). Enlarging translation: Empowering translators. Manchester, UK: St.
Jerome.
Way, C. (2016) The Challenges and Opportunities of Legal Translation and Translator Training
in the 21st Century. International Journal of Communication 10(2016), 1009–1029.
https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/3580/1576
11:31 1
The impact of Transition in the Legal Translation Field
By
Student’s name
Student’s ID
Research proposal for the degree of
BA in [Department Name]
College of Languages and Translation
University of Jeddah
(Date: Month and Year)
2
The impact of Transition in the Legal Translation Field
Introduction
Legal translation is the translation field that essentially entails transforming legal
documents and materials from one language to another, adhering to the original meaning.
Understanding and assessing legal translation are significant. Unlike standard translation, the law
is culture-dependent: it employs terms within the legal system dominant in the state of the
document’s origin. Since translation is progressively shifting from traditional to modern form,
what challenges and opportunities has this transition caused? Studying this topic is crucial for
identifying and emphasizing the challenges that legal translators encounter while working.
Additionally, analyzing related works will aid in discovering the opportunities available and how
the shift has created these openings.
Literature Review
Several researchers have debated on the problems and concussions encountered in the
legal translation field. These problems are the main reason the area is not in a good state. The
existing encounters modeled by progressively complex multicultural circumstances relating to
performers from various language and cultural experiences hint at a diversity of complications in
legal translation (Way, 2016). Additionally, the perception of traditional legal translators has
resulted in the current ones lacking projection and required respect for the profession.
Traditionally, they were trained to be a sheer channel for transmitting information from one
culture or language to another and trying to be invisible or inconspicuous while working. Yet,
recent times have proven that translation cannot be perceived as an objective activity,
independent of interpretation (Tymoczko, 2007).
3
Based on several pieces of research, the challenges and opportunities of translation in the
legal field are founded upon technology, charging on legal translation, the quantity of legal
translation, legal translation on the society, legal translators on ethics and the profession (Way,
2016). Legal translation primary challenge is training highly qualified, capable legal translators.
As a discipline, translation studies have witnessed massive progress in the previous 30 years,
with precise attention to translator training in the previous ten years (Baer & Koby, 2003; Kiraly,
2000). Even though less attention was paid to legal translation before 1990, the new technologies
have proven immense significance in providing opportunities for legal translators.
Ingrid Simonnæs argues that culture-bound legal terms in a court differ in various
nations, affecting the translators’ tasks (Simonnæs). Principally, Simonnæs’ article claims that the
lack of knowledge for translators is the main reason they encounter problems, especially while
working in foreign nations. For instance, the difference in hierarchy and systems in Norwegian
and German courts may negatively impact the functioning of a translator. Moreover, the recently
recurring translation errors might be employed as an informational resource in specialized
translator training. Consequently, the NHH now offers online courses in legal translation
(Simonnæs).
Methodology
To determine the challenges and opportunities caused by this transition, this research will
utilize qualitative data analysis. For gaining a better insight into the challenges and possibilities
of the transition in legal translation, the semi-structured interview will be conducted with 20
traditional translators. Interviews, lasting about 15 minutes each, will also be conducted with
translator trainers and both current and traditional translators, with the answers recorded in an
electronic gadget. The interview will be transcribed, and thematic analysis will also be done.
4
This process entails coding the entire data before determining and reviewing the vital themes;
The themes will be examined individually to attain the subject’s motivations and perception.
The interviews will include 30 participants, ten from the three groups; traditional
translators, modern translators, and translator trainees, and will take place at Kent State
University. For observations, 15 translators will be observed while working in three law firms
and two companies, with the data recorded through audiovisual recordings. This process will be
under very serious supervision to allocate any mishandled documents. The research has been
estimated to take about six months for the researchers to get a clear investigation. Under existing
data, information will be collected through internet searches, libraries, and government
departments such as electoral statistics. However, materials analyzed ought to be from the
previous two decades and precisely from sources with the reliable academic connection.
This method is ideal for finding solutions to the research question because it entails
using questionnaires, interviews, and observations to generate findings. The qualitative research
method is also appropriate for this research as the outcomes are not guaranteed, it defines the
problem, develops the problem’s approach, and the exact solution. The method will also
profoundly analyze the issue and explore nuances linked to it. Observation would help a lot in
attaining the skills and having new ideas. Furthermore, conducting interviews and questionnaires
would immensely contribute to attaining new knowledge and understanding because directly
communicating to the subjects provides verbal and non-verbal responses.
Implications of the research
The study’s primary purpose is to effectively determine the challenges and opportunities
arising following the transition from traditional to modern translating. The responses of modern
5
translators, traditional translators, and translator trainees will be measured separately to attain
more accurate results before generating the main themes. This format, previously untested, will
lead to satisfactory findings and solutions for the research question. Although there are
disadvantages of the format being untested, advantages are plenty making the arrangement
suitable. In conclusion, translation in the legal field is more difficult because some languages
have words with different meanings, leaving the legal document having dissimilar implications.
6
References
Baer, B. J., & Kobe, G. S. (2003). Beyond the ivory tower: Rethinking translation pedagogy.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: John Benjamins.
Kiraly, D. (2000). A social constructivist approach to translator education: Empowerment from
theory to practice. Manchester, UK: St. Jerome.
Simonnæs, I. Challenges in Legal Translation – Revisited.
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.931.6001&rep=rep1&type=pd
f
Tymoczko, M. (2007). Enlarging translation: Empowering translators. Manchester, UK: St.
Jerome.
Way, C. (2016) The Challenges and Opportunities of Legal Translation and Translator Training
in the 21st Century. International Journal of Communication 10(2016), 1009–1029.
https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/3580/1576
11:31 1
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SOLUTION: Impact of Transition in The Legal Translation Field Presentation