Summary:
Translation is not an easy process and when it is about translating legal documents the challenges are more than that in any other translation project. Find out how legal translation is different from other translation assignments and what are the difficulties faced by a legal translator.
A suspected Indonesian smuggler was testifying in an Australian court. A major translation mistake in the document forced the Australian court to throw out the case at the cost of thousands of dollars to Australian taxpayers. This is how mistranslations can cause serious problems thus emphasizing on the need to use professional translation services in the courtroom. Here are some aspects where legal translation differs from all other translation projects:
Knowledge of the legal system: The legal language is extremely culture-specific. Therefore it is important that the translated copy must not only retain the message of the original document but also be in compliance with the norms of the culture of the target country. Every legal system has its own set of terminologies and jargons. So the translator must have a legal background to make sure that the assignment is completed effectively.
Language structure: Secondly, it is not necessary that the structure and layout of both the source and target document will be the same. There are likely to be differences. Every country has a different legal culture and it is the job of the translator to make sure that the difference between them is represented in the right way. The difference is not just between the physical design or structures of the page but also the linguistic structures.
Deadlines: No wonder every translation assignment has deadlines attached but the legal translation sector is a realm in which the failure to meet the deadline can have serious ramifications. This is because in the legal translation sector most of the deadlines are set by the courts and failing to meet them can result in the delay of a case or make the document void. This is not the case with other translation projects where the deadlines are fixed by the clients to stay in line with their own timetables.
Legal expertise: Legal translation is not just about translating a document word by word. It might involve some legal contexts and regulations that need to be adhered to. Therefore it is essential that the translator has adequate knowledge about the legal systems and procedures of the target country. Moreover, maintaining the confidentiality of the document is as important as understanding the context of the document.
Yes legal translation is different from regular translation projects. Therefore it is always recommended to hire a certified and reliable translation company that can overcome these challenges faced by other professionals working in the legal translation sector.
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The author of this article recommends Certified Translation Services for high quality translation works.