Analyzing Semantic Challenges Encountered by MA Students of Translation in Rendering Legal Contracts

Abstract

This study attempts to analyse the semantic challenges that translators encounter when translating legal texts, as it pays special attention to contracts. The study aims at figuring the difficulties faced by translators and the techniques that can be employed to tackle these difficulties. The researcher applied two instruments in this study, a test and a questionnaire. Results of the study revealed that the difficulties that translators face are: the differences of the legal concepts in different legal systems, doublets, words with more than one legal meaning, archaic words, Latin and French words, absences of legal equivalents, the cultural differences between the source and target text community and the translators’ lack of knowledge and proper training. The study found out that there are some techniques can be implanted to tackle these difficulties, for instance: using literal translation, using descriptive equivalents, using borrowing technique and constantly comparing between legal systems. The study also discovered that semantic challenges could lead to serious legal complications like the loss of clients’ rights or even legal disputes in courts. The researcher recommends that a data base should be established among legal agencies and expert translators and made accessible for all translators; the study also recommends that for all those who wish to specialize in legal translation should receive an intensive training by professional legal translators and expose themselves to different legal texts and legal systems. In addition to some suggestions for further studies at the end of the thesis.