Investigating the Linguistic problems of Translating Legal Discourse with Focus on Civil Contracts

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the linguistic problems of translating legal discourse with special focus on the problematic linguistic areas of rendering civil contracts. The study attempts to present the common features of the legal English language, beside exploring the difficult linguistic areas of rendering legal texts that may encounter students of translation and trainee translators. The study is concerned with the linguistic problems pertaining the process of translating legal texts from English to Arabic and vice versa with special reference to that relating to rendering contractual instruments, and international convention in general and civil contracts in particular. The study is an attempt to show that to what extent that legal discourse differs from the ordinary English language in terms of using modal auxiliaries with some special denotations, in terms of using pronominal adverbs (Anaphoric devices), synonyms and couplings i.e. doublets and triplets and in terms of using loan/ borrowed terms and expressions from foreign languages in legal language. Along with pointing to the difference between the structure of legal English sentence and that of the normal structure of ordinary English sentence. The study also points to some unfamiliar and out of date words which are no longer be seen in the current modern English language, but still be used in legal language. And so it can be said that the study addresses the linguistic problems and obstacles that may constitute some difficulties to the students of translation and non- professional translators in terms of rendering legal discourse. The study is ended be recommendations and suggestions for further studies.