translation in the legal fields session 2 lexical features of the legal genre

Translation in the Legal Fields

Session 2

Lexical Features of the Legal Genre

General characteristics of the legal genre

1. Accuracy

2. Simplicity

3. Clarity


4. Legal language is far from being spontaneous. It is often described as a “visual language” because it is written to be read thoroughly rather than spoken.


5. The words used have distinct agreed-upon meanings; therefore, legal documents sometimes begin with a list of definitions to avoid misunderstanding.Example: Copyright Law of the United States of Americahttp://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#101


6. Sentences are long because a sentence has to include all relevant elements in it so that misuse or confusion is avoided.


7. Punctuation marks are kept to a minimum, basically because such marks can be added or deleted easily and thus can change the meaning in a document.


8. Legal documents are divided into Parts, Sections, Chapters (Acts), Items, etc. in order to obtain more clarity.Example: Title 17 of the United States CodeCircular 92Chapter 1


9. Initials of some words are capitalized in order to restrict their meaning to that mentioned earlier in the document.

Example:“The Life Insured shall pay to the Insurance Society every subsequent premium in due time.”

Lexical Features of the Legal Genre

1. Use of “Shall”“Shall” is used to express obligation, so the following verb should be translated into the present rather than the future tense.Examples:Amoco shall be exempted from all custom duties.

الجمركية الرسوم كل من أموكو تعفى

The Life Insured shall pay to the Insurance Society every subsequent premium in due time.

كل التأمين شركة إلى عليه المؤمن الشخص يدفع . المستحق موعده في تال قسط

Translate the following sentences:

باريس في االجتماع يعقد.......................................................................

The Hirer shall be liable for any damage caused to the Owner.........................................................................

2. Use of “may”“May” and “may not” are translated into يجوز and يجوز .الExample:The Minister of Petroleum may enter into concession agreements with foreign companies for petroleum exploration

مع امتياز اتفاقيات يبرم أن البترول لوزير يجوزالبترول عن للبحث أجنبية شركات

Translate the following sentences:

أو يجوز ذهب أو بأموال تحتفظ أن المتحدة لألمم. نوع أي من عملة

.....................................................................

The landlord may enter the dwelling without Tenant’s consent in case of emergency........................................................................

3. Use of combinations of “here”, “there”, “where” and preposition-like words to convey a specific meaning.Examples:1. hereto, hereby, hereunder, hereof, herewith, herein, hereafter, hereinabove, etc.“Here” means “This document”- Both parties hereby agree العقد هذا بموجب- Mr. X hereinafter referred to as فيما إليه المشار

بعد

2. Thereto, thereof, thereby, therewith, therefore, therein, etc.“There” means a person, thing or situation mentioned right before it.The Insurance Society or any duly authorized collector thereof. محصل أي لها أو تابعDuties contained therein فيه الواردة الواجبات

3. Whereof, whereby, etc.“Where” means “mentioned above”

Example:In witness whereof, the parties have signed as of the date first set forth above.

سبق ما على بناء

4. Use of couplings and synonyms means using two words to express the same meaningExamples: - Made and signed تحرر- Terms and conditions شروط - By and between بين- True and correct صحيح- Breaking and entering الممتلكات على السطو- Goods and chattels منقوالت

- Each and every كل - Free and clear of من خال

Arabic Couplings and synonyms: - Null and void وباطل ملغى- Fraud and deceit وخداع غش- Acknowledge and confess ويعترف يقر

Translate the following sentence:

The period of this contract shall be two years, as of the date of arrival of the Second Party in the house of the First Party and may be renewed upon the desire of both parties.

5. Avoidance of anaphoric devicesAnaphoric devices include Personal Pronouns (he, she, etc.), Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, etc.), and “to do” constructions (e.g. He rents a car and so does his brother) because such devices can lead to confusion.

6. Repetition of a word instead of using a pronoun.Example:The Lessee shall pay to the Lessor at the office of the LessorInstead of ..The Lessee shall pay to the Lessor at his office *

المؤجر مكتب في المؤجر إلى المستأجر يدفع

Example of a wrong formulation of an item:

وفق خدمة العامل»إذا أثناء في جديد اختراع إلىالعمل يكون رب ذلك لهذافال في حق أياالختراع«

(688المادة المدني ) القانون في العمل عقد عنوان تحت المدني القانون من

7. Use of (“which”+ a repeated word) to avoid a wrong interpretation of that wordExample:Any dispute arising between Aramco and Atco shall be settled by arbitration, which arbitration shall take place at the Department of Contracts in Aramco.عن فيه الفصل يتم وأتكو أرامكو بين ينشأ نزاع أي

التحكيم التحكيم طريق يتم أن العقود على بإدارةأرامكو .في

8. Use of “said”, “such”, “the same”.

Examples:If the contractor incurs any further costs …, then the employer shall take such costs into consideration.يضع ... أخرى تكاليف أية المقاول تحمل حالة في

االعتبار في التكاليف هذه العمل .صاحب

The said party of the second part hereby agrees to purchase said premises at said consideration of … $ and to pay the same as follows: …

على العقد هذا بموجب الثاني الطرف يوافقالعقار وأن ... المذكوربالمبلغ المذكورشراء وهو

المبلغ يدفع يلي هذا كما : ...

9. Avoidance of the 3rd person singular pronouns (he, she) and replacing them with the neutral pronoun (it).Example:Borrower shall comply with all of its covenants to Bank set forth in and arising from the loan agreement.

في الموضحة للبنك تعهداته بكل المقترض يلتزمعنها والناشئة القرض اتفاقية

10. Use of a proviso clause that begins with “provided that” أن شريطة أن، على أن، بشرط

Example:Landlord shall have the right, subject to Tenant’s consent, to enter the dwelling unit to inspect the premises provided that landlord may enter the dwelling without tenant’s consent in case of emergency.

دخول المستأجر موافقة بشرط للمالك يحقيجوز أنه على العقار لمعاينة السكنية الوحدة

في المستأجر موافقة بدون السكن دخول للمالكالطوارئ .حالة

11. Use of archaic words in order to sound formal and classic.Example:Witnesseth Hereof, therein, etc.Aforementioned, abovesaid, الذكر سابقForthwith الحال فيDuly authorized صحيحا تفويضا مفوض

12. Use of loan wordsExamples from French: contract, proposal, schedule, etc.Examples from Latin: appendix, annex, addendum, etc.

Translate the following:Noncompliance by Tenant:If there is a material noncompliance by Tenant with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with Paragraph 7 materially affecting health and safety, Landlord may deliver a written notice to Tenant specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than thirty days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in fourteen days.

المستأجر التزام :عدم

جانب من مادي التزام عدم حدوث حالة فيبالفقرة التزام عدم أو االتفاق بهذا 7المستأجر

يجوز والسالمة الصحة على ملموس بشكل يؤثريحدد المستأجر إلى كتابي إخطار إعطاء للمالك

المخالفة، هذه تشكل التي التقصير وأوجه األعمالعن يقل ال موعد في سينتهي العقد أن ويحدد

يتم لم إذا اإلخطار استالم تاريخ من يوما ثالثينيوما عشر أربعة غضون في المخالفة هذه .معالجة

translation in the legal fields session 2 lexical features of the legal genre

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