Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Common Errors in Legal Translation PDF
Common Errors in Legal Translation PDF
ãé¿éºBã§ó»éºêPBãÌñFñºñ¸éºãg Îé® ëÅ÷G åÀò·éÂAãËóºñCãÊ åÀò·éNãÃénóºñC ä±Bñ»éNåaAãÊ ÷~åiñDóºAãÊ éPAãÊBã¿ënºA ä´ó»ãa éÈéMBãÌñE åÄé¾ãÊ
###Äѧ«¾D#D#¹ix
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
ÏËÀÉÀA±¸@ϸ@Ï¥ÓAp¸@ÒAî`Û@
Common Errors in Legal translation
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
ƽơƾǟƛ
ȆǟƢƦLjdzơDZƢǸǯǺŻƗ
jċÆÔ}¥jċĆèø÷¥ąjve}¥¬ČävÊČ£Å¨£¦ÿ
ĊÿĆÿ¦ð÷¥²¼ª÷¥ą¬ČïĆð{¥¬ve÷¥UÂü°äBûÒÔÀ°û
[¦ä÷¥¦Øð÷¥úó¦ù¦ûù¦
¬èø÷¥ą¬ve÷¥ùĆøä÷¬Č÷ąÂ÷¥¬ø6¥ÆċÆqÆċÂû
##345:85:3<3
aa_safwah@yahoo.com
##
##
##
##
##
##
##
˻˹˹́ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟΔχϮϔΤϣϕϮϘΤϟϊϴϤΟ
##
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
Y
d66E£¶j66D>W66W!µj66§K66t¹ªj66B=¶j66çK66-W66¹M66EjK?M66êÏ·e66
t
K6jA<&f6?a6K6-M6EjK?K<Y76¹©j86Ce6Aí¥¹WMEjK?MêÏKKÓ
K6й¦K62¹KC3¹KCxh¸£YáMEK:M?Y:¹dE£jA GW?<&MEjK?
黣H6M6EjK?M6AB#MKEq¹ljK?UA:8&gDíG:%KºYTMEuLEK Th
M6EK¥KW@黣HWMêÏj ·KBMEoK9Kj8¹K
¦KC¹Kuj7
·KET^<íMBp
W6EM6EjK?MKE8NKKBA@MEjK?MêÏYqKC
gWE#MEjK?MKE8W<ï¹
KDC²WÓi??âMj?¹MBEA MêÏNKMKE8AMK<µjqTaM?j¹
K6-.6êÏ&h6^<6K6DEa?×K:TY8kA
M<pj&K?¥j¸XY@¶j?¹
MEjK?MKE8iEAB
£.!e¤a
dEjl¹Ä¹
»YW?¹lKE!
# ##ÒªEMq¾D#ÁEú#ÈF
# #
# #
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
# #1#ÁÏËYÿ¾#"M D#Õ¯Ñx#ÁEëQpD#NÇ#±#øßÎF
#Î#ÁÏbbËYÿ¾#"Mbb D#Õ¯Ñbbx#ÁEëQbbpD#Èbbª#øEbÑÙEËÆ#hEbb«QLßD#ÕbbÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õbb·ÑTÏ¿¾#ÌbbQmP#ØEbbÇTF#ÄbbX D#Öbb¿ª#«QbbÐ
# ##1#ÅÏ¿«Ã¿¾#"M D#Õ¯Ñx#ÁEëQpEL#ÅEQ¾D#ÅDoQ¾ßD
# #=#ÁEUÂ
ƨƠȇƽǂdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ ƧƾȈŪơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
DZȂȀƴǸǴdzřƦŭơƨǤȈǏǵơƾƼƬLJơ ǵȂǴǠǸǴdzřƦŭơƨǤȈǏDZƢǸǠƬLJơ
the ruling was made by the judge the judge ruled
the complaint was filed by the plaintiff the plaintiff filed a complaint
It was held that the court held
# #
# ##=#ÁÏËYÿ¾#"M D#Õ¯Ñx#ÁEëQpD#EÇÊ#nÏ#/#ÀªE³¾D#Õ²m«Â#Åiª#Õ¾E\#¢#EÂF
# ##=#ÁEUÂ
# ##The documents were mysteriously destroyed
# #1#ÕÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õ·ÑTϾD#µDmF#ÈÂ#«P#OÏXÎ#Õ§\àÂ#¬Â#/#µÎm«Â#®#zet#SDiÇQq D#´¿P#Ȫ#NMqQ D
# ##1#1#1#ÕÑÙE}·¾D#¸ÙETϾD#¢#ÌÑ¿ª#Òªi D#Î#Òªi D#/#¬ÑM¾D#hÏ·ª#¢#Óu D#Î#¬ÙEM¾Eº
# #
# ##OÏ¿ô D#iD#Ȫ#ÔiÙDn#ÁE«²F#Õ²E|J#ÎF#ÄpD#ÎF#ÌÑF#Õ¿#ÌMt#ÉÏ»Q¾#ÁE«²áD#N¿¶#NÇ#0#øEÑÆET
# ##ÁEUÂ
ƨƠȇƽǂdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ ƧƾȈŪơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
reached a conclusion" "concluded"
"granted a continuance" "continued"
involved in a collision" "collided"
"take action" "act"
# #
# #
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
# #1#SE]¿ôy EL#EËǪ#Õ|E«QpßD#ÈÂ#ÁiL#EËPDkL#SEÑÃq D#ÅDieQpD#«QÐ#±##øEU¾ET
#Õb·ÑTϾD#Åib#¼b¾j#ÉF#ÌbÇÂ#EbǦ##/#1#1#1#1#×Ϫib¾D#m§Æ#ÅÏÐ#ÎF#Òªi D#¨³¾#ÁEëQpD#¢#ÄX D#NËqÐ#i¶
##ÕÑÙE}b·¾D#¸ÙETϾD#¢#ÕxE
#Î#ÉE»Â#ÎF#zet#Ȫ#Ô« D#SE]¿ôy D#ÅDieQpD#ÔmUº#ÉF#Ä¿«Ð#ß#Î#ÕÑÆÏÆE·¾D
# ##1#ÕÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õ®EÑy¾D#¢#ÔEªDm D#ÁÏxáD#¬Â#¸³QP#ß#Î#ÖÇ« D#ÍÏuP#!¾D#ÕÚÐhm¾D#Õ®EÑy¾D#NѾEpF#ÈÂ#Q«Ð
# #=#ÁEUÂ
ƨƠȇƽǂdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ ƧƾȈŪơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
The plaintiff
Susan Jones
The defendant Michael Fitzhugh
The day in question June 3rd
The scene of the accident In the parking lot
Her place of employment Pizza Hut
# ###
# #1#m¯¾EL#Ò³P#ß#!¾D#Õ¿ÐÏô¾D#Õ¿ÃD#ÅDieQpD#¢#OEËpåD#Î#Å໾D#Ïu\#NÇ#±#øE«LDl
ƨƠȇƽǁƨȈƟƢǔǫƨǣƢȈǏƨȈdzƢƬdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơDZƢưǷ #
"The court in Chester v. Morris, a case involving a similar traffic accident, held that a person
riding a bicycle must adhere to the same standards as a person driving a car, although it limited its
holding to the facts of that case, which included the fact that the bicyclist was intoxicated.
# #
ƾƟơDŽdzơȂnjūơǺǷƨȈdzƢƻƨǣƢȈǐdzơǹȂǰƫǹƗśǠƬȇ
"Chester v. Morris involved a similar traffic accident. The court held that a bicyclist must adhere to
the same standards as a person driving a car. The opinion is limited to situations in which the
bicyclist is intoxicated.
# #1#ÕÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õ®EÑy¾D#¢#lÏy·¾D#ÌXÎF#ÉEÑM¾#¸LEq¾D#zǾD#Ö¿ª#¸Ñ¿«P
#+#Morris#,#ÌÑ¿ª#Òªi D#i|+#Chester#,#ÏÊ#Î#ÒªiÂ#L#ÕÑ}¶#½EÇÊ#ÉF#¸LEq¾D#zǾD#È#Â#Ä˳Æ#0
# ##1#1#ÕXDli¾D#NºDl#SªD#!¾D#m»q¾D#Õ¾E\#Ö¿ª#EËû\#my·L#EËѲ#ÕûD#R}¶
# #
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
# #
Chester v. ##ÕÑ}b¶#¢#ÕbûD#ÉF#cmubL#ÒbLháD#OÏ¿bpáD#Õ·ÑTϾD#NPEº#EËѲ#ÖÇMP#ÎáD#Õ®EÑy¾D#0
#ib·²##/#ÕbXDli¾D##NbºDl#mbºj#ÉÎh#zeub¾D#Ö¿ª#«QÐ#ÌÆF#Slm¶#i¶#lÎm D#ÕThE\#ÕÑ}¶#¢Î#Morris
# ##+#bicyclist,#ÁÏ·Ð#ÉF#EÐm\#ÉEº#Î#a person riding a bicycle,#ÕXDli¾D#NºmÐ#Ók¾D#zeu¿¾#SlEtF
# #1#¸ÙE·D#ÌÑQP#ß#ÖQ\#EôQq D#li·L#Õ¿ÐÏô¾D#SDlEM«¾D#ÈÂ#y·Q¾D#ÏÊ#¼¾j#hE³Â
# #
# #=#Õ®EÑy¾D#¢#OEÇåD#Î#OEËpåD#NÇ#=#øEqÂEd
# #sÏÂE¶#Àê#hiyL#DÏÆEº#Ͼ#Eú##SE²hDm D#ÈÂ#hiª#ÉÏÿ«QqÐ# D#ÈÂ#«L
# #=#ÁEUÂ
ƨƠȇƽǂdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ ƧƾȈŪơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
Every town, city, or village" "Every municipality"
"Cease and desist" "stop"
"Give, devise and bequeath" "give"
"Null and void" "void"
# #
# #Õ¿ÃD#¢#"« D#ÕÐÏ·P#ÈÂ#Õ¾ÎE]ÿ¾##ÁDÏ\áD#Î#µÎm§¿¾#¥m³ D#ÁEëQpßD#NÇ#=#øEphEp
#±#Õb·Ñ·D#rb»ª#Ö#b¿ª#DkbÊ#Î#/#Õb·ÑTϾD#ÉGbt#ÈbÂ#ÓÏb·Ð#ÁEbD#Î#µmb§¿¾#̾EëQbpD#ÉF#ÄX D#ȧÐ#i¶
#Õb¶lÎ#J#ÉÏÆEb·¾D#ÔmbÙDh#ÈbÂ#EbËXm#Î#ÕÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õ·ÑTϾD#_M·#èÐ#ÁDÏ\áD#Î#µÎm§¾D#ÁEëQpD#¢#¥Dm²åE²
# ##1#$$#EËѲ#ÌÂà\F#EËѲ#NQº#zeu¾#ÕÐhEª
# #=#ÁEUÂ
ƨƠȇƽǂdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ ƧƾȈŪơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
The fact that he was drunk is extremely The fact that he was drunk is important
important
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
It is really important that he was not wearing It is important that he was not wearing a
a helmet. helmet.
# #
# #=#RLET#Î#_Ðmx#´¶ÏÂ#_|ÏP#ß#!¾D#ÕÑPãD#SEÿ»¾D#ÁEëQpD#NÇ#=#øE«LEp
alleged
maybe
quite possibly
at best/at least
might be
seems to
appears to
perhaps
so-called
implicates
probably
tends to
# #=#+#hiu D#,#´ªE} D#ҳǾD#ÁEëQpD#NÇ#=#EÇÂET
DZƢưǷ
ƨƠȇƽǂdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ ƧƾȈŪơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
not uncommon" " common"
"failed to show inability" "showed ability"
"not insignificant" "significant"
"not uncomplicated" "complicated"
"no small part" "large part"
# #1#Õ¿ÃD#¹EÑp#¢#E#ÖÇ«Â#ß#SEÿº#Î#SDlEMª#ÁEëQpD#NÇ#=#E«pEP
#/##EËÐÏ·Ð#ÎF##ÕÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õ·ÑTϾD#À»t#ÀÃ#¼¾j#ÉF#ÌÇÂ#EǦ#ÀÃD#Î#SDlEM«¾D#ÈÂ#«L#ÄX D#¬}Ð#i¶
#ÓF#È#bÂ#ÕbÐÎEd#Î#Õ¿Ëbp#Õb·ÐmôL#E³¿bp#EÇ]b|ÎF#Ebú#Õb·ÑTϾD#°ÑybÐ#ÉF#ÄbX D#Öb¿ª#«Qb D#ÈÂ#ÌÆF#®
# #1#iÑ·«P
# ##=#¼¾j#Ö¿ª#ÁEUÂ
ƨƠȇƽǂdzơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
ƧƾȈŪơƨǣƢȈǐdzơ
# #
# #
# #
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
# #
# #Ò«ÐmuQ¾D#OÏ¿páD#ÈÂ#ÁiL#ÕôÑqM¾D#ÕÐoÑ¿åD#Õ¯¿¾D#ÅDieQpD#=#DmtEª
#Õbb¯¿¾D#EbbËÑ¿ª#¸bb¿ôÐ#Ebbú#ÎF#Ò«ÐmubbQ¾D#OÏ¿bbpáD#ÁDiMQbbpD#Öbb¿ª#ÆÏÆEbb·¾D#ÈbbÂ#Ubb»¾D#DbbªD#Äbb®l
#¢##ÔiÙEqb¾D#S#EbÊEßD#ÉF#ßJ#/#+#Plain English)#ÕôÑqbM¾D#ÕbÐoÑ¿åD#Õb¯¿¾EL#0#ÕbÑÆÏÆE·¾D#ÕbÐoÑ¿åD
#ÄQbbP#ÕbbÑÆÏÆE·¾D#¸ÙEbbTϾD#Õ®EÑbbx#R]MbbxF#Î#/#Ômbb»³¾D#ÍkbbÊ#Çbb·QL#RbbÂE¶#ÕbbUÐiD#ÕbbÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õ®EÑybb¾D
# #1#ÕôÑqM¾D#Õ¯¿¾D#ÅDieQpEL
# #=#ÕôÑqM¾D#ÕÐoÑ¿åD#Õ¯¿¾D#¢#E#ÀLE· D#Î#SDlEM«¾D#Î#SE]¿ôy D#ÈÂ#«L#Ò¿Ð#EÃѲ#Î
# #
Legalistic Style Plain English
at present - now
at the place -- where
at the present time-- now
at the time that - when
at that point in time - then
at this point in time - now OR currently
by means of - by
by reason of - because
for the duration of - during OR while
for the purpose of - to
for the reason that - because
from the point of view - from
in a case in which - when OR where
in accordance with - by OR under
in close proximity - near
in connection with - with OR about OR concerning
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
in favor of - for
in light of the fact that - because OR given that
in order to - to
#Î#hÏbbb·«¾D#¢#¥Îmubbb¾D#Î#hÏbbbÇM¾D#Õ®EÑbbbx#¢#ÕôÑqbbbM¾D#Õbbb¯¿¾D#ÍkbbbÊ#ÅieQqbbbP#=#ÕbbbÂEÊ#Õbbb¦Ï]¿Â
#ÉF#mbbÂáD#ÕbbÐE®#/#¥Îmubb¾D#Î#hÏbbÇM¾D#Õ®EÑbbx#¢#ÕbbÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õbb¯¿¾D#ÅDieQbbpD#ÈbbÂ#bb|#ß#Î#/#SEbbѶE³PßD
# #1#ÖÇ« D#ÁÏ\#Ï￾#øE«ÇÂ#ÈÊDm¾D#R¶Ï¾D#¢#µÏ¾G D#ÏÊ#_MxF#ÕôÑqM¾D#Õ¯¿¾D#ÅDieQpD
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
# #
# #1#ÄÊ®#ÉÎh#¤·²#ѶϷD#Ö¿ª#ÔmxE¶#ÕѾEQ¾D##SE]¿ôy D#=#muª#ÓhE\
#ß#ÌbbÆF#±#"bb«Ð#DkbbÊ#Î#/#ÄbbÊ®#ÉÎh#¤bb·²#ÂEbD#ÕôbbpDÏL#EËÂDieQbbpD#mbbxE·¾D#SE]¿ôybb D#Òbb¿Ð#EbÃѲ
#ÅDieQbpD#À}b³Ð#Î#/#¥Îmub¾D#Î#hÏbÇM¿¾#ÌQ®EÑbx#¢#ÄbËL#ÕÆE«QbpßD#ÕÑÆÏÆE·¾D#Õ·ÑTϾD##°ÙEx#Ö¿ª#«QÐ
# #1#mºk¾EL#EÇ¿³pF#Eú#ÕôÑqM¾D#Õ¯¿¾D
#¢#ÕbûD#EËÂieQqbP#Î#ÕÑ˳ub¾D#SE«²Dm D#Î#E²i¾D#SmºDkÂ#¢#ÉÏÂED#EËÂieQqÐ#SE]¿ôy D#ÍkÊ
#Î#Nbô«¾D#Î#Ïï¾EbL#EËÑMybÐ##i¶#ÕÑÆÏÆE·#¾D#Õ·ÑTϾD#¢#SE]¿ôy D#ÍkÊ#ÀUÂ#hÏXϲ#1#1#EËÂE»\F#Õ®EÑx
# ##1#Ì¿XF#ÈÂ#Slm\#!¾D#m¯¾D#¬Â#EE\#ÄÑ·QqÐ#ß#Î#1#1#lDÏ«¾D
*Χ@Ês]·?Î]ʸ¼£Ñ@]ÀOAÎÊ¿È¿@°·?ΰÊOÈ·?IK@³@ÄHÀTLÉÂA¤LÉ·?N@X¸ís?μÒ@¯ÆeÃÇ
8ʯȰ?ϸ£°«Ígr@¯ËÄ«
words used only by lawyers Plain English
expedite - hurry
facilitate - help
firstly, secondly - first, second, ...
foregoing - these
forthwith - immediately
frequently - often
fundamental - basic
has a negative impact - hurts OR harms
indicate - show/say/mean
individual (noun) - person
inquire - ask
locate - find
manner - way
methodology - method
modify - change
narrate - say
negatively affect - hurt/harm
notify - tell
notwithstanding - despite
numerous - many
objective (noun) - goal
observe - see OR watch
obtain - get
owing to - because
period of time - time OR period
permit - let OR allow
personnel - people
pertains to - refers/belongs to
point in time - time OR point
portion - part
possess - have
post hoc - hindsight
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
prior to - before
procure - get
provide - give
provided that - if OR but
provision of law - law
purchase - buy
purport - claim/intend
rate of speed - speed
referred to as - called
remainder - rest
render assistance - help
request (verb) - ask
require - need
respond - answer
retain - keep
said (adjective) - the/this ("this contract" not "said contract")
stipulates - says
subsequent - later
subsequent to - after
subsequently - after OR later
substantiate - prove
sufficient - enough
sufficient number of - enough
termination - end
the case at bar - this case
the fact that - that
the instant case - this case
the manner in which - how
upon - on
utilize - use
verbatim - word for word
ΔϴϧϮϧΎϘϟΔϤΟήΘϟϲϓΔόΎθϟ˯ΎτΧϷ
ϦϴϳήμϤϟϦϴϳϮϐϠϟϭϦϴϤΟήΘϤϟΔϴόϤΟ
# #
# #
# #
# #
# #
# #
# #
# #
# #
# #
# #¬XDm D#Î#lhEy D
**J. ALEXANDER TANFORD, INDIANA UNIV. HOW TO WRITE GOOD LEGAL STUFF
# #
# #
# #
# #