4 Facts on Legal Translation

Legal translation is a highly complex and sensitive job as it requires one to translate legal documents into the target language. This field requires highly skilled translators with an extensive knowledge of legal terminologies and the law of the country. A single translation mistake can result in serious consequences and therefore, legal translators should perform their task with extreme caution.

Here are a few facts about legal translation to give you a deeper insight:

1. Legal Translators must be Knowledgeable

While translating any document, translators usually refer to a number of bilingual dictionaries. The same is applicable to the legal translator. However, in many cases, even a bilingual dictionary might fail. Dictionaries may not have the exact translation for a particular term or maybe the translation is not at par. In such cases, it is the knowledge of the legal translator that helps him/her. That’s why, it is extremely important for a legal translator to be aware of the fine nuances of the legal system of both the host country and the target country.

2. Bilingual lawyers cannot function as Legal Translators

Bilingualism doesn’t mean any lawyer can become a legal translator. Legal translation is a specialized process and requires specialized knowledge and training. A translator must undergo such training before he/she can work as a legal translator. Legal terminologies are very different and one must know the technicalities of translation in order to produce a high-quality final product. Bilingual lawyers are not aware of the ins and outs of translation so, they cannot function as legal translator unless they undertake specialized training.

3. Legal Translations is not Word-to-Word translation

Verbatim translation is practically impossible. When legal translators are translating a document of the target country, they must be aware of the cultural differences and how the legal system of the target country works and what kind of legal language is been used by the law practitioners. This helps them gain a better understanding of that document and help understand the perspective. With a deep knowledge of the legal system of the target country, legal translators are able to produce faithful legal documents.

4. Strong Knowledge of Legal Terminologies is Essential

Legal terminologies are very complex and are tough to understand. For instance, there are a few legal terms that mean a completely different thing when used in an everyday context. The same term that refers to a particular thing in your host language, can refer to a different thing in your target language. So, a legal translator must have extensive knowledge of legal terminologies and how they work in different contexts.

It is better to consult firms that specialize in legal translation to ensure that your documents are impeccable. If you are looking for legal translation services in Thailand then contact us. Book an appointment today!