33(1) - 2021

Rechtsübersetzen im 21. Jahrhundert ̶ Herausforderungen für lesser-used languages

Ingrid Simonnæs

Title
Legal translation in the 21st century  ̶  Challenges for lesser-used languages

Abstract
Due to globalization and internationalization there is a growing need for legal translation, especially into English, often considered a global lingua franca. This applies also to English in EU-context. Although the UK has left the EU as of 31.12.2020, English is likely to keep its status as the most important working language of the EU institutions. While Norway is not an EU member state, it has signed the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. EU directives in many areas need therefore to be transposed into national, that is Norwegian law. Norwegian is considered a lesser-used language because of its about only 5 million native speakers. Few legal dictionaries or electronic resources in other language combinations than Norwegian-English are available. Together with an insufficient number of training programs in Norway this situation represents a particular challenge in the process of for instance translating relevant directives or other legal documents in cross-border relations. Solid language skills and legal insight have to be acquired and the question is how to gain these in view of an insufficient number of translator training programs in Norway.

Keywords
Lesser-used language, legal translation, translator training programs, translation competence, case study

DOI 10.17462/para.2021.01.10

April 25, 2021
  33(1) - 2021