Be careful with these linguistic hurdles! (Translations) Legal documents are the mechanisms for business. With them, you can pave the way for successful partnerships, expand your global reach, and secure new levels of success for your company.
5 Legal Terms to Watch Out for in Your Translations
However, all of this can only happen if your legal documents are accurately translated. Whether you’re securing a patent or negotiating a business deal, it’s crucial that your legal documents be precisely and accurately translated when conducting international business.
Here are five legal terms you should watch out for when translating your legal documents.
1. High Court
In the United States, the high court is the Supreme Court. However, in Britain, the High Court is the very first court in which a case arrives. Understanding jurisdictional terminology and nomenclature that shifts from country to country is critical to drafting legal documents that are effective and accurate.
2. Legal Jargon
Legal terms in general are very complicated, and most legalese is designed to be deliberately confusing. The inherent complexity of legal terminology becomes even more of a challenge when you go to translate it into a different language. It’s a tedious process that requires a high degree of skill, and you’d do well to consult legal translation experts before sending off the final draft.
3. Technical Language
If legal language is complicated, technical language can seem impossible to navigate. When it comes to legal paperwork like patents, it’s important to make sure that every care is taken to retain accuracy. Always confer with a subject matter expert when translating legal documents with technical language.
4. Masculine and Feminine Words
Some languages treat a certain word as masculine, while the same word is feminine in another language. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the subtle shifts between masculine and feminine words in order to appropriately translate a legal document – or any document, for that matter.
5. Style
If a legal document starts to read like a movie script, it’s going to be very strange and not professional at all. Style is difficult to master in your own language let alone in a tongue that’s not native to you, so be very careful about that.
There are many factors to consider when translating legal documents. Never be afraid to check with professionals, subject matter experts, and translators before you fire off a legal document. It’s best to be safe instead of taking the chance that you’ll make an irrevocable blunder that could leave you and your business in a tough situation.
Translations – How We Can Help
Semiotic Transfer is a Swiss translation agency in the heart of Europe. We provide legal translation services to marketing firms worldwide. We know how to effectively translate and transform legal documents across countries and cultures. Contact us today to find out how we can help your marketing firm break into new markets. Visit our blog.
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