Chapter 6. The dilemma of legal terminology in the Arab world
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Said Shiyab
Abstract
In an age where the Arab world is becoming interconnected with the global community, legal translation is now on the rise. Because of international accords, societal and global conflicts, international trade and joint business enterprises that have impacted and continue to impact the Arab world, the need for accurate and uniformed legal terminology in Arabic is becoming more vital than ever. So what is it that puts the translation of legal terminology at the forefront of this emerging field? Could it be the lack of proper steps that are being taken by the Arab Language Academies or legal translators or is it because of the clear-cut and distinctive language quality of this changing and challenging field? One of the main purposes of this chapter is to examine the status of legal translation and terminology in the Arab world. The chapter explores the problems facing Arabic legal terminologists and translators such as lack of uniformity, general and specific differences within and across legal systems, and the ambiguity of the legal language, all of which contributes to the confusion surrounding this legal and culture-bound profession. This chapter concludes with implications and applications for further studies, and provides practical solutions to the most common difficulties of translating legal terminology.
Abstract
In an age where the Arab world is becoming interconnected with the global community, legal translation is now on the rise. Because of international accords, societal and global conflicts, international trade and joint business enterprises that have impacted and continue to impact the Arab world, the need for accurate and uniformed legal terminology in Arabic is becoming more vital than ever. So what is it that puts the translation of legal terminology at the forefront of this emerging field? Could it be the lack of proper steps that are being taken by the Arab Language Academies or legal translators or is it because of the clear-cut and distinctive language quality of this changing and challenging field? One of the main purposes of this chapter is to examine the status of legal translation and terminology in the Arab world. The chapter explores the problems facing Arabic legal terminologists and translators such as lack of uniformity, general and specific differences within and across legal systems, and the ambiguity of the legal language, all of which contributes to the confusion surrounding this legal and culture-bound profession. This chapter concludes with implications and applications for further studies, and provides practical solutions to the most common difficulties of translating legal terminology.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. The history of Arabic lexicography and terminology 7
- Chapter 2. Terminology standardization in the Arab world 31
- Chapter 3. Terminology and translation in Arabic 59
- Chapter 4. Medical terminology in the Western world 83
- Chapter 5. Medical terminology in the Arab world 109
- Chapter 6. The dilemma of legal terminology in the Arab world 139
- Chapter 7. There is nothing like Him 155
- Chapter 8. Sufi terminology and aspects of interaction with symbols 181
- Chapter 9. Linguistic inferiority in software localization 217
- Chapter 10. Covering linguistic variability in Arabic 235
- List of contributors 255
- Index 259
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. The history of Arabic lexicography and terminology 7
- Chapter 2. Terminology standardization in the Arab world 31
- Chapter 3. Terminology and translation in Arabic 59
- Chapter 4. Medical terminology in the Western world 83
- Chapter 5. Medical terminology in the Arab world 109
- Chapter 6. The dilemma of legal terminology in the Arab world 139
- Chapter 7. There is nothing like Him 155
- Chapter 8. Sufi terminology and aspects of interaction with symbols 181
- Chapter 9. Linguistic inferiority in software localization 217
- Chapter 10. Covering linguistic variability in Arabic 235
- List of contributors 255
- Index 259
