Translating Law (Topics in Translation) [Hardcover]

Deborah Cao (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1853599549 | ISBN-13: 978-1853599545 | Publication Date: April 17, 2007

The translation of law has played an integral part in the interaction among nations in history and is playing a greater role in our increasingly interconnected world today. The book investigates legal translation in its many facets as an intellectual pursuit and a profession. It examines legal translation from an interdisciplinary perspective, covering theoretical and practical grounds and linguistic as well as legal issues. It analyses legal translation competence and various types of legal texts including contracts, statutes and multilateral legal instruments, presents a comparative analysis of the Common Law and the Civil Law and examines the case law from Canada, Hong Kong and the European Court of Justice. It attempts to demonstrate that translating law is a complex act that can enrich law, culture and human experience as a whole.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Law has a vital part to play in reinforcing communication between nations and peoples. Building the international rule of law is a mighty challenge for the 21st century. We cannot achieve this goal by simply talking away to ourselves, confined within in our own legal jurisdictions and linguistic groups. We must cross the barriers of language. For this we need expert translators of language. And, as Dr Cao points out, we must also be ready to cross the barriers erected by history, culture and institutions. We must hope that when the bridges of understanding are built, there will yet be sufficient commonality to bind humanity together. Law has a part to play in the achievement of this goal. That is why this book addresses a problem of great importance for the future of law and life on this planet." THE HON JUSTICE MICHAEL KIRBY AC CMG Justice of the High Court of Australia

About the Author

Deborah Cao is affiliated with the School of Languages and Linguistics and the Socio-Legal Research Centre, Griffith University, Australia. Originally trained and qualified as a United Nations simultaneous interpreter, she was educated in China and Australia. She holds PhD in translation studies and LL.B (Hons), and has published in the areas of translation studies, legal translation, semiotics and philosophical and linguistic analysis of Chinese law and legal culture. Her books include Chinese Law: A Language Perspective (Ashgate, 2004), Translation at the United Nations (in Chinese, 2006, China Foreign Translation and Publishing Corporation, co-authored with Zhao Xingmin), and Interpretation, Law and Construction of Meaning (Springer, 2006, a joint editor).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 189 pages
• Publisher: Multilingual Matters (April 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853599549
• ISBN-13: 978-1853599545
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,517,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical application of translation theory, September 6, 2009

By 

Frank Edward Taylor (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Translating Law (Topics in Translation) (Hardcover)

"Translating Law" is an instructive guide for translators who deal with law and legal documents. The author effectively used her broad experience and a variety of examples to address some of the greatest challenges in legal translation. The book is a fantastic page-for-page value.