Elena Chiocchetti & Natascia Ralli (EURAC) Tanja Wissik & Vesna Lušicky (University of Vienna) VII Conference on Legal Translation, Court Interpreting and Comparative Legilinguistics Poznań, 28-30.06.2013
17 expert interviews in 16 terminology centres/units period: 2011-2012 mainly public organisations represent all types and purposes of terminology work
needs analysis documentation term extraction term selection elaboration of terminological entries revision and quality assurance dissemination
legal comparison (micro-comparison) domain/legal experts
Micro-comparison investigates concepts or aspects of two or more legal systems with the aim of acquiring more knowledge and identifying similarities and differences between legal systems/concepts. In terminology work, it provides the basis for addressing translation gaps and terminological inconsistencies and for evaluating the transferability of legal concepts from one legal system to another.
at interlinguistic level, i.e. between legal systems that use different languages at intralinguistic level, i.e. between legal systems that use the same language
understanding the target legal system circulating legal models legal integration adopting the model of a foreign legal system integrating regulations from a foreign legal model to improve one s own mutual knowledge and understanding in the domain of law
Experts in one or more specific subjects that are being treated, not necessarily plurilingual consultants revisers standardisers terminologists proper
help finding or select source material for terminology work clean lists of extracted terminology, i.e. define which terms to treat within the (sub)domain(s) treated offer specific information when consulted create definitions, esp. in their native language revise terms, definitions, synonyms/variants, notes or full terminological entries are part of standardising bodies create, review or validate translation proposals
WORKFLOW ACTIVITY TASKS CARRIED OUT BY DOMAIN EXPERTS needs analysis voice formal or informal requests of terminology work documentation refer to or select reference material term extraction term selection select terms from lists elaboration of terminology entries consult on content create definitions check concept systems suggest or approve translation proposals revision & quality check revise content standardisation select terms to be standardised suggest standardisation proposals study, discuss and integrate/modify terminological material (e.g. standardisation subcommittees) validate standardised terms validate equivalents dissemination apply standardisation decisions
Terms in a given language representing the same concept are considered synonyms vs. Terms in the same language but belonging to different legal systems are equivalents! (Systemgebundenheit, De Groot 1999) Terminological comparison determines equivalence Different types of sources might be more or less relevant vs. In the legal domain legal comparison is needed (next to terminological comparison) vs. Specific hierarchy and typology of legal sources in the legal domain
Synchronic character of terminology work Exclusion of translated material Terminological definitions (usually one sentence!) vs. Exceptions in corpus selection might have to be foreseen vs. Translations with legally binding status might be relevant sources vs. Legal definitions, terminological definitions or mixed definitions (esp. according to target)
Most terminology centres work with ONE legal system and several languages The methodology does not differ greatly from that used for other domains (terminological comparison) Few terminology centres systematically compare legal terminology ACROSS LEGAL SYSTEMS, some do it occasionally Methodology of micro-comparison and systematic involvement of domain experts (e.g. jurilinguists)
closer cooperation with experts INT 12: [W]ir möchten aber lieber wirklich mit den Fachexperten zusammenarbeiten. INT 8: First, [I would wish] to have one lawyer-linguist by language in our team [ ]. One or two or three. Because for me, it is really important that these people that work in the terminology section are really close to the lawyer-linguists.
formal involvement of experts in terminology workflow INT 5: Es ist aber relativ informell. Es ist also nicht so, dass, wenn ich jetzt heute ein Terminologieproblem, egal, für welche Sprache, dass ich irgendwo eine Datenbank habe, wo ich sage: Wer ist der Experte? Oder einen Kommunikationsmechanismus, mit dem ich direkt sagen kann, Hilfe. Das gibt es nicht, das ist nicht formalisiert.
difficulty of explaining experts how to check, revise, correct terminological data INT 10: Und da gab es die üblichen Diskussionen. Also dass wir dem [ ] Experten klar machen mussten, eine Definition besteht aus einem Satz. Grundsatz. Und er aus sprachpflegerischen... oder was weiß ich - wollte das einfach nicht so haben [ ] [E]s hat sich eben gezeigt, dass... Also wenn ich mit leeren Händen hingehe, dann... ja... ist nicht so gut. Die Diskussion, die Arbeitsresultate sind besser, wenn ich schon etwas habe, wo man dann auf der Grundlage das anschauen kann und sagen: OK, das ist falsch, das ist OK, aber da fehlt noch das und das.
common discussion forum keeping track of decisions INT 5: Diskussionsbedarf ist doch auch ganz erheblich gestiegen [ ] [da] braucht man irgendwie eine andere Möglichkeit. Ein Portal oder Diskussionsfora. [ ] Und so was möchte man gern sammeln, da möchte man auch gern irgendwie so Blogs haben, wo man vielleicht ein bisschen auf Sprachebene über Terminologie sich austauschen kann.
difficulty in disseminating work INT 13: We have over 200 subjects. So even more need to have a terminology available for everybody [ ]. And for them also to be able to know where to get the information.
GOING PUBLIC: several databases now available to the public (e.g. TERMIUM, TERMDAT) STRONG INVOLVEMENT OF DOMAIN EXPERTS in terminology work (e.g. European Court of Justice) FORMAL INVOLVEMENT OF TERMINOLGISTS IN LEGAL DRAFTING (e.g. Terminology service of the State Chancellery of the Canton of Bern)
Guidelines for collaborative legal/administrative terminology work soon available as e-book Check http://www.lisetermservices.eu/downloads
Elena Chiocchetti & Natascia Ralli Institute for specialised communication and multilingualism European Academy Bolzano (EURAC) Viale Druso 1 I - 39100 Bolzano echiocchetti@eurac.edu nralli@eurac.edu Tanja Wissik & Vesna Lušicky Centre for Translation Studies University of Vienna Gymnasiumstraße 50 A - 1190 Wien tanja.wissik@univie.ac.at vesna.lusicky@univie.ac.at VII Conference on Legal Translation, Court Interpreting and Comparative Legilinguistics Poznań, 28-30.06.2013