The case of German in Belgium: Navigating legal language: German terminology in Belgium’s federal landscape

Weber, Sandra

doi:10.1075/hot.4.nav1

In:Handbook of Terminology: Volume 4. Terminology planning in Europe
Edited by Rossella Resi and Frieda Steurs
[Handbook of Terminology 4] 2025
► pp. 465–480

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Navigating legal language: German terminology in Belgium’s federal landscape

The case of German in Belgium

Sandra Weber | Ministry of the German-speaking Community of Belgium

Published online: 26 September 2025

https://doi.org/10.1075/hot.4.nav1

Abstract

This chapter demonstrates how the complicated state structure of the Belgian federal state and the pluricentricity of the German language affect the development and dissemination of German legal terminology in Belgium. After a brief explanation of the position of the German-speaking Community in federal Belgium, an overview of the sources of German-language legal texts in Belgium and explanations of the function and working methods of the Committee of the German-speaking Community for German Legal Terminology, the reader is guided through the typical discussions and compromises in the Terminology Committee by means of current examples, problems and solutions.

Keywords: legal terminology, German language, Belgium, German-speaking Community, federalism, multilingualism, translation, legislation, French, Dutch

Article outline

1.Introduction
2.The task of the Committee of the German-speaking Community for German Legal Terminology
3.From term to term: Approach, developments and challenges in terminology work
- 3.1Neologism, comprehensibility and modernisation
- 3.2Different terminological paths in the source texts
4.Conclusion
Notes
References

References (8)

References

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