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Article published In: Target
Vol. 14:1 (2002) ► pp.75–106

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The pitfalls of linguistic equivalence

The challenge for legal translation

 | Open University of Hong Kong
Published online: 24 January 2003
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https://doi.org/10.1075/target.14.1.04poo
This paper discusses the problems of legislative translation in Hong Kong through the study of the rules adopted by the Department of Justice to select equivalent lexical terms and from the examination of the sentence structure and legislative expressions in pre-modern and modern ordinances. While literal translation can be effective in achieving “equal intent” on comparison with the original text, this paper will examine supplementary approaches in an attempt to address the problems and contradictions previously experienced in legislative translation and to increase the effectiveness of the translated text.
Résumé
Cet article traite des problèmes posés par la traduction juridique à Hong Kong. On aborde successivement les règles adoptées par le Département de la Justice pour la sélection d’équivalents lexicaux, la question des structures syntaxiques ainsi que des expressions juridiques dans les ordonnances pré-modernes et modernes. En comparaison avec l’original, la traduction littérale peut représenter une “intention égale”. On examinera cependant d’autres modalités traductives en vue de résoudre les problèmes et contradictions rencontrés auparavant par la traduction juridique et en vue d’améliorerl’ efficacité du texte juridique.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Translation of lexical terms
  • Statutory interpretation
    • Example 1: HKSAR v Tam Yuk Ha
    • Example 2: HKSAR v Kiang Tak On
  • Sentence structure and legislative expressions
  • Translation methods
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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