The effective usage of corpora in legalese studies (on the example of the fiducie)

 If we consider corpus linguistics as the study of a language through its samples, we should give credit to its contribution to the advancement of various sub-fields of linguistics: lexicography, translation studies, applied linguistics, diachronic studies and contrastive linguistics. The latter can be regarded as a special case of a linguistic typology that is distinguished from other types of typological approaches by a small sample size and a high degree of granularity (Gast 2011: 2-3). Nowadays, corpus-based contrastive studies can be treated as a growing research area that focuses on two or more languages. The present paper makes an attempt to discuss the usefulness of the specialized combined parallel-comparable corpus while dealing with legalese. The effectiveness is presented on the example of the legal institution fiducie. The methodology of research comprises the comparative analysis as well as the corpus-based analysis of the terms related to the fiducie-s presented in three varieties of French: France’s, Canadian and Luxembourgish. The carried out research reveals the juridical-semantic differences and the problematics of the verbal realization of the concepts related to three fiducie-s. These hinder a proper interpretation and complicate the process of translation. The major solution is found through the specification of meaning by renaming

Simultaneous interpretation in interpreter-mediated remote legal proceedings: some observations from a forum theatre study

This article concerns the findings of a study into participant responses to remote interpreter-mediated court proceedings using Welsh-English simultaneous interpretation. The study employs the forum theatre techniques of Augusto Boal, to explore how counsel, witnesses, mock-jurors and interpreters participate in hearings conducted remotely. The study was conducted in 2022, when the early difficulties of conducting hearings remotely because of the Covid pandemic had been resolved, and legal systems were considering how remote hearings could operate in the future.  This article concerns the findings of a study into participant responses to remote interpreter-mediated court proceedings using Welsh-English simultaneous interpretation. The study employs the forum theatre techniques of Augusto Boal, to explore how counsel, witnesses, mock-jurors and interpreters participate in hearings conducted remotely. The study was conducted in 2022, when the early difficulties of conducting hearings remotely because of the Covid pandemic had been resolved, and legal systems were considering how remote hearings could operate in the future.

"Words matter": Judicial discourse on domestic violence in China

The discourse about domestic violence focuses on power and control by the abuser among the victim through different means, one of those is the language. Besides the domestic walls within the abuses are perpetrated, a more institutional and usually regulated language on family violence is traceable in the public discourse, specifically in the People’s Court judgments. In cases regarding family matters, especially divorce proceedings, Chinese judges do often use paternalistic and educational language towards the couple. The aim of this paper is to carry out a preliminary research and analysis on the judicial discourse about domestic violence in order to evaluate to what extent, how and whether these paternalistic and educational nuances emerge in the language and statements used by judges in those cases. This research will be carried out firstly by building a corpus of judgments on “domestic violence” issues, and then by comparing data and analysing the specific language used by the authority using digital tools

From “aged care” to “smart elderly care”. A corpus-based jurilinguistics analysis in Chinese and English

The concept of “care” is complex and multifaceted, and it is evolving rapidly in our digitized societies. By comparing the contexts of occurrence of the term in English and Chinese, this research aims to shed light on its evolution and diverse interpretations across cultures and legal systems. The development of technology has led to a growing digital divide, which can be addressed through a human rights-based approach, a business-based approach, or a combination of both. In China, the term “smart elderly care” has emerged to address the growing demand for technology-driven care solutions, while in the English-speaking world, the term “aged care” has gained prominence. The European Union has invested in programs and strategies to promote the use of digital technologies in elder care, introducing new concepts such as “older persons in long-term care” and “Older Persons’ LTC”. A linguistic analysis of English and Chinese legal corpora has revealed the diachronic evolution of the term “care” from psychological care to technical gestures and attitudes involving digital technologies. In Chinese, the term “care” is expressed differently depending on the context, words used, and participants involved in the speech acts. This research underscores the importance of understanding the complexity of the term “care” and its diverse interpretations across cultures and legal systems. By bridging the gap between these different perspectives, we can develop more effective and inclusive approaches to elder care in an increasingly digitalized world

Court interpreters’ role in upholding the principle of language in legal proceedings: Kazakhstan case

The demographic shifts in Kazakhstan impact legal proceedings, with a growing number of participants who lack proficiency in the language of court proceedings. This highlights the importance of employing court interpreters. The purpose of the article was to reveal the importance of this specialist in the process of considering a case and providing citizens with the right to justice. The following methods were used in the study: analysis, synthesis, comparison, legal doctrinal, comparative, abstraction. As a result, a number of problems were revealed regarding the implementation of professional activities by a court translator in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study conducted a comparative analysis of court interpreters in Kazakhstan and foreign jurisdictions, highlighting commonalities and differences in their legal status, authority, and qualifications. In addition, as a result of the study, statistical indicators were presented describing the number of cases considered by the courts of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the participation of foreign citizens. The study yielded recommendations for establishing a centralized database of court interpreters in Kazakhstan and refining candidate requirements, especially concerning education levels. These insights can inform the development of training programs and certification processes for translators in the country

Students in the third space: constructions of knowledge of foreign law in legal translations from German into Danish

In this paper, I want to investigate the variations in the translations produced by a group of students translating the same source text. The aim of the study is to investigate the degree to which it is possible to empirically find traces of Third Space characteristics of legal translation of court decisions between Danish and German. A corpus of 22 translations is investigated for patterns followed by the students, with a special view to assessing the degree to which they choose similar renderings of the source text elements. A central result of the empirical study is that there is a considerable degree of variation across the studied translation students and that a general distinction between strategies guarding source text complexity in content and form, on the one hand, and strategies making the rendering of the source text in the target text culture more accessible for target text readers

LA TRADUZIONE COME CATALIZZATORE DI CHIAREZZA NEI TESTI NORMATIVI A PARTIRE DA UN’ANALISI COMPARATIVA DELLA SINTASSI IN VARIETÀ DI ITALIANO LEGISLATIVO

Translation is often considered as an ally of plain legal language. This corpus-based study sets out to provide empirical support for this hypothesis by comparing different varieties of legislative Italian used in a monolingual context (Italy) and in two multilingual settings (Switzerland and the European Union). The investigation relies primarily on a quantitative analysis of syntax informed by natural language processing (NLP) methods. The results suggest that translated legislation features shorter sentences, fewer nominalizations, an underuse of the passive voice, fewer non-finite clauses, less deep syntactic trees, shorter dependency links, and a preference for the SVO order with an explicit subject. Among the two multilingual contexts, Swiss legislation shows a slightly higher level of accessibility compared to EU directives. A complementary analysis using readability metrics confirms these trends. Nevertheless, in addition to the translation process in multilingual contexts, other latent external variables may have a (hardly quantifiable) impact on the level of accessibility, such as institutional language policies, legal traditions, drafting guidelines, and training programs for translators and language experts.La traduzione è spesso considerata come un’alleata della chiarezza linguistica dei testi giuridici. Questo studio basato su corpora intende fornire una validazione empirica di questa ipotesi, comparando le varietà di italiano legislativo in uso in un contesto monolingue (Italia) e all’interno di due sistemi multilingui dove l’italiano è lingua ufficiale (Svizzera e Unione europea). La ricerca si basa primariamente su un’analisi quantitativa della sintassi condotta mediante strumenti di trattamento automatico del linguaggio (TAL). I risultati mostrano che la legislazione tradotta si caratterizza per frasi più brevi, un minor ricorso alla nominalizzazione, al passivo e alle subordinate implicite, alberi sintattici meno profondi, relazioni di dipendenza più brevi e una preferenza per l’ordine SVO con soggetto esplicito. Tra i due contesti multilingui, la legislazione svizzera presenta un livello di accessibilità leggermente superiore rispetto alle direttive UE. Un’analisi complementare condotta mediante metriche di leggibilità conferma queste tendenze. Tuttavia, oltre al processo di traduzione tipico dei contesti multilingui, altre variabili esterne latenti possono avere un influsso (difficilmente quantificabile) sul livello di accessibilità, quali politiche linguistiche in campo istituzionale, tradizioni giuridiche, linee guida redazionali, attività formative per traduttori ed esperti linguistici

Structural types of sentences in Kosovo police communication centers

In this paper it will be analyzed grammatical and dialectal aspect of structural sentences of Albanian language used in six Kosovo Police Communication Centers. This paper includes: types of sentences used in Communication Centers separately; enhancing sentences, declarative sentences, declarative-exclamatory sentences and declarative-imperative; imperative sentences; - affirmative and negative sentences. All sections of this paper are illustrated with tables and charts, including number of used sentences and percentage of usage, to present the current situation of use of structural types of sentences in the Kosovo Police Communication Centers. Based on the results from six Communication Centers, which we have analyzed and treated separately, we have come to conclusions of the analysis of the grammatical and dialectal aspects. In Kosovo Police Communication Centers, within the category of declarative sentences, we find positive and negative sentences, which are formed by positive and negative particles, as: Poziiv (Positive), Negativ (Negative), Negativ niher (Negative for now), Po (Yes), Jo (No), veç çka po vrehet n’pamje t’jashtme (only what can be seen from outside), etc. In six Kosovo Police Communication Centers, the affirmative sentences are mainly formed through affirmative particles, as: pozitiv (positive), pranim (copy), po, po – po (yes, yeas – yes), u ba (done), ani faleminderit (OK thank you), n’rregull (alright), e kjart osht n’rregull (it’s clear alright), u kry (done), etc

De la protection de l’environnement dans les Constitutions Algeriennes [Ochrona środowiska w algierskich Konstytucjach]

Since its independence in 1962, Algeria has undergone significant political and environmental transformations. Despite the challenges of post-independence reconstruction, environmental concerns have gradually found their place within the foundational documents of the nation, including charters and constitutions. Although the constitution of 1963 remained silent on environmental matters, indicative of a historical lack of emphasis, pivotal shifts occurred from 1976 onward, marked by the introduction of environmental policies geared toward nature preservation. National charters of 1976 and 1986, as well as the constitutions of 1976, 1989, 1996, 2008, 2016, and notably that of 2020, have all propelled measures for environmental protection. These foundational texts unequivocally underscore the urgency of safeguarding nature in the face of climate disruption and the imperative of immediate action. These legislative developments, substantial and transformative, have elevated the status of the environment within the Algerian legislative and legal framework, signifying a reconciliation between Algeria, its cultural values, history, and international commitments. In this context, a critical inquiry has meticulously examined the integration of environmental and climatic concerns within various Algerian constitutions and legal texts. Findings underscore the significance attributed to nature protection within these documents, while underscoring the necessity for more effective on-ground implementation. Despite notable advancements since independence, characterized by the emergence of environmental policies and the integration of environmental discourse into foundational texts, Algeria must still exert considerable efforts to materialize these laws and genuinely preserve its natural landscape.Depuis son indépendance en 1962, l’Algérie a subi des transformations politiques et environnementales. Malgré les obstacles de la reconstruction, la préoccupation environnementale s’est graduellement inscrite dans les textes fondamentaux du pays, notamment les chartes et les constitutions. Même si la constitution de 1963 était muette sur l’environnement, révélant un manque d’attention à l’époque ; mais depuis 1976, des évolutions significatives ont surgi, avec l’implémentation de politiques environnementales axées sur la préservation de la nature. Les chartes nationales de 1976 et 1986, ainsi que les constitutions de 1976, 1989, 1996, 2008, 2016 et particulièrement celle de 2020, ont toutes impulsé des mesures pour la protection de l’environnement. Ces textes fondamentaux sont sans équivoque quant à l’urgence de préserver la nature face au dérèglement climatique et à la nécessité d’une action immédiate. Ces évolutions législatives, notables et révolutionnaires, ont élevé le statut de l’environnement dans le cadre législatif et juridique algérien, témoignant d’une harmonie retrouvée entre l’Algérie, ses valeurs culturelles, son histoire et ses engagements internationaux. Dans ce contexte, une lecture critique a scruté la prise en charge de l’environnement et du climat dans les diverses constitutions et textes juridiques algériens. Les résultats mettent en avant l’importance attribuée à la protection de la nature dans ces documents, tout en soulignant le besoin d’une mise en œuvre plus efficace sur le terrain. Malgré les progrès notables depuis l’indépendance, avec l’émergence de politiques environnementales et l’intégration de la question environnementale dans les textes fondamentaux, l’Algérie doit encore déployer d’importants efforts pour concrétiser ces lois et véritablement préserver la nature sur son territoire.Od momentu uzyskania niepodległości w 1962 roku Algieria przeszła znaczące przemiany polityczne i środowiskowe. Pomimo wyzwań związanych z odbudową po okresie niepodległości, troska o środowisko stopniowo znalazła swoje miejsce w ustawach tego kraju, w tym w statutach i  konstytucjach. Chociaż konstytucja z 1963 roku pozostała milcząca w  kwestiach środowiskowych, co wskazuje na historyczny brak uwagi, od  1976 roku zaczęły się istotne zmiany, związane z wprowadzeniem polityk środowiskowych mających na celu ochronę przyrody. Krajowe statuty z 1976 i 1986 roku, a także konstytucje z lat 1976, 1989, 1996, 2008, 2016, a  zwłaszcza z 2020 roku wprowadziły środki na rzecz ochrony środowiska. Owe ustawy zasadnicze jednoznacznie podkreślają pilną potrzebę ochrony przyrody w obliczu zmian klimatycznych i konieczność natychmiastowego działania. Te istotne i przełomowe zmiany w ustawodawstwie podniosły status środowiska w algierskim systemie ustawodawczym i prawodawczym, sygnalizując pojednanie Algierii z jej wartościami kulturowymi, historią i  międzynarodowymi zobowiązaniami. W tym kontekście przeprowadzono krytyczną analizę integracji kwestii środowiskowych i klimatycznych w różnych konstytucjach i aktach prawnych Algierii. Wyniki podkreślają istotność przypisaną ochronie przyrody w tych dokumentach, jednocześnie wskazując na konieczność bardziej skutecznej implementacji na miejscu. Pomimo znaczących postępów od uzyskania niepodległości, charakteryzujących się pojawieniem się polityk środowiskowych i włączeniem dyskursu ekologicznego do ustaw zasadniczych, Algieria nadal musi włożyć znaczne wysiłki w celu zrealizowania tych praw i rzeczywistej ochrony swojego krajobrazu naturalnego

The Treuhand and the Treuhanderschaft from the perspective of the specialised combined parallel-comparable corpus

Corpora-based analysis has become one of the major methodologies used in linguistics. However, it has not been widely applied in legalese studies. The paper makes an attempt to discuss the usefulness of the specialized combined parallel-comparable corpus while dealing with the legal language. The effectiveness is presented on the example of the Treuhand and the Treuhänderschaft. The research is based on the comparative analysis as well as the corpus-based analysis of the terms related to the Treuhand and the Treuhänderschaft presented in two varieties of German: Standard German spoken in Germany and Liechtenstein’s German. The corpus-based analysis reveals the juridical-semantic differences and the problematics of the verbal realization of the concepts. These hinder a proper interpretation and complicate the process of translation. The major solution is found through the specification of meaning by renaming. This solution may acquire the greatest importance in today’s world, because the process of globalization widens the area of utilization of the Treuhand and the Treuhänderschaft and any obscurity or incomprehensibility can cause problems during cross-national linguistic and juridical activities