Legal Translation: Theory and Practice

Introduction to the Field

Legal translation sits at the intersection of linguistics, law, and cultural studies. Professor Wang's work provides the first comprehensive framework for understanding how legal concepts migrate across language boundaries — and what is lost, gained, or transformed in the process.

Theoretical Foundations

The opening chapters establish the theoretical underpinnings: equivalence theory as applied to legal terminology, the concept of systemic untranslatability, and the role of the translator as a cultural mediator. Drawing on Skopos theory and functionalist approaches, Wang argues that legal translation must be understood as a purpose-driven activity rather than a mechanical word-for-word substitution.

Practical Applications

The middle section presents detailed case studies drawn from contract translation, treaty interpretation, and cross-border litigation documents. Each case illustrates common pitfalls — false friends in legal terminology, divergent conceptual frameworks between civil and common law systems, and the challenges of rendering unregistered legal concepts in target languages.

Technology and the Future

The concluding chapters address the impact of machine translation and AI-assisted tools on legal translation practice. While acknowledging efficiency gains, Professor Wang cautions against over-reliance on automated systems for texts where precision carries legal consequences. The book closes with practical guidelines for quality assurance in technology-mediated legal translation workflows.