A Critique of Legal Translation in Legal English Terms

The year 2008 saw the debut of Legal English Certificate (LEC), the first nationally unified examination "assessing proficiency in test takers' reading, writing, translating and comprehension of legal terminology and concepts across American law practices" (http://www.lectest.com/english/). Legal English Terms compiled by Prof. Zhang Falian (2008), and published by China Fangzheng Press, is one of the designated textbooks recommended to test candidates. The author, while studying and teaching legal English, has found the translation in the said book rife with problems and inappropriateness. This paper, based on the author's empirical experience, coupled with her understanding of linguistics, legal culture and translation strategies, attempts to showcase the major faults in the terminological translation in respect of the conceptual misrepresentation, misinterpretation of culture-bound or culture-specific terms, the blurring between generic words and legal terms, and the generalization of the legal terminology in question. For the sake of brevity, succinct suggestions for each of the problems are put forward to exhibit a linkage between the awareness of required of a legal translator and the practice of the translation job.