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TEACHING LEGAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY THE CASE METHOD IN RUSSIAN-ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAIR
Corresponding Author(s) : Yury Muravev
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 8 No. 4 (2020): July
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The study aims to find parallels between legal translation practice and training by analyzing the case study methods' capabilities and limitations in academic institutions. It presents a comparative research of various situations of professional communication and legal documents employed as learning tools for the case study method in a classroom environment.
Methodology: The primary methods used in this research are case study method, analysis of ESP teaching materials, methods of comparative linguistics, descriptive statistics, and translation studies. The study rests on the use of translation techniques in Russian-English translation of case briefs that is why the author used algorithm-based machine translation software and grammar analysis software for in-depth analysis of legal documents.
Main Findings: Regular exercise following the suggested patterns of language training based on comparative legal case studies improves the relative translation competence and students' readiness for written and oral 'on-the-spot' translation in Russian-English language pair. It develops professional cross-cultural communication skills at the end of the final semester of Legal English training.
Applications of this study: The results of the research, including the suggested exercise patterns for implementing the case study method in teaching Russian-English translation, may be used as Legal English learning tools. Besides, some results of the research may contribute to the improvement of output quality of machine translation systems and the development of legal tech software.
Novelty of this study: The article presents a case study method used in legal translation training and task design for advanced levels of Legal English. The secondary goal is to find teaching methods that may enhance the learning motivation of Legal English students by realistic scenarios of business simulation games. The novelty aspect is the practical use of adjustable frames in task design.
Keywords
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- Abelson, R.P., Lalljee M., Lamb R. (1992) The role of event prototypes in categorization and explanation. European Review of Social Psychology 3(1), 153-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/14792779243000050 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14792779243000050
- Alenezi, A. (2020). Task-based approach in teaching translation: a case study in Jouf University. Higher Education Studies, 10(2), 189-196 . https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n2p189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n2p189
- Badinter, R. (2014). Anglo-American Legal English concepts and terminology. EFB.
- Baffy, M. (2017). Shifting frames to construct a legal English class. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 25, 58-70. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2016.11.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2016.11.003
- Bajcic, M. (2017). New insights into the semantics of legal concepts and the legal dictionary. John Benjamins BV https://doi.org/10.1075/tlrp.17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/tlrp.17
- Bilova, S. (2016). Case briefs in Legal English classes. Studies in logic, grammar and rhetoric, 45(58) 2016, 7-20. https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0012
- Brown, G.D., and Rice, S. (2007). Professional English in useCambridge University Press.
- Butler E. W. (2001). Russian-English legal dictionary. Moscow: Zertsalo.
- Candlin, C., Bhatia, V. K., & Jensen, C. (2002). Developing legal writing materials for English second language learners: problems and perspectives. English for Specific Purposes, 21, 299–320. . https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(01)00029-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(01)00029-1
- Cao, D. (2010). Legal translation. Translating legal language. The Routledge Handbook of Forensic Linguistics. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203855607.ch6
- Catford JC (1965). A linguistic theory of translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Cheng, L. (2010) A semiotic interpretation of genre: court judgments as an example. Semiotica, 182, 89-113. https://doi.org/10.1515/semi.2010.053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/semi.2010.053
- Cook, G. (2010). Translation in language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Crookes, G. (1986a). Task classification: A cross-disciplinary review. Technical Report No. 4. Honolulu: Center for Second Language Classroom Research, Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawai’i at Manoa.
- Davies, A. (2001). The logic of testing languages for specific purposes. Language Testing, 18, 133–147. https://doi.org/10.1177/026553220101800202 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026553220101800202
- Day, J. Krois-Lindner, A. (2011). International legal English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- David R., Brierley J.E.C. (1968). Major legal systems in the world today. London: Stevens & Sons. https://doi.org/10.2307/824894 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/824894
- Douglas, D. & Selinker, L. (1985). Principles for language tests within the ‘discourse domains’ theory of interlanguage: research, test construction, and interpretation. Language Testing, 2, 205-226. https://doi.org/10.1177/026553228500200208 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026553228500200208
- Edmonds, J. E. (1970). Root and structure-preserving transformations. Indiana University Linguistics Club.
- Garzone, G. and M. Viezzi (Eds.) (2002): Interpreting in the 21st century: challenges and opportunities. In Selected papers from the 1st Forlì Conference on Interpreting Studies (pp. 227-229). John Benjamins Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.1075/target.16.2.18gil DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/target.16.2.18gil
- Clapham, C., Alderson J. (1996). Language test construction and evaluation. Cambridge University Press.
- Fillmore С.J. (1985). Frames and the semantics of understanding. Quaderni di semantica, 2, 222—254.
- Gibbons, J. and Turell, M. T. (eds.) (2008). Dimensions of forensic linguistics. John Benjamins. https:// DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.5
- doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.v16i1.185
- Giltrow, J. Stein, D. (2017). The pragmatic turn in law. Inference and interpretation in legal discourse. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter & Co. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501504723
- Goodrich, P. (1987). Legal discourse. London: Macmillan.
- Goo, J. (2015). Second language acquisition and task-based language teaching. Mike Long. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015. 430-439. Studies in Second Language Acquisition. 37. 1-2. es in Second Language Acquisition. 37. 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263115000200 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263115000200
- Haigh, R. (2004). Legal English. New York: Cavendish Publishing Limited.
- Harding, K. (2007). English for specific purposes Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Harting A.J. (2018). Connecting language and disciplinary knowledge in English for specific purposes: case studies in law. International Journal of Speech-Language and the Law, 25(2), 257-263. https://doi.org/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.37650
- 1558/ijsll.37650
- Harvey, M. (2002). What is so special about legal translation? Meta, 47, 177–185. https://doi.org/10.7202/
- ar
- Hismanoglu, M., Hismanoglu, S. (2011). Task-based language teaching: What every EFL teacher should do. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 15. 46-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.049 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.049
- Hu, Weifeng. (2019). On legal English translation from the perspective of legal linguistics. Review of Educational Theory. 2-6. https://doi.org/10.30564/ret.v2i3.870 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/ret.v2i3.870
- Hutchinson, T. (1987). English for Specific Purposes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511733031
- Inesa, T. (2019). Teaching Legal English in multilevel classes. The European Journal of Education and Applied Psychology. 15-22. https://doi.org/10.29013/EJEAP-19-3-15-22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29013/EJEAP-19-3-15-22
- Jaaskelainen, R. (1999). Tapping the process: an explorative study of cognitive and affective factors involved in translating. University of Joensuu Publications in Humanities.
- Liuolienė, A., Metiūnienė R. Legal English and adapted legal texts. Santalka, 20(1), 56-64. https://doi.org/10.3846/cpe.2012.06 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/cpe.2012.06
- Long, M. H. (1991). Focus on form: a design feature in language teaching methodology. In de Bot, K., Ginsberg, R. B., & Kramsch, C. (Eds.), Foreign language research in cross-cultural perspectives, 39–52. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Benjamins. http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/sibil.2.07lon DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.2.07lon
- Mason, C. Atkins, R. (2007). The lawyer's English language coursebook. Stamford: Global Legal English.
- Mattila, H. (2006). Legal language: history. In K. Brown (ed.), Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics. 8 – 1. Oxford: Elsevier.
- Medrea, N. (2012). Cross-cultural communication: a challenge to English for legal purposes. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 5475 – 5479. https://10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.460
- Mellinkoff, D. (2004). The language of the law. Eugene, Or: Resource Publications, an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers.
- Newmark P. (1982) Approaches to translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
- Nolfi, E. A. (2009). Legal terminology explained. Boston: McGraw Hill.
- Northcott, J. (2008). Language education for law professionals. In J. Gibbons, & M. T. Turell (Eds.), Dimensions of forensic linguistics, 28-46. John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.5.04nor DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.5.04nor
- Northcott, J. (2009). Teaching legal English: contexts and cases. In D. Belcher (Ed.), English for specific purposes in theory and practice, (pp. 165-185). University of Michigan Press.
- Northcott, J. (2013). Legal English. In B. Paltridge, & S. Starfield (Eds.), The Handbook of English for specific purposes (pp. 213-226). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch11
- Northcott, J., and Brown, G. D. (2006). Legal translator training: partnership between teachers of English for legal purposes and legal specialists. English for SpecifiÑ Purposes, 25, 358–375. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.08.003
- Prabhu, N. S. (1987). Second language pedagogy. Oxford University Press.
- Richards, K. (2009). Trends in qualitative research in language teaching since 2000. Language Teaching, 42(2), 147-180. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444808005612 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444808005612
- Rubtsova, A. (2019). Socio-linguistic innovations in education: productive implementation of intercultural communication. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 497, 012059. https://doi.org/
- 1088/1757-899X/497/1/012059
- Sãrcĕvić, S. (1997). New approach to legal translation. Kluwer Law International.
- Scalia, A., Garner, B.A. (2012). Reading law: the interpretation of legal texts, Thomson West.
- Schane, S. A. (2006). Language and the law. London: Continuum. https://doi.org/10.1017/S004740450
- X
- Sierocka, H. (2016). Action research in designing and implementing courses of English for legal purposes. Studies in logic, grammar and rhetoric, 45(58), 225-251. https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0026
- Thornbury, S. (2017). 30 Language teaching methods. Cambridge University Press.
- Tiersma, P. (1999). Legal language. University of Chicago Press.
- Venuti, Lawrence (1995). The translator's invisibility. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.5195/jffp.1997.390 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/JFFP.1997.390
- Widdowson, H. G. (1990). Aspects of language teaching. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.18172/
- cif.2434
- Williams, C. (2005). Tradition and change in legal English: verbal constructions in prescriptive texts. Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2006.09.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2006.09.009
- William R., Mckay H. (2005). Legal English: how to understand & master the language of law, Pearson Longman.
- Willis, J., Edwards, C. (2005). Teachers exploring tasks in English language teaching. Palgrave.
References
Abelson, R.P., Lalljee M., Lamb R. (1992) The role of event prototypes in categorization and explanation. European Review of Social Psychology 3(1), 153-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/14792779243000050 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14792779243000050
Alenezi, A. (2020). Task-based approach in teaching translation: a case study in Jouf University. Higher Education Studies, 10(2), 189-196 . https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n2p189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n2p189
Badinter, R. (2014). Anglo-American Legal English concepts and terminology. EFB.
Baffy, M. (2017). Shifting frames to construct a legal English class. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 25, 58-70. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2016.11.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2016.11.003
Bajcic, M. (2017). New insights into the semantics of legal concepts and the legal dictionary. John Benjamins BV https://doi.org/10.1075/tlrp.17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/tlrp.17
Bilova, S. (2016). Case briefs in Legal English classes. Studies in logic, grammar and rhetoric, 45(58) 2016, 7-20. https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0012
Brown, G.D., and Rice, S. (2007). Professional English in useCambridge University Press.
Butler E. W. (2001). Russian-English legal dictionary. Moscow: Zertsalo.
Candlin, C., Bhatia, V. K., & Jensen, C. (2002). Developing legal writing materials for English second language learners: problems and perspectives. English for Specific Purposes, 21, 299–320. . https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(01)00029-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(01)00029-1
Cao, D. (2010). Legal translation. Translating legal language. The Routledge Handbook of Forensic Linguistics. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203855607.ch6
Catford JC (1965). A linguistic theory of translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cheng, L. (2010) A semiotic interpretation of genre: court judgments as an example. Semiotica, 182, 89-113. https://doi.org/10.1515/semi.2010.053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/semi.2010.053
Cook, G. (2010). Translation in language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Crookes, G. (1986a). Task classification: A cross-disciplinary review. Technical Report No. 4. Honolulu: Center for Second Language Classroom Research, Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawai’i at Manoa.
Davies, A. (2001). The logic of testing languages for specific purposes. Language Testing, 18, 133–147. https://doi.org/10.1177/026553220101800202 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026553220101800202
Day, J. Krois-Lindner, A. (2011). International legal English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
David R., Brierley J.E.C. (1968). Major legal systems in the world today. London: Stevens & Sons. https://doi.org/10.2307/824894 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/824894
Douglas, D. & Selinker, L. (1985). Principles for language tests within the ‘discourse domains’ theory of interlanguage: research, test construction, and interpretation. Language Testing, 2, 205-226. https://doi.org/10.1177/026553228500200208 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026553228500200208
Edmonds, J. E. (1970). Root and structure-preserving transformations. Indiana University Linguistics Club.
Garzone, G. and M. Viezzi (Eds.) (2002): Interpreting in the 21st century: challenges and opportunities. In Selected papers from the 1st Forlì Conference on Interpreting Studies (pp. 227-229). John Benjamins Publishing Company. https://doi.org/10.1075/target.16.2.18gil DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/target.16.2.18gil
Clapham, C., Alderson J. (1996). Language test construction and evaluation. Cambridge University Press.
Fillmore С.J. (1985). Frames and the semantics of understanding. Quaderni di semantica, 2, 222—254.
Gibbons, J. and Turell, M. T. (eds.) (2008). Dimensions of forensic linguistics. John Benjamins. https:// DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.5
doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.v16i1.185
Giltrow, J. Stein, D. (2017). The pragmatic turn in law. Inference and interpretation in legal discourse. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter & Co. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501504723
Goodrich, P. (1987). Legal discourse. London: Macmillan.
Goo, J. (2015). Second language acquisition and task-based language teaching. Mike Long. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015. 430-439. Studies in Second Language Acquisition. 37. 1-2. es in Second Language Acquisition. 37. 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263115000200 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263115000200
Haigh, R. (2004). Legal English. New York: Cavendish Publishing Limited.
Harding, K. (2007). English for specific purposes Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Harting A.J. (2018). Connecting language and disciplinary knowledge in English for specific purposes: case studies in law. International Journal of Speech-Language and the Law, 25(2), 257-263. https://doi.org/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.37650
1558/ijsll.37650
Harvey, M. (2002). What is so special about legal translation? Meta, 47, 177–185. https://doi.org/10.7202/
ar
Hismanoglu, M., Hismanoglu, S. (2011). Task-based language teaching: What every EFL teacher should do. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 15. 46-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.049 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.049
Hu, Weifeng. (2019). On legal English translation from the perspective of legal linguistics. Review of Educational Theory. 2-6. https://doi.org/10.30564/ret.v2i3.870 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/ret.v2i3.870
Hutchinson, T. (1987). English for Specific Purposes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511733031
Inesa, T. (2019). Teaching Legal English in multilevel classes. The European Journal of Education and Applied Psychology. 15-22. https://doi.org/10.29013/EJEAP-19-3-15-22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29013/EJEAP-19-3-15-22
Jaaskelainen, R. (1999). Tapping the process: an explorative study of cognitive and affective factors involved in translating. University of Joensuu Publications in Humanities.
Liuolienė, A., Metiūnienė R. Legal English and adapted legal texts. Santalka, 20(1), 56-64. https://doi.org/10.3846/cpe.2012.06 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/cpe.2012.06
Long, M. H. (1991). Focus on form: a design feature in language teaching methodology. In de Bot, K., Ginsberg, R. B., & Kramsch, C. (Eds.), Foreign language research in cross-cultural perspectives, 39–52. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Benjamins. http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/sibil.2.07lon DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.2.07lon
Mason, C. Atkins, R. (2007). The lawyer's English language coursebook. Stamford: Global Legal English.
Mattila, H. (2006). Legal language: history. In K. Brown (ed.), Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics. 8 – 1. Oxford: Elsevier.
Medrea, N. (2012). Cross-cultural communication: a challenge to English for legal purposes. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 5475 – 5479. https://10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.460
Mellinkoff, D. (2004). The language of the law. Eugene, Or: Resource Publications, an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Newmark P. (1982) Approaches to translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Nolfi, E. A. (2009). Legal terminology explained. Boston: McGraw Hill.
Northcott, J. (2008). Language education for law professionals. In J. Gibbons, & M. T. Turell (Eds.), Dimensions of forensic linguistics, 28-46. John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.5.04nor DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.5.04nor
Northcott, J. (2009). Teaching legal English: contexts and cases. In D. Belcher (Ed.), English for specific purposes in theory and practice, (pp. 165-185). University of Michigan Press.
Northcott, J. (2013). Legal English. In B. Paltridge, & S. Starfield (Eds.), The Handbook of English for specific purposes (pp. 213-226). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch11
Northcott, J., and Brown, G. D. (2006). Legal translator training: partnership between teachers of English for legal purposes and legal specialists. English for SpecifiÑ Purposes, 25, 358–375. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.08.003
Prabhu, N. S. (1987). Second language pedagogy. Oxford University Press.
Richards, K. (2009). Trends in qualitative research in language teaching since 2000. Language Teaching, 42(2), 147-180. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444808005612 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444808005612
Rubtsova, A. (2019). Socio-linguistic innovations in education: productive implementation of intercultural communication. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 497, 012059. https://doi.org/
1088/1757-899X/497/1/012059
Sãrcĕvić, S. (1997). New approach to legal translation. Kluwer Law International.
Scalia, A., Garner, B.A. (2012). Reading law: the interpretation of legal texts, Thomson West.
Schane, S. A. (2006). Language and the law. London: Continuum. https://doi.org/10.1017/S004740450
X
Sierocka, H. (2016). Action research in designing and implementing courses of English for legal purposes. Studies in logic, grammar and rhetoric, 45(58), 225-251. https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0026
Thornbury, S. (2017). 30 Language teaching methods. Cambridge University Press.
Tiersma, P. (1999). Legal language. University of Chicago Press.
Venuti, Lawrence (1995). The translator's invisibility. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.5195/jffp.1997.390 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/JFFP.1997.390
Widdowson, H. G. (1990). Aspects of language teaching. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.18172/
cif.2434
Williams, C. (2005). Tradition and change in legal English: verbal constructions in prescriptive texts. Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2006.09.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2006.09.009
William R., Mckay H. (2005). Legal English: how to understand & master the language of law, Pearson Longman.
Willis, J., Edwards, C. (2005). Teachers exploring tasks in English language teaching. Palgrave.