Cover not available
Article published In:
The Role of ISO/TC 37 Standards for Translators, Interpreters, Terminologists and Beyond
Edited by Hendrik J. Kockaert
[Digital Translation 10:2] 2023
► pp. 156–179

Terminology standards and their relevance for legal interpreters and translators

Results of an exploratory study in Austria and Italy

ORCID logo | Eurac Research
ORCID logo | University of Vienna
ORCID logo | Austrian Academy of Sciences

Legal interpreters and translators (LITs) play a crucial role in ensuring equitable treatment within the EU and facilitating international mobility. These professionals actively engage in terminology work, similar to other translators and interpreters. This exploratory study examines the degree of familiarity LITs have with terminology principles and standards, based on an online survey conducted among LIT associations in Austria and Italy. A significant portion of respondents reported engaging in terminology work, underlining its professional relevance. The prevalent usage of traditional tools like word processors and paper is evident, whereas the adoption of advanced systems remains limited. Despite more than half of the participants demonstrating awareness of terminology standards, access to specific standards was infrequent. A considerable number of respondents did not perceive terminology standards as essential for their practical undertakings. Only a minority were familiar with either national or ISO terminology standards. The study uncovered a lack of comprehensive understanding and implementation of terminology management principles. While terminology remains indispensable for LITs, its effective management is often overlooked. It is crucial to improve the dissemination of information and encourage collaborative efforts with relevant organizations to enhance awareness and foster proficient utilization of terminology.

Keywords: legal interpreters and translators, terminology management, legal translation, legal interpreting, standards
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Legal interpreters and translators
  • 3.Terminology standards
  • 4.Method
  • 5.Results
  • 6.Discussion
  • 7.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 15 December 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dt.00006.chi
References
Arntz, Reiner, Heribert Picht, and Klaus-Dirk Schmitz
2021 Einführung in die Terminologiearbeit, 8th ed. Hildesheim: OLMS.Google Scholar
Arntz, Reiner, and Peter Sandrini
2007 “Präzision versus Vagheit: Das Dilemma der Rechtssprache im Lichte von Rechtsvergleich und Sprachvergleich.” In Indeterminacy in LSP and Terminology: Studies in Honour of Heribert Picht, edited by Bassey M. Antia, 135–53. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
AssITIG (Associazione Italiana Traduttori e Interpreti Giudiziari)
2012 Statuto. Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
2017 “Regolamento Ammissione AssITIG.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
n.d. a “Categorie soci.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
n.d. b “L’associazione.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
n.d. c “Elenco professionisti.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
Biel, Lucja
2011 “Professional Realism in the Legal Translation Classroom: Translation Competence and Translator Competence.” Meta: Journal des Traducteurs/Meta: Translators’ Journal 56 (1): 162–78. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bowker, Lynne
2015 “Terminology and Translation.” In Handbook of Terminology, edited by Hendrik J. Kockaert and Frieda Steurs, Vol. 11, 2nd ed., 304–323. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
“
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. OJ C 326, 391–407” 2012 EUR-Lex 26 October. Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
Chiocchetti, Elena, Natascia Ralli, Vesna Lušicky, and Tanja Wissik
2013 “Spanning Bridges between Theory and Practice: Terminology Workflow in the Legal and Administrative Domain.” Comparative Legilinguistics 161: 7–22. [URL]
Chiocchetti, Elena, Tanja Wissik, Vesna Lušicky, and Michael Wetzel
2017 “Quality Assurance in Multilingual Legal Terminological Databases.” The Journal of Specialised Translation 271: 164–88.Google Scholar
Corpas Pastor, Gloria, and Lily May Fern
2016 A Survey of Interpreters’ Needs and Practices Related to Language Technology. Málaga: University of Málaga.Google Scholar
Council of Europe
. “European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms” 2010 1 June. Accessed June 5, 2023. Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
DIN
2013 Begriffe und Benennungen – Allgemeine Grundsätze [Concepts and terms – General principles]. DIN 2330:2013. Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Normung.Google Scholar
2011 Begriffe der Terminologielehre [Vocabulary of terminology]. DIN 2342:2011. Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Normung.Google Scholar
n.d. “A brief Introduction to Standards.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
Directive 2010/64/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings, OJ L 280
October 26, 2010, 1–7.
Drewer, Petra, and Klaus-Dirk Schmitz
2017 Terminologiemanagement. Grundlagen – Methoden – Werkzeuge. Berlin: Springer Verlag. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Driesen, Christiane, and George Drummond
2011 “The ‘Tandem’ Method Training Interpreters to Work at National Courts”. FORUM International Journal of Interpretation and Translation 9 (2):139–156. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Durán Muñoz, Isabel
2012 “Meeting Translators’ Needs: Translation-oriented Terminological Management and Applications.” The Journal of Specialised Translation 181: 77–92.Google Scholar
Engberg, Jan
2021 “Legal Translation as Communication of Knowledge: On the Creation of Bridges.” Parallèles 33 (1): 6–17.Google Scholar
EULITA
n.d. “EULITA – European Legal Interpreters and Translators Association.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
European Commission
2022 “European Master’s in Translation. Competence Framework 2017.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
Guala, Chito, and Maria Grazia Fischer
2007 “Le tecniche di rilevazione a distanza. Questionari postali, interviste telefoniche CATI, ricerca on line .” In Ricerca sociale. Tecniche speciali di rilevazione, trattamento e analisi, edited by Leonardo Cannavò and Luigi Frudà, 21–48. Rome: Carocci.Google Scholar
Hertog, Erik
2008 “Legal Interpreting and Translation in the EU: Justice, Freedom and Security through Language.” EULITA. Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
2009 “Recommendations for Best Practices in the Provision of Legal Interpreting in the Member States of the European Union.” Interpreting and Translation Studies 12 (2): 271–298.Google Scholar
Hurtado Albir, Amparo
ed. 2017 Researching Translation Competence by PACTE Group. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
ISO
2002 Translation-oriented terminography. ISO 12616:2002. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2009 Terminology work – Principles and methods. ISO 704:2009. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2015 Translation services – Requirements for translation services. ISO 17100:2015. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2019 Terminology work and terminology science – Vocabulary. ISO 1087:2019. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2019 Management of terminology resources – Data category specifications. ISO 12620:2019. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization (Withdrawn July 8, 2022).Google Scholar
2019 Interpreting services – Legal interpreting – Requirements. ISO 20228:2019. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2019 Management of terminology resources – Terminology databases – Part 1: Design. ISO 26162-1:2019. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2020 Legal translation – Requirements. ISO 20771:2020. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2020 Terminology policies – Development and implementation. ISO 29383:2020. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2021 Terminology work in support of multilingual communication – Part 1: Fundamentals of translation-oriented terminography. ISO 12616-1:2021. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2022 Terminology work – Principles and methods. ISO 704:2022. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
2022 Management of terminology resources – Data categories – Part 1: Specifications. ISO 12620-1:2022. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar
Kadrić, Mira
2019 Gerichts- und Behördendolmetschen. Prozessrechtliche und translatorische Perspektiven. Wien: Facultas.Google Scholar
Kageura, Kyo, and Elizabeth Marshman
2020 “Terminology Extraction and Management.” In The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Technology, edited by Minako O’Hagan, 61–77. Abingdon: Routledge.Google Scholar
Löckinger, Georg, Hendrik J. Kockaert, and Gerhard Budin
2015 “Intensional Definitions.” In Handbook of Terminology, edited by Hendrik J. Kockaert and Frieda Steurs, Vol. 11, 60–81. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Niska, Helge
2002 “Introduction to Terminology and Terminological Tools.” In Traducción e interpretación en los servicios públicos. Nuevas necesidades para nuevas realidades. Community Interpreting and Translating: New Needs for New Realities, edited by Carmen Valero Garcés and Mancho Barés Guzmán, 37–49. Madrid: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Alcalá.Google Scholar
ÖNORM
2015 Terminologiearbeit – Grundsätze und Methoden [Terminology work – Principles and methods]. ÖNORM A 2704:2015. Vienna: Austrian Standards International.Google Scholar
ÖVGD (Österreichischer Verband der allgemein beeideten und gerichtlich zertifizierten Dolmetscher)
2020a “Frauenberuf Gerichtsdolmetscherin: Schlecht bezahlt im Dienste der Behörden.” Press release March 2, 2020.Google Scholar
2020b “Die Justiz stirbt einen stillen Tod – Gezeigt am Beispiel der Gerichtsdolmetscher*innen.” Press release October 27, 2020.Google Scholar
ÖVGD
n.d. a “Über den ÖGDV. Allgemeines.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
n.d. b “Gerichtsdolmetscher werden. Zulassungsvoraussetzungen.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
n.d. c “Gerichtsdolmetscher werden. Prüfung.” Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL]
Prieto Ramos, Fernando
2014 “Parameters for Problem-Solving in Legal Translation: Implications for Legal Lexicography and Institutional Terminology Management.” In The Ashgate Handbook of Legal Translation, edited by Le Cheng, King Kui Sin and Anne Wagner, 121–134. Farnham: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Pym, Anthony, Francois Grin, Claudio Sfreddo, and Andy L. J. Chan
2013 The Status of the Translation Profession in the European Union. London/New York: Anthem Press.Google Scholar
Sandrini, Peter
2014 “Multinational Legal Terminology in a Paper Dictionary?” In Legal Lexicography: A Comparative Perspective, edited by Máirtín Mac Aodha, 141–52. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Scarpa, Federica, and Daniele Orlando
2017 “What It Takes to Do It Right: An Integrative EMT-Based Model for Legal Translation Competence.” The Journal of Specialised Translation 271: 21–42.Google Scholar
Schmitz, Klaus-Dirk
2012 “Terminologienormung und Terminologieplanung – Wie kann das Dolmetschen davon profitieren?” In Dolmetschqualität in Praxis, Lehre und Forschung: Festschrift für Sylvia Kalina, edited by Barbara Ahrens, Michaela Albl-Mikasa and Claudia Sasse, 229–38. Tübingen: Narr Verlag.Google Scholar
2017 “Terminologienormen für Spracharbeiter: Übersetzer, Terminologen, Technische Redakteure.” In Normen für Übersetzer und Technische Redakteure, edited by Klaus-Dirk Schmitz, 7–21. Berlin: Beuth.Google Scholar
SDG – Bundesgesetz über die allgemein beeideten und gerichtlich zertifizierten Sachverständigen und Dolmetscher (Sachverständigen- und Dolmetschergesetz)
Federal Law Gazette for the Republic of Austria, No. 137/1975. Accessed June 5, 2023. [URL].
UNI
2020 Lavori terminologici e scienza della terminologia – Vocabolario. UNI ISO 1087:2020. Roma: Ente italiano di normazione.Google Scholar
Valero-Garcés, Carmen
2005 “Terminology and Ad Hoc Interpreters in Public Services. An Empirical Study.” The Journal of Specialised Translation 31: 75–96.Google Scholar
Wright, Sue Ellen, and Leland D. Wright
1997 “Terminology Management for Technical Translation.” In Handbook of Terminology Management, edited by Gerhard Budin and Sue Ellen Wright, 147–59. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar