13

Official, legal and business translation

For the lay translator, the many genres of official, legal and business text can be just as disconcerting as scientific and technological ones. Here is an example of one such genre. It is the first part of an agreement on cultural exchange between Italy and Namibia. Before going on to the rest of the chapter, draft a translation of the text and make notes on its most striking features.

PREMESSA

Nell'ambito dell'accordo di scambio culturale tra l'Universita della Namibia e la Seconda Università degli Studi di NapoliÐapprovato dal Senato Accademico il 16.12.94 e dal Consiglio di Amministrazione il 21.12.94 per la migliore definizione dei programmi e degli impegni reciproci final izzati alla formazione 5 di un'ipotesi di lavoro di ricerca su temi specifici e con la conseguente applicazione di tali ricerche attraverso la realizzazione di Laboratori Sperimentali Inter-disciplinari;

·riconosciuta la necessità di una concreta cooperazione culturale Nord/Sud;

·riconosciuto il beneficio derivante dallo sviluppo di rapporti di lavoro basati 10 sul rispetto reciproco, rendendo ambo le parti eguali nella pianificazione, nello sviluppo, nell'esecuzione e nella verifica dei programmi;

·confermando la necessità di allargamento a tutte le aree disciplinari ritenute reciprocamente indispensabili al migliore risultato della cooperazione culturale internazionale per la crescita della intera Università della Namibia; 15 · riconosciuta l'opportunita di avviare l'inizio delle attività di ricerca

più urgenti;

appare indispensabile l'invio di una missione culturale finalizzata a:

1.Definizione e sottoscrizione della convenzione e del contratto;

2.20 Definizione del progetto generale, dei tempi e dei modi di attuazione;

3.Identificazione delle risorse economiche e dei canali di finanziamento attivabili;

THINKING ITALIAN TRANSLATION 131

4. Definizione delle risorse umane disponibili.

The biggest problem is the difference in style between a legal type of text and a text written in more everyday language. It is usual for an agreement or a contract to begin with the recitals, which introduce the subject of the text and put it into focus. However, Italian texts of this type often do not start with a clear unambiguous reference to the issue, either structurally or semantically. In fact, in this text, the grammatical focus only becomes clear after the bullet points: `appare indispensabile l'invio di una missione culturale'. This makes it difficult at first to follow the logic of the ST argument. Faced with complex syntax and discourse in a less specialized type of text, the translator would obviously consider a degree of textual reorganization. However, translators of texts like this one, where the format is almost as important as the content, have no opportunity for large-scale reorganization, but only for local grammatical transposition. They therefore have to carry out a careful `reconnaissance' of the ST, undertaking an exercise in orienteering in order to get their bearings.

In the first part of this ST, up to the bullet points, the mass of information somehow has to be coherently rechannelled into an acceptable form in the TT, using appropriate lexis and register. Moreover, the translator is normally required to respect the original formulation in terms of layout. Reconciling these aspects is what makes translating such texts a real challenge.

One approach is to produce a framework as a starting-point which can subsequently be fleshed out into the full TT. This framework could consist of a summary of the different constituent parts in note form, so as to gain a clear overall pictureÐor, returning to the reconnaissance metaphorÐan aerial view of the ST in terms of coordinates.

The next problem is understanding the coordinates themselves. The ST contains nouns such as `programmi', `ipotesi di lavoro', `opportunità' and `ricerca' which are unaccompanied by detail in the ST context, thus making it difficult to know exactly what is intended. The difficulty stems in part from the fact that English often tends to use verbal constructions in cases where Italian uses a more static, conceptual, nominalized style. (See Chapter 16 for discussion of this question.)

The emphasis in this ST on concepts rather than instances of them in practice requires the translator to interpret contextual references in a rather general conceptual framework. What is more, no matter how complex or confusing the ST, the TT reader will expect a translation that is presented in the form of an official agreement, and which clearly defines the parameters, so that all parties concerned will know what their respectives roles and functions are.

Another commonly translated genre is the chairman's report and letter to shareholders. These are usually accompanied by accounts, often in summary form. Here are two extracts from such texts, for comment on salient features and draft translation. Which elements constitute translation problems, and how can they best be tackled? (The STs are based on an existing report and part of a

132 OFFICIAL, LEGAL AND BUSINESS TRANSLATION

balance sheet, but the company name and details are fictitious.) ST 1 is the beginning of the chairman's report.

ST1

ASTRA COSTRUZIONI S.R.L.

Sede in PratoÐVia del Commercio, 41

Capitale Sociale L. 215.000.000 interamente versato Iscritta nel registro delle Imprese di Firenze al n. 6294/FI

5 Codice Fiscale n. 00395719305

RELAZIONE DELL' AMMINISTRATORE UNICO SULLA GESTIONE

DELL'ESERCIZIO 1996

Signori Soci,

Viene sottoposto al Vostro esame ed approvazione il Bilancio al 31.12.1996 10 composto dallo Stato Patrimoniale, dal Conto Economico e dalla Nota Integrativa che ne costituisce parte integrante e nella quale risultano indicati i principi di formazione del Bilancio ed i relativi criteri valutativi e sono fornite tutte le informazioni richieste dall'art. 2427 C.C. e dalle altre disposizioni di Legge.

15 Con la presente Relazione, che accompagna ed illustra l'attività ed il Bilancio del trascorso esercizio, diamo ai Soci le informazioni richieste dall'art. 2428 del C.C.

The following items are extracts from the accompanying balance sheet. They provide a good example of the standard terminology and layout. What reference materials would you consult before translating this part of the text? (The items in bold and italic are section headings.)

ST2

BILANCIO AL 31.12.96

STATO PATRIMONIALE

Attivo

Crediti vs. soci per versamenti ancora dovuti 5 Immobilizzazioni

Immobilizzazioni immateriali Immobilizzazioni materiali Immobilizzazioni finanziarie Partecipazioni in imprese controllate

10 Crediti:

THINKING ITALIAN TRANSLATION 133

· verso imprese collegate

Altri titoli

Attivo circolante

Rimanenze

15 Crediti:

·verso clienti

·esigibili entro l'esercizio successivo

·esigibili oltre l'esercizio successivo

Disponibilità liquide 20 Ratei e risconti

Totale attivo

Passivo

Patrimonio netto

Capitale

25 Riserve statutarie

Fondi per rischi e oneri

Trattamento di fine lavoro subordinato Debiti

Totale passivo

Documents of this type are generally set out in a standard format, which varies with the nature, size and business of a company. However, there are basic differences in types of company across the world, and this variety is a problem. If it is necessary to translate a company type, a decision will have to be taken based on advice from the firm that has commissioned the translation.

Take, for example, `Srl': `società a responsabilità limitata'. In Britain, there are several types of limited company: a limited liability company, a private limited company (Ltd) and a public limited company (plc). Therefore, the translator may have some difficulty in deciding which, if any, of these types is broadly equivalent to the ST company. The problem of translation does not arise when the abbreviation is used, as this can be transcribed as it stands, e.g. SpA in Italy, GmbH in Germany or SA in France.

As with any genre, translators need to have some familiarity with texts of similar type written in English, so that the appropriate register, terminology and conventions are used in the TT. It must be borne in mind, however, that Italian accounts are often much more complex than Englishlanguage ones, and contain a plethora of items which in English may be subsumed under a single entry. Bugbears which assail inexperienced translators are terms like `crediti' and `debiti', which may appear under both assets and liabilities, initially causing some confusion. Another point which is often a problem in accounts is the use of very

THINKING ITALIAN TRANSLATION 135

20 Art.1 [etc.]

A number of the challenging features in this text include specific references to legislation. Though legal systems and legislation share common features, there is a distinct lack of equivalence between different countries as regards legislative bodies and instruments. The terms of reference in this text differ substantially from those used in British legislation. For example, Italy is a republic, and has a legal system based on the Napoleonic Code. Hence terms such as `DPR' (`Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica'), `decreto-legge', `decreto regionale', and so on. One can even find `DR' (`decreto regio'), referring to laws passed under the monarchy (before 1948). The formulations also appear far more complex than in English contexts, as in the text above.

The search for legal equivalence is therefore sometimes fruitless. The translator's objective is to convey as clearly as possible the concept in question, so that it is both accurate and understandable to the target readership, which may be specialized, lay, or both. The language adopted will also need to be in current use. Looking through a legal dictionary will show just how many historical terms are still currently used in the English legal systemÐ`lien', `tort', `estoppel', `garnishment', `chattels', etc. The translator must find out if and when such terms may be used when translating from the language of a country whose institutions and precepts differ from TL ones. Certain differences are taken for granted. In England and Wales law is based on precedent, while in Italy it is enshrined in the Codes: Codice Civile (C.C.), Codice di Procedura Civile (C.P.C.), Codice Penale (C.P.), etc. Such terms are best translated, especially where the original contains an abbreviation.

Legal language also typically uses Latin expressions, many of which are specific to a particular legal system. Translating into Italian is less problematic than into English, as Italians are more likely than their English-speaking counterparts to be able to understand Latin expressions. Often, a Latin expression in an Italian ST, though retained in the TT, will require a footnote or gloss by the translator to explain its sense in the context.

In translating Italian legal texts, then, the accent will be on accuracy, clarity and avoidance of ambiguity. Where necessary, footnotes or translator's notes will be used. Technical terms used in the United Kingdom will often be unacceptable, because too culture-specific. Take even such an apparently uncomplicated term as `legge'. The parallel instrument in the United Kingdom is an Act (of Parliament), but using this term to denote an Italian law would cause cultural confusion. Similarly, the term `avvo-cato' has a number of parallels, according to the legal system in question and the specific context: it may denote a solicitor, barrister, advocate, attorney or counsel.

Translating Italian legal texts therefore requires at least a basic knowledge of the SL and TL legal systems, as well as research into the specific area in question Ðcriminal law, commercial law, contract law, etc. And, with experience, it will become second nature to the translator to use `will' and `shall' accurately in conveying function and obligation, to use passive forms, and to insert initial

136 OFFICIAL, LEGAL AND BUSINESS TRANSLATION

capital letters correctly, as the example below from a draft contract shows to good effect:

hereinafter referred to as

5the Client

It is agreed as follows: The client requires the services of the Interpreter for an international conference/meeting between ........ 200.. and .......

200.. at for interpreting duties from ......... and into ....... .

101. Interpreter's Duties The Interpreter will be available at the venue from ............. to ............. 200.. for ............. days of simultaneous/ consecutive interpreting work for a period not exceeding an eight-hour day. (Where the working day exceeds eight hours, additional hours shall be subject to overtime, at a rate to be agreed.)

152. Fees The Client shall pay the Interpreter a fee of £............. for each half day worked (up to three hours), and £............. for each full day worked. The hourly rate for overtime shall be £............. per hour. Expenses as outlined below shall also be charged.

Last, but not least, recent changes in the Italian legal system have engendered new abbreviations, such as `g.i.p' (`giudice per le indagini preliminari'), a function which used to be the responsibility of the giudice istruttore. In this case, both may be translated as `examining magistrate' or `investigating magistrate', but translators have to keep up to date with any changes.

As with any area, the debutant translator should build up for reference purposes a portfolio of `parallel texts' in both languages, such as contracts and tenders, balance sheets, certificates and official documents. This makes it possible to get a feel for different types of document and register, to understand how they work, what they are for and the specialist language used. The conventions used in both languages will gradually become apparent, and can be automatically applied in translation. There is no model translation for documents. The essential requirement is that the translation should accurately reflect the purpose for which the ST was written, that the TT format should accurately correspond to the ST format, and that the TT should take into consideration any cultural gaps which the reader may not be able to bridge without assistance. A good example of such a gap is the translation of a degree, A-level or Scottish Higher certificate: degree courses have a different structure in Italy, and there is no exact equivalent to British school exams. The licenza liceale in Italy follows a completely different pattern from A-levels or Highers: any translation will necessarily reflect the cultural and educational differences.