1st Edition
Multilingual Law A Framework for Analysis and Understanding
This book introduces and explores the concept of multilingual law. Providing an overview as to what is 'multilingual law', the study establishes a new discourse based on this concept, which has hitherto lacked recognition for reasons of complexity and multidisciplinarity. The need for such a discourse now exists and is becoming urgent in view of the progress being made towards European integration and the legal and factual foundation for it in multilingualism and multilingual legislation.
Covering different types of multilingual legal orders and their distinguishing features, as well as the basic structure of legal systems, the author studies policy formation, drafting, translation, revision, terminology and computer tools in connection with the legislative and judicial processes.
Bringing together a range of diverse legal and linguistic ideas under one roof, this book is of importance to legal-linguists, drafters and translators, as well as students and scholars of legal linguistics, legal translation and revision.
PART I: Introduction
Chapter 1: The concept of multilingual law
Chapter 2: Framework of models and an overview
PART II: Law
Chapter 3: Viewpoints of law
Chapter 4: Legal texts
Chapter 5: Law of language(s)
PART III: Language
Chapter 6: Viewpoints of language
Chapter 7: Language(s) for legal purposes
PART IV: Signs
Chapter 8: Law and language as signs
PART V: Meaning
Chapter 9: Texts, terms and meanings
PART VI: Translation and revision
Chapter 10: Viewpoints of translation
Chapter 11: Revision
PART VII: Back-up, support and training
Chapter 12: Tools and technology
Chapter 13: Education and training
PART VIII: Framework, models and applications
Chapter 14: Framework for analysis and understanding
Chapter 15: Multilingual law
Appendices
Biography
Colin Robertson is a member of the Law Society of Scotland and worked for many years as legal-linguistic expert on EC and EU legislative texts at the Council of the European Union, Brussels. He has published on issues related to law and language.
'Drawing a broad picture of the numerous dimensions of multilingual law from various viewpoints of law and language, this book provides an excellent introduction to multilingual legal drafting, legal translation, legal lexicography and related areas. Its focus on practical matters makes it particularly useful for practitioners and students.'
Susan Šarčević, University of Rijeka, Croatia
'Colin Robertson provides a practical perspective on multilingual law, the culmination of his experience as a lawyer-linguist at the European Union. His insightful approach to the topic constitutes an original contribution to this interdisciplinary field, and even lay readers will be attracted by his highly engaging style of writing.'
Christopher Williams, University of Foggia, Italy
`A masterly study of the subject, combining a wealth of scholarly research with the author’s extensive practical experience.’
Professor Thomas G. Watkin, Formerly First Welsh Legislative Counsel, UK
