Apr 9, 2018 10:37:02 PM by Ludy F
If in the source of a legal text to be translated, you bump into words written with a capital letter, and need to translate them into German, while retaining that capital letter, how do you proceed?
I mean, in the source text, these words are capitalized to distinguish them from others.
For example: The Customer will sign the Contract to receive the Goods.
In German the words Kunde, Kontrakt and Güter are always written with capitals: Der Kunde unterzeichnet den Kontrakt um die Güter zu erhalten.
How would you translate this?
Another example: Terms written with a capital letter in this Contract shall, insofar as the context allows this, have the following meaning.
How would you translate this phrase?
Many thanks for your input!
Apr 9, 2018 11:11:36 PM Edited Apr 9, 2018 11:50:29 PM by Petra R
@Ludy F wrote:If in the source of a legal text to be translated, you bump into words written with a capital letter, and need to translate them into German, while retaining that capital letter, how do you proceed?
I mean, in the source text, these words are capitalized to distinguish them from others.
For example: The Customer will sign the Contract to receive the Goods.
In German the words Kunde, Kontrakt and Güter are always written with capitals: Der Kunde unterzeichnet den Kontrakt um die Güter zu erhalten.
How would you translate this?
Another example: Terms written with a capital letter in this Contract shall, insofar as the context allows this, have the following meaning.
How would you translate this phrase?
That creates a slight issue which you'll have to bring up with the client, maybe something else can be used.
I'd probably never use "Kontrakt" by the way. It's a "Vertrag."
In general I would gently question the wisdom of translating legal text into a non-native language.
Apr 10, 2018 10:54:51 AM by Ludy F
Vielen Dank, Petra.
I'm not the one translating the text, so no need to doubt this client's wisdom. Plus, I know an excellent English & Dutch to German translator. If any unwise clients ask me to translate into German, I always direct them to that better translator.
The "Kontrakt" was only meant as an example, so the suggestion to replace it by "Vertrag" is well-intended, but not needed. I wasn't asking about that.
There's nothing wrong with asking the client, but I'd just hoped to hear a more creative suggestion.
Thanks nonetheless!
Apr 10, 2018 11:44:21 AM Edited Apr 10, 2018 12:08:08 PM by Petra R
@Ludy F wrote:There's nothing wrong with asking the client, but I'd just hoped to hear a more creative suggestion.
It is a contract translation! You can get "creative" with all sorts, but not with legal translations as you'd be altering a legal document.
That sure as hell should not be done without asking the client HOW to alter said legal document.
Any other suggestion would involve actually changing something.
Apr 10, 2018 01:43:24 PM by Jennifer R
One way to solve the problem is to use small capitals, but some clients prefer italics or semi-bold letters. Depending on what solution has been used you change the definition in the sentence below.
Terms written with a capital letter in this Contract shall, insofar as the context allows this, have the following meaning.
Apr 11, 2018 12:30:41 AM by Ludy F
The solution to the problem seems to me a combination of both answers.
I'll tell my friend to contact his client, and to suggest using a different font style for the specific terms.
Many thanks to you both!