AL-MUTARĞIM المترجم
Volume 6, Numéro 1, Pages 125-133
2006-06-30

The Court Awards It And The Law Doth Give It: Equity, Common Law And The Problems Of Translating Legal Texts

Authors : Mohammed Yazid Bendjeddou .

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the problems in translating legal texts. The discussion is based on a precise example taken from Shakespeare novel: The Merchant of Venice. This example shows the difference between the notions of Equity and Common law. This paper is divided into two parts. In the first, I am going to analyse the difficulties may arise in translating “ Trial Scene” in the Merchant of Venice; which is characterized by the conflict between Equity and Common law. Based on this analysis, I am going to discuss some problems related to legal translation. My discussion will be supported by theoretical references.

Keywords

Equity; Common Law; Legal Texts; Merchant of Venice; Conflict.