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.
Table of Contents:
PART I: Introduction; 1: The concept of multilingual law; 2: Framework of models and an overview; PART II: Law; 3: Viewpoints of law; 4: Legal texts; 5: Law of language(s); PART III: Language; 6: Viewpoints of language; 7: Language(s) for legal purposes; PART IV: Signs; 8: Law and language as signs; PART V: Meaning; 9: Texts, terms and meanings; PART VI: Translation and revision; 10: Viewpoints of translation; 11: Revision; PART VII: Back-up, support and training; 12: Tools and technology; 13: Education and training; PART VIII: Framework, models and applications; 14: Framework for analysis and understanding; 15: Multilingual law; Appendices;
About the Author :
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.
Review :
'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
'Robertson meets the best possible requirements for having written such an incredibly ambitious book as he draws on his experience from legal services both in the UK government and the European Commission, as well as in the Court of Justice of the European Union. Also, the author has over twenty years of experience as lawyer-linguist in the Council of the European Union. All this background information accounts for credibility and reliability behind all the individual book chapters. '
Klaudia Bednarova-Gibova, University of Presov, Slovakia
