FUNCTIONALISM IN LEGAL TRANSLATION: ANOTHER QUEST FOR ITS UNIVERSALITY

Valentina V. Stepanova

Abstract

The global world is constantly broadening the horizons of activities thus formulating the needs for competent translations. Translation in legal sphere is of prime importance as it is involved in governing and regulating all kinds of cooperation among nations. Despite the fact, that legal translation is traditionally included into the general translation studies, a good number of translators have been arguing the feasibility of such approach. The matter has become critical with further development of linguistic theories looking at translation through cross-cultural, cognitive, pragmatic and other aspects of communication. The present research focuses on functional approach in legal translation. Its aim is to prove or disprove its feasibility and universality in terms of types and genres within the legal domain, where both the semantic scope of the text, its structure, organization and conventions within a culture, are of crucial importance. Quality of translation will only benefit if it is oriented on the needs of the final reader with their very particular cultures. The practical part of this work also confirms the main concept of functionalism and statistically proves the efficacy of the approach, which takes addressee’s legal and linguistic expectations into consideration. The outcome of the research can contribute to translation studies and is relevant to both practical and educational purposes
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Keywords: functional approach, legal translation, target audience, legal context, legal culture.