Multilingual legal cases can present your business with some extremely difficult obstacles to overcome. The meticulous nature of the case itself alongside the potential difficulties in miscommunication, or losing intent and cadence in the legal translation assistance process is a very real and daunting prospect.
The room for error in multilingual cases is small, and worse still, the ramifications of those mistakes are potentially long-lasting, life-changing, and severe. However, enlisting the help of a reputable translation company, in addition to not losing sight of the fundamentals, can help alleviate some of the pressures associated with such cases.
Here are our 5 tips for dealing with multilingual legal cases:
Make a Glossary
Law documents and communications are detailed enough in just one language, so when you’re potentially bringing multiple other languages into the fold, it’s important to make a glossary of terms.
Though a glossary may sound simplistic, it’s one of the most rudimentary essentials in reducing errors and misunderstandings with your translations.
Consider the Languages and Dialects
This cannot be stressed enough – regionality can further muddy what is already a tricky process. It’s one thing to have laws and regulations that apply to a specific country, but what about the slew of smaller cultures within that country?
It’s not just a matter of finding which languages need translating, it’s about understanding the potential idioms, terms, and different meanings that can exist in each and every area.
Keep Cultural and National Sensitivities in Mind
As stated above, different interpretations of words can exist within several areas of a country. Looking past the geographical considerations, there are many cultural sensitivities that also need to be kept in mind.
It’s not just about what’s on the page, either. In many countries, culture can dictate the legal process. If there’s a need to liaise with other cultures and nationalities during an arduous legal proceeding, you’ll need to be sensitive to this.
Stay in the Loop Regarding Any Legal Changes
Existing laws aren’t always set in stone. When it comes to legal matters, amendments and revisions are made every day.
Keeping up to date with this can be challenging enough on its own. However, when you bring translation into the fold, one small adjustment to law or the wording of said law can have extreme ramifications to your legal translations.
Leave Nothing to Chance and Work with the Best
The potential issues and obstacles in a multilingual legal case contain unlimited variables. One small error, change in law, or cultural oversight can lead to your entire case collapsing before you’ve even had the chance to present it.
With such a small margin for error, leave nothing to chance and enlist the help of a reputable legal translation company. While language is complicated, oversights and errors are universally understood and can be detrimental to your case, your business, and the people involved.
