June 28, 2010
Author James W. Loewen has run up against some unprecedented issues with the Chinese translation of his book, Lies My Teacher Told Me. The book examines popular American History textbooks and criticises their biased approach to historical events and figures. The book was first published in 1995, and an updated hardcover edition was produced in 2008. This was also the year Loewen and professor Ma Wanli of Hongkong University in Nanchang began discussing the English Chinese translation of the book.
When writing the preface for the Chinese translation, Loewen commented that it might also benefit China to take a more critical look at their historical teachings in schools. The Chinese translation was completed in December 2008, but Loewen received an email from the translator in 2009, asking him to revise the preface. Despite his compliance in re-writing portions of the preface, when the Chinese English translation of his book was published late last year, the preface was excluded entirely.
Censorship in the People’s Republic of China often results in the banning of any publications that show the republic in a less than favourable light, and those wishing to challenge this system may find themselves in hot water with the need of a legal translation company. Both James Loewen and Ma Wanli were disappointed by this censorship of the Chinese translation, and express the hopes that the book itself will prompt more self-criticism in Chinese academic circles.
June 21, 2010
Legal translation is a highly valued service, with translators in the UK and Ireland assisting in cases that require Polish, Lithuanian, Mandarin and even Swahili interpretation. However, the Irish Courts Service claims that legal translations have cost the state, and therefore taxpayers, a monumental €3.6 million in 2008 and €3 million in 2009. They now aim to enforce new rules that will dramatically reduce the financial implications of hiring a court interpreter.
The Irish Courts Service has initiated a scheme in some towns whereby all cases requiring legal translation will be held on the same day, instead of being divided into separate court sittings. This means legal translation professionals will not need to spend the whole day in the courthouse waiting for one or two cases. The changes are designed not only to cut costs incurred by the state, but to save the legal translation company involved time and money.
Cases involving foreign nationals can only be assured of a just outcome when competent legal translation is provided. In fact, legal translation services were required in no fewer than 10,200 cases in 2009 alone. The new scheme is being initiated in Ireland’s border counties, with a view to reduce expenses and increase the efficiency of the essential legal translation service.
March 16, 2010
Recent developments in legal translation within the European Union (EU) may represent significant progress in relations between EU member states, in terms of a more cohesive way of dealing with inter-country cases.
The European Commission has called for the standardisation of procedural rights and access to interpretation and translation services for anyone facing a trial conducted in a foreign language in a country which is not their own.
Should it be passed the new legislation will mean that anyone accused of a crime anywhere within the EU will have a fair trial. Actual cases in which suspects received unfair convictions primarily due to a language barrier provide motivation for the proposal. Foreign language citizens on trial have in the past been barred from consulting with lawyers in their own language, and have not been given translations of legal documents, such as written evidence against them.
Such situations require the expertise of specialised legal translators, who can interpret documents in terms of both language and legal jargon. The call for provision of legal translations and equal rights for all EU citizens is only the first of many measures the EU plans to implement. The ultimate goal is to cement a common set of standards for all criminal cases in all member states.
The Lisbon Treaty was also an influence on the motion. Signed by EU member states in December 2009, it stated that powers within the EU must work to enhance the rights of all EU citizens, as outlined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
As it stands the proposal will enhance suspects’ rights to a legal translation service and interpretation in three main ways. Interpreters must be provided to facilitate communication between lawyers and the accused individuals they represent, and also during trial or any additional questioning. Secondly, any important documents relevant to the case of an accused will be translated into their own language in writing. And finally, all costs for professional translation and interpretations services must be footed by the EU member state, and not by the accused.
If the motion is passed, all suspects undergoing trial in any EU country will benefit massively from access to proper legal translation and interpretation. In the interests of justice and in a culturally diverse structure such as the EU it is crucial that all citizens are dealt with equally and fairly before the law.
The EU Civil Liberties Committee yesterday came to the agreement that all EU citizens should in future have the right to a language translator when faced with any criminal charges in a foreign language country. Proceedings are underway to implement language translation as a legal right and a vote will take place next week in Strasbourg to have the new law implemented across all member states of the EU. What does this mean for citizens requiring foreign language translation services?