Paradigms and approach, style and word choosing are very bit important in a translation and indeed they are the pieces that will eventually proof a translation as accurate or not. But unlike in many artistic expressions where many times the process is king, in translation the accuracy of the translation is a key. Of course, the question that comes after that is “What is exactly accuracy” or “Accurate to what meaning?”.
In legal translation, this question is still vibrant and the multiple answers are embodied by the multiple paradigms or approaches. If we take a simplifying approach we’ll see that a translation can be accurate either to the target language (the one to which we want to translate) and target legal system, or to the source (or original) language and legal system. And we know that in legal translation it is not possible to go either way and be truly accurate.
Many studies have been made, as well as attempts, to create paradigms that answer all the questions, but ultimately none has been able to accomplish this feat. It is then always up to the translator’s knowledge and how-to and it is always his responsibility to choose the solution that would create, if you allow me this figure of speech, a twin text in the target language and target legal system. Creating this twin text or translation is as most of the great work a team work, of translator, editor, and documentation. Our translators and editors, at DTS, understand and embrace this work and pursue the creation of the “twin text” or “perfect translation” with the most suitable paradigms for each situation.