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| Edition: |
Master |
| ECTS Credits: |
10 ECTS |
| Points (*): |
10 ECTS |
Semester: |
Spring 2012 |
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| Educational level: |
Master level |
| Other teachers: |
Associate Professor, Ph.D. Anne Lise Kjær |
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| Teaching period: |
Monday 1-4
1. day: Monday 30.1.2012 |
| Aim: |
The main objective of the course is to study, from a combined legal and linguistic perspective, problems relating to legislative drafting and legal interpretation in multilingual legal settings, i.e. national, international, and supranational legal orders with more than one official language. Inevitably, due to the cultural and linguistic relativity of legal languages, the language versions of a multilingual legal text will differ with respect to the meaning conveyed and thus give rise to drafting and interpretation problems, especially when the language versions are all furnished with equal authenticity. Moreover, the course will introduce the students to European legal harmonisation and cause them to reflect on the possibility of establishing a common European legal language which is independent from the national legal languages of the EU Member States. Finally, the course will discuss the notions of transnational law and global legal English.
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| Course description: |
In the course of time the problems relating to multilingualism have been treated differently in different legal orders. The course will give a survey of the rules and case law given within the UN system, the European Court of Human Rights, and, especially, the European Union as regards multilingualism.
For a full understanding of the problems of multilingualism it is necessary to have basic knowledge of the characteristics of legal language and legal translation. Thus, another major part of the course consists in giving an introduction to these subjects: Why is legal language special? Why is it difficult to translate legal texts from one language into another? What is meant by linguistic and cultural relativity? What are the methods of translation developed in translation theory? Of what relevance are the insights of language and translation theory to the problems of preparing and interpreting multilingual legal texts?
The focus of the course is to give the students an introduction to theoretical discussions of problems relating to multilingualism in international law and EU law. In order to substantiate the theoretical understanding of problems of multilingualism in law, the students will be asked to analyze and compare, under teacher guidance, divergences in style and characteristics between legal texts in English, German, and French legal languages as reflections of divergences between national legal cultures. |
| Competence Description: |
To achieve the grade 12, students must be able to:
• Describe rules governing multilingualism in diverse national legal systems and international organisations and define the meaning of multilingualism, legal language, legal culture, legal translation, legal harmonisation, and transnational law.
• Explain the bearing that linguistic diversity has on international legal drafting and legal interpretation
• Analyze and compare divergences in style and characteristics between legal texts in English, German, and French legal languages as reflections of divergences between national legal cultures
• On the basis of language and translation theories, analyze and comment on court decisions applying multilingual legal interpretation.
• Discuss and reflect critically on theories of legal cultures and legal harmonization
• Reflect critically on multilingual legal regimes, the use of global legal English, and the possibility and viability of establishing a common European legal language in a way that shows that the student is able to combine knowledge and insights of both law and linguistics.
• Communicate and formulate his or her knowledge and arguments fluently and correctly in a structured and coherent way
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| Recommended qualifications: |
The course will be conducted in English. A good command of English is necessary as the course is based on active participation by the students. Basic level knowledge of German and / or French is recommended, but NOT required, and students are not expected to speak those languages. |
| Assessment: |
Oral examination on the basis of cumulative report |
| Time of Exam: |
10.-11. and 14.-16. May 2012 (preliminary dates) |
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| Comments: |
The course is intended for both international and Danish students. |
| Examination requirements: |
Anne Lise Kjær & Silvia Adamo (eds.): Linguistice Diversity and European Democracy. Ashgate 2011 (220 s.).
Heikki Mattila: Comparative Legal Linguistics. Ashgate 2006. (Herfra ca. 130 s.)
Text binder of app. 200 pages
Pensum app. 550 pages.
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| Teaching language: |
Only English
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| Last updated: |
28/9-2011 |