INGLESE GIURIDICO E TRADUZIONE INGLESE-ITALIANO
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Core prerequisite is the knowledge of the English language equal or superior to the B1 level defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. During the course, it will be paid particular attention to any specific need of grammatical and/or terminological review and students will have the possibility to receive online indications for autonomous exercises and integrative readings. It is suggested to attend a basic course of Legal English. The full attendance of the course and the achievement of a mark equal to or higher than 25/30 allows the student to reach a B2 level.
The final assessment consists of a written examination and includes various types of exercises, such as — by way of example but not limited to — translations, matching or gap-filling tests, expression conversion tasks (from Legalese to Plain English and vice versa), and/or multiple-choice or true/false questions. The use of monolingual and/or bilingual dictionaries, as well as English–Italian legal and commercial glossaries, is permitted during the exam. The possible use of generative AI tools during the exam will be subject to prior evaluation, authorization, and communication by the instructor before the end of the semester. It should be noted that, if such authorization is granted, the written exam will be subject to an integrative assessment on a thirty-point scale that will take into account the use of AI tools.
The course aims to develop advanced competencies in reading, interpreting, and translating legal texts from Legal English into Italian. It is devoted to the analysis of stylistic, lexical, and grammatical techniques used in legal drafting in both English and Italian. Particular attention is given to the formal and informal contexts of written legal communication, as well as to the differences between Legalese and Plain English. Throughout the course, students will read, translate, and examine various types of legal texts. The objective is to highlight the main principles of legal writing and translation, the techniques for understanding source texts, the phases of the translation process, commonly applied interpretative methods, frequent translation errors, terminological ambiguities, and techniques of summarization. The course also explores key translation principles such as equivalence, compensation, and differential frequency. Additionally, students will study stylistic conventions, the communicative purposes of legal documents, the most common formats, and the translation of binding legal instruments, with a particular focus on contracts. The course also incorporates constant linguistic and legal comparisons between Common Law and Civil Law systems. It includes an analysis of the linguistic impact of international organizations on the development of Legal English, with specific reference to the language used in European Union institutions. Essential jurisprudential references will be provided to support accurate translation into Italian. Students will also learn to construct databases and specialized glossaries to support the translation of English legal texts, and will be guided through various online research tools and resources relevant to the topics covered. A contemporary component of the course focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence tools for the drafting and translation of legal texts in both Italian and English. These tools will be assessed for their ability to facilitate translation processes, enhance terminological precision, and assist in the production of complex legal documents. Students will be encouraged to critically reflect on the advantages and limitations of AI-based platforms in legal contexts. Particular emphasis will be placed on how such tools can complement traditional translation methods and support legal professionals in an increasingly digitalized legal environment.
The first part of the course will be devoted to reviewing the main grammatical structures of the English language and the most frequently used lexical formulas. Exercises will include continuous comparisons between Plain English and Legalese, British and American English, as well as advanced general vocabulary and specialized legal English vocabulary. In the second part of the course, students will examine various rules of legal drafting and translation, techniques for converting expressions and terminology from Legalese into Plain English, stylistic conventions, and the principal interpretative and translational principles. Attention will also be given to the structure and format of legal documents, as well as to the translation and revision techniques to be adopted when working with binding legal texts. An additional component of the course will focus on the use of artificial intelligence tools for drafting and translating legal texts in both Italian and English. These AI tools will be assessed for their effectiveness in supporting legal professionals in the creation of accurate and comprehensive legal documents, enhancing terminological precision, and increasing drafting and translation efficiency. Students will become familiar with such tools and develop an understanding of their potential benefits and limitations in the field of legal translation, learning how to integrate them with traditional drafting and revision methods.
The course will take place from September to December (50 hours). During the lessons, the grammatical and lexical analysis will be integrated with numerous practical exercises and readings, translations and comprehension tests.
Students can meet the Professor at the end of her lessons by prior appointment requested by e-mail: roberta.bogni@uninsubria.it