Optimising the performance of outsourced legal translation
This highly interdisciplinary research, carried out by a practitioner, explores the outsourced legal translation environment, with a view to optimising key aspects of commissioning and performance. The results of a global survey are analysed: participants comprised 84 principals, for the most part from leading law firms and corporations, in 33 countries and 5 continents, and 303 legal translation practitioners from 41 countries and 6 continents. Concepts from corporate agency theory are used to shed light on market dysfunctions, such as a tortuous chain of supply, while perspectives from genre theory, comparative law and functionalist Translation Studies are applied to offer a theoretical model for legal translation performance and foreground its risks and constraints. Fitness-for-purpose is examined as a workable quality criterion associated with translation briefs supplied. Professionalisation and empowerment are raised as key factors with potential to significantly improve target text quality. Two practical tools have also been developed for legal and translation professionals. The first is a briefing template specifically developed for the outsourcing of legal translation, set to benefit commissioning
Scott, Juliette Rose
Optimising the performance of outsourced legal translation. This highly interdisciplinary research, carried out by a practitioner, explores the outsourced legal translation environment, with a view to optimising key aspects of commissioning and performance. The results of a global survey are analysed: participants comprised 84 principals, for the most part from leading law firms and corporations, in 33 countries and 5 continents, and 303 legal translation practitioners from 41 countries and 6 continents. Concepts from corporate agency theory are used to shed light on market dysfunctions, such as a tortuous chain of supply, while perspectives from genre theory, comparative law and functionalist Translation Studies are applied to offer a theoretical model for legal translation performance and foreground its risks and constraints. Fitness-for-purpose is examined as a workable quality criterion associated with translation briefs supplied. Professionalisation and empowerment are raised as key factors with potential to significantly improve target text quality. Two practical tools have also been developed for legal and translation professionals. The first is a briefing template specifically developed for the outsourcing of legal translation, set to benefit commissioning
performance legal_translation highly interdisciplinary carry practitioner explore legal_translation environment view optimise key_aspect commission performance global survey analyse participant comprise principal part lead law firm corporation country continent legal_translation practitioner country continent concepts corporate agency theory use shed_light market chain supply perspectives genre theory comparative law functionalist translation_studies apply offer theoretical_model legal_translation performance foreground risk constraint fitness for purpose_examine workable quality criterion associate translation brief supply professionalisation empowerment raise key_factor potential significantly improve target_text quality practical tool also_develop legal_translation professional first brief template specifically develop legal_translation set benefit