Translating Traffic Law Terminology in Courtroom Discourse: A Case Study of Judge Frank Caprio’s Oral Arguments in Court

Abstract

This study explores translation strategies used to render legal and traffic-related terms from English into Arabic in the oral arguments of Judge Frank Caprio with Arabic-speaking audiences, with a focus on their accuracy, clarity, and cultural adaptation. The researchers examine various translation techniques, such as literal translation, transposition, adaptation, and dynamic equivalence, to assess their effectiveness in conveying legal meaning while preserving the intended legal implications. Drawing on Newmark's (1988) translation theory, the study highlights the challenges of translating legal terminology, particularly when linguistic and legal differences exist between the source and target languages. Through a comparative analysis of selected examples from legal and traffic texts, the study identifies instances where literal translation may lead to ambiguity or misinterpretation and suggests more appropriate translation strategies to improve legal clarity. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on legal translation, emphasizing the need for contextual and cultural awareness in accurately rendering legal documents and traffic regulations.