Lexical difficulties in English - Vietnamese legal translation: the case of English - majored students

Abstract

The present article undertakes a thorough inquiry into the lexical challenges that English - majored students commonly face in when translating legal texts from English into Vietnamese, with a focus on elucidating the underlying causes thereof and proposing meaningful, comprehensive measures. Based on a mixed-method study involving 60 students and two experienced lecturers, the findings reveal that specialized and semi-specialized terminology, loanwords, synonymous expressions, doublets and triplets, and archaic words frequently hinder translation. Notable objective elements, including divergent legal systems and inadequate reference materials, in conjunction with subjective factors, namely limited skill sets and fear of errors, further complicate the translation process. In response, the research hereby recommends rigorous cultivation of specialized knowledge, thorough consultation of available resources, flexible adoption of translation strategies, and holistic cultural - legal inquiries, all of which collectively aim to bolster students’ translation capabilities.