Translation Features of English Notarial Texts and Their Reflection in Practice

Abstract

This article studies the translation features of English notarial texts and their manifestation in practical translation. Notarial translation is identified as one of the most complex and responsible areas of legal translation, since any ambiguity may lead to serious legal consequences. The study highlights the main factors determining the specificity of English notarial discourse: its basis in the Anglo-Saxon common law system, the use of archaic terms, the presence of Latin and Anglo-Norman elements, and the phenomenon of lacunarity or lack of equivalence when transferring concepts into civil law systems. Relying on the theoretical foundations of Šarčević, Alcaraz & Hughes, Cao, Prieto Ramos and others, the article compares equivalence-oriented translation with functional equivalence. It divides terminological difficulties into three groups: (1) terms with functional equivalents, (2) partial equivalence, and (3) lack of equivalence, where transcription, calquing or explanatory notes are required. Syntactic difficulties — passive constructions, nominalization and modal verbs (must, shall, may) — are analyzed together with stylistic features such as binomial expressions and archaic performative formulas. Practical cases include the translation of powers of attorney, affidavits and wills. The findings show that successful notarial translation requires not only bilingual competence, but also comparative legal knowledge. The article concludes that the functional equivalence approach, together with interdisciplinary cooperation between translation theory and comparative law, is essential for ensuring legal validity and communicative accuracy in notarial practice.