The Importance of Being A Linguist in International Law

Abstract

This paper explores the vital function of linguists in the realm of international law, emphasizing how their knowledge of language structure, translation principles, and intercultural communication enhances and often exceeds the linguistic skills of lawyers. While attorneys are educated to interpret and apply the law, they can encounter challenges with the intricate linguistic aspects of legal English, such as outdated terms and contextual subtleties. Linguists, particularly those who are also lawyers, play a crucial role in drafting, translating, and interpreting multilingual legal documents with accuracy and clarity, ensuring legal equivalence among languages. The study also presents research that compares the skills of linguistic and legal students in areas like terminology, analysis of legal texts, search strategies, and communication, demonstrating that both professions possess distinct strengths. The results support the need for greater interdisciplinary collaboration between law and linguistics to improve the precision, efficiency, and fairness of international legal proceedings.