Linguistic Exploration of Legal Semantics: Lexical and Semantic Barriers in Translating Legal Terms Between English and Uzbek

Abstract

This article examines the complexities and challenges involved in translating legal terms between English and Uzbek, focusing on the lexical and semantic barriers that arise due to differences in legal systems, linguistic structures, and cultural contexts. The author discusses how certain legal concepts and terminologies are often difficult to translate accurately due to the absence of direct equivalents in the target language, leading to potential misinterpretations. The study highlights key issues such as polysemy, the variation in legal traditions between common law and civil law systems, and the impact of these factors on legal translation. The paper also explores strategies for overcoming these barriers, including the use of legal equivalents, descriptive translations, and the adaptation of terms to better fit the linguistic and cultural framework of the target language. Ultimately, the article provides valuable insights for legal translators, linguists, and scholars interested in the intersection of law and language, emphasizing the importance of precise translation in legal contexts to ensure clarity and accuracy. Material and methods. This study employs a qualitative approach to analyze the lexical and semantic challenges in translating legal terms between English and Uzbek. A corpus of legal documents, including contracts, statutes, and judicial decisions from both English and Uzbek legal systems, was used to identify key terms with translation difficulties. The analysis focused on terms with no direct equivalents, partial equivalents, and context-dependent meanings, comparing their usage in both languages. Data was gathered through interviews with bilingual legal professionals and translators to understand practical translation issues. The study applies principles from legal linguistics and translation theory to interpret and classify the identified barriers and propose solutions. Results. The analysis revealed significant lexical and semantic barriers in translating legal terms between English and Uzbek, particularly for terms without direct equivalents in the target language. Many legal concepts, such as those related to common law, posed challenges due to the differences in legal systems and cultural contexts. Interviews with bilingual legal professionals highlighted that these barriers often lead to ambiguous or inaccurate translations in legal practice. The study suggests that a deeper understanding of both legal systems and the development of specialized legal dictionaries are crucial to overcoming these challenges. Conclusion. This study highlights the complex lexical and semantic barriers that arise when translating legal terms between English and Uzbek, especially due to differences in legal systems and cultural contexts. Addressing these challenges requires a nuanced approach, incorporating both linguistic expertise and a deep understanding of legal frameworks. Future research should focus on developing comprehensive legal glossaries and training programs for translators to improve the accuracy and clarity of legal translations.