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2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

A Mutual Learning Exercise in Terminology and Multilingual Law

Authors : Martina Bajčić, Adrijana Martinović

Published in: Language and Law

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

While it is true that legal language strives for precision, legal concepts are often vague. This seeming paradox can be observed in light of the fact that legal concepts need to be applied to different real-life situations in order to account for the changing social circumstances. By focusing on the important role of terminology in general, and concepts in particular, for the mechanism of the law, this chapter poses the following question: How do courts cope with vague concepts of EU Law and inadequate terms in translations of EU Law? Emphasis is placed on EU Competition Law concepts from the dual perspective of law and language. Applying terminology as a linguistic discipline which studies terms, concepts and the conceptual structure, can further understanding of EU Competition Law concepts. On the other hand, examining how the Court of Justice of the EU grapples with the meaning of vague EU Law concepts and how it resolves divergences between language versions in its case law, provides valuable assistance for legal practitioners, and translators. With this in mind it can be claimed that to overcome vagueness and linguistic discrepancies, lawyers and linguists need to engage in a continuous exercise of mutual learning.

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previous chapter Language and Translation in EU Competition Law: Insights from English, Greek, Italian and Spanish Versions of Legislative Texts

next chapter Binomials in EU Competition Law

Tiersma (1999), p. 1.

Engberg and Kjær (2011), p. 7. Vernengo stated that law as language is a technique of communication serving the function of bridging divergences and enabling understanding between opponents: ‘Als Sprache ist das Recht eine Kommunikationstechnik, die zur Überbrückung von Divergenzen und zur Verständigung von Gegnern dient’. See Vernengo (1965), p. 295.

Gibbons (2004), p. 1.

Engberg and Kjær (2011), pp. 7–8.

In the remainder of this chapter we use Terminology with an upper-case latter to refer to the linguistic discipline, and terminology with a lower-case letter when referring to a body of terms used in a domain.

Wright (1997), p. 13.

ISO 1087-1:2000.

A pioneer in terminological work, Eugen Wüster (1898–1977) brought the study of specialized languages to a higher level. See Wüster (1974), in Picht and Schmitz (2001), p. 12.

Martin and van der Vliet (2003), p. 333.

Mellinkoff (1963), p. 3.

Lewis (1972), p. 307.

Wüster (1974), in Picht and Schmitz (2001), p. 12.

Lewis (1972), p. 307.

Lewis (1972), p. 315.

Mellinkoff (1963), p. 295.

Available at: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/full-text/?cid=17. Accessed: 1 Feb 2018.

This is not in contradiction to the cognitive linguistics view of language as encompassing both linguistic and extralinguistic level.

See Mutual Benefits Offshore Fund v. Zeltser (2016 NY Slip Op 04344, N.Y. App. Div.); Ackermann v Levine, 788 F.2d 830 (2nd Cir 1986).

See Nuovo Pignone v. Storman Asia M/V, 310 F.2d 374, 384 (5th Cir. 2002); Bankston v. Toyota Motor Corp., 889 F.2d 172 (8th Cir 1989).

See Brockmeyer v. May, 383 F.3d 798 (9th Cir. 2004).

In plural, the noun is commonly used to refer to a disease (AIDS) or to devices that help you do something (e.g. ‘hearing aids’ or ‘teaching aids’, see Gardner (2016), p. 12).

Cabré (1999), p. 108.

See Wüster (1985), pp. 79–83. We are aware of potential ambiguity of ‘meaning’ and different approaches to meaning in philosophy of language employing other notions such as sense, reference, content, proposition. However, it is difficult, due to short space, to probe into different semantic vs. reference theories here.

Bajčić (2017), p. 57.

For a discussion of interdisciplinary, polysemous legal terms see Bajčić (2011).

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 of 4 September 1980 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the beef and veal sector (OJ L 241, 13.9.1980, p. 5) as amended by the Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2798/81 of 28 September 1981 amending for the third time Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the beef and veal sector (OJ L 275, 29.9.1981, p. 24).

Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 of the Council of 3 June 1971 determining the rules applicable to periods, dates and time limits (OJ L 124, 8.6.1971, p. 1).

Case VG Frankfurt am Main 1987-01-22, I/2 E 1326/84.

The German Federal Holiday Act (BurlG) is often referred to by German courts as a means of clarification in this regard: ‘Nach § 3 Abs. 2 Bundesurlaubsgesetz (BUrlG) gelten als Werktag „alle Kalendertage, die nicht Sonn- oder gesetzliche Feiertage sind’. In keeping with a judgment of the Higher Regional Court Hamm (Oberlandesgericht Hamm), in everyday language Saturday is regarded as a working day, whereas Werktag should not be used synonymous with Arbeitstag (AZ: 2 Ss OWi 127/01): ‘Der Begriff sei nicht mit “Arbeitstag” gleichzusetzen, sondern vielmehr als Gegensatz zum Begriff “Sonn- und Feiertag” zu verstehen’.

On the principle of equal authenticity see for instance Baaij (2018), p. 28; Šarčević (2013); Mišćenić (2016), p. 90, Bajčić (2017), pp. 93–94 and Doczekalska in this volume.

See e.g. Case C-372/88 Milk Marketing Board [1990] ECR I-1345, ECLI:EU:C:1990:140, para. 18; Case 19/67 van der Vecht [1967] ECR 445, ECLI:EU:C:1967:49.

Case 29/69 Stauder [1969] ECR 419, ECLI:EU:C:1969:57.

Case C-219/95P Ferriere Nord [1997] ECR I-441, ECLI:EU:C:1997:375.

The Italian version reads as follows: ‘Sono incompatibili con il mercato comune e vietati tutti gli accordi tra imprese, tutte le decisioni di associazioni di imprese e tutte le pratiche concordate che possano pregiudicare il commercio tra Stati membri e che abbiano per oggetto e per effetto di impedire, restringere o falsare il gioco della concorrenza all'interno del mercato comune’ however, the English language version refers to alternative, not cumulative criteria: ‘the following shall be prohibited as incompatible with the common market: all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which may affect trade between Member States and which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the common market’.

Derlén (2009), p. 32.

See Case C-296/95 EMU Tabac [1998] ECR I-1605, ECLI:EU:C:1998:152.

Case 13/61 Robert Bosch [1962] ECR 45, ECLI:EU:C:1962:11.

Opinion of the Advocate General Lagrande of 27 Feb 1962, Case 13/61 Robert Bosch, EU:C:1962:3.

Legal scholars have underscored that in fact equally authentic language versions have equal status, but not the same meaning (cf. Baaij (2018), p. 28).

Bobek (2011), p. 139.

Bobek (2011), p. 141.

(1) Community legislation is drafted in several languages and the different language versions are all equally authentic. An interpretation of a provision of Community law thus involves a comparison of the different language versions. (2) Community law uses terminology which is peculiar to it. (3) Legal concepts do not necessarily have the same meaning in Community law and in the law of the various Member States. (4) Every provision of Community law must be placed in its context and interpreted in the light of the provisions of Community law as a whole, regard being had to the objectives thereof and to its state of evolution at the date on which the provision in question is to be applied (paras. 18–20 Case 283/81 CILFIT [1982] 3415, ECLI:EU:C:1982:335).

Derlén (2009), p. 160.

Cf. Case C-375/09 Tele 2 Polska [2011] ECR I-3055, EU:C:2011:270. The European Commission is exclusively empowered to take a negative decision within the meaning of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty. If the national law would provide for an obligation by the national authority to take a negative decision in the sense of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty, such a provision of national law would contravene with EU law.

See for instance, German, Slovene, Italian and French:

DE Sind die Voraussetzungen für ein Verbot nach den ihnen vorliegenden Informationen nicht gegeben, so können sie auch entscheiden, dass für sie kein Anlass besteht, tätig zu werden.

SL Kadar na podlagi razpoložljivih informacij pogoji za prepoved niso izpolnjeni, se lahko odločijo, da ni nobenega vzroka za njihovo ukrepanje.

IT Qualora, in base alle informazioni di cui dispongono, non sussistono le condizioni per un divieto, possono anche decidere di non avere motivo di intervenire.

FR: Lorsqu'elles considèrent, sur la base des informations dont elles disposent, que les conditions d'une interdiction ne sont pas réunies, elles peuvent également décider qu'il n'y a pas lieu pour elles d'intervenir.

Available at: http://www.aztn.hr/en/7178/. Accessed: 1 Feb 2018.

Baaij (2018), p. 45.

Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vague. (Accessed 1 Feb 2018).

Endicott (2001), p. 57. For an extensive study of vagueness in law see Endicott’s seminal book Vagueness in Law.

Bix (2016), p. 134.

Frade (2005), p. 137.

Bajčić (2017), p. 43.

Jones (2012), p. 7.

See Hatzopoulos (2011), p. 2.

Hatzopoulos (2011), p. 3.

Case C-355/00 Freskot [2003] ECR I-5263, ECLI:EU:C:2003:298; Case C-309/99 Wouters [2002] ECR I-1577, ECLI:EU:C:2002:98.

If internal market and competition rules could be thought to stand on parity and independently from each other, the Lisbon Treaty has clearly subdued the latter to the former: undistorted competition has disappeared, as such, from the aims of the EU (Articles 3(3) TEU and 3(1)(b) TFEU) and has been relegated to Protocol 27, according to which ‘the internal … market includes a system ensuring that competition is not distorted’. See Hatzopoulos (2011), p. 13.

Faber and López Rodrĭguez (2012), p. 26.

e.g. Case C-205/03P FENIN [2006] I-6295, ECLI:EU:C:2006:453.

Cf. Hatzopoulos (2011), pp. 18–19. On the first requirement see, for instance FENIN judgment. The second requirement was highlighted in the following CJEU’s cases: Wouters, paras. 48-9; Case C-244/94 FFSA [1995] ECR I-4013, ECLI:EU:C:1995:392, para. 21; Case C-364/92 SAT Fluggesellschaft [1994] I-43, ECLI:EU:C:1994:7, para. 9.

Case C-266/93 Bundeskartellamt v Volkswagen and VAG Leasing GmbH [1995] I-3477, ECLI:EU:C:1995:345.

See e.g. Case Wouters, EU:C:2002:98; European Commission, case RAI/UNITEL (OJ L 157, 15.6.1978, p. 39); French Beef (OJ L 209, 19.8.2003, p. 12).

Case C-41/90 Höfner and Elser [1991] ECR I-1979, ECLI:EU:C:1991:161; Case FFSA; Case C-67/96 Albany [1999] ECR I-5751, ECLI:EU:C:1999:430; Case C-475/99 Firma Ambulanz Glöckner [2001] ECR I-8089. ECLI:EU:C:2001:577.

Case T-193/02 Laurent Piau v Commission [2005] ECR II-209, ECLI :EU:T:2005:22.

For a detailed analysis of case law on the meaning of undertaking see: Jones (2012). For the purpose of this Chapter prominent CJEU’s cases include: Case Höfner and Elser; Case 19/61 Mannesman AG [1962] ECR 357, ECLI:EU:C:1962:31; Joined Cases 17/61 and 20/61 Klöckner-Werke AG and Hoesch AG [1962] ECR 325, ECLI:EU:C:1962:30.

Greatly simplified, an ontology is a conceptualization of a specific field. Ontologies resemble taxonomies in that they display taxonomic or hierarchical structure of a domain. Providing for context-rich representations of concepts, they are often employed in terminological resources, e.g. databases.

e.g. Case FENIN.

e.g. Joined Cases C-159/91 and C-160/91 Poucet and Pistre [1993] ECR I-637, ECLI:EU:C:1993:63; Case C-218/00 Cisal [2002] ECR I-691, ECLI:EU:C:2002:36.

e.g. Case Albany; Case C-350/07 Kattner [2009] ECR I-1513, ECLI:EU:C:2009:127.

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Title: A Mutual Learning Exercise in Terminology and Multilingual Law
Authors: Martina Bajčić
Adrijana Martinović
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Book: Language and Law
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-90904-2

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-90905-9

Copyright Year: 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90905-9_12