Libyan Legal Translation Landscape: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This exploratory study investigates the Libyan legal translation landscape. It examines the intricate challenges and opportunities faced by legal translators in Libya. The research focuses on four key areas: the influence of Islamic law and Sharia principles on legal translation practices and the specific challenges faced by translators in this unique legal context; the key linguistic and cultural challenges encountered by legal translators within Libya's multilingual and multicultural landscape; the existing resources, training programs, and professional networks available to legal translators in Libya; and the influence of the structure and key components of the Libyan legal system on the process and challenges of legal translation. The study employed a questionnaire-based methodology, with data collected from 19 experienced legal translators working in Libya. The findings highlight the profound impact of Islamic law and Sharia principles on translation practices. The results stressed the essential role of legal translation in ensuring equitable access to justice and call for comprehensive efforts to strengthen the Libyan legal translation landscape through targeted interventions.