ILETA PRESENTERS – ABSTRACTS AND BIOGRAPHIES
HYBRID CONFERENCE 6, 7 and 8 September 2024
LEGAL ENGLISH SKILLS, LAW AND LANGUAGE
ILETA is proud to announce the world-class experts presenting at the ILETA Hybrid Conference – Bologna 2024 – Legal English Skills, Law and Language 2024 with their respective abstracts and biographies.
- Anna Setkowicz-Ryszka, University of Lodz, Poland
Presentation Entitled: MT in the hands of Polish legal practitioners and scholars. Survey Results and classroom observations
ABSTRACT
Legal translation is recognized as very challenging, due to the differences between legal systems, resulting in various degrees of non-equivalence or asymmetry between concepts (Šarčević 1997). Legal translation competence – described in a special ISO standard – includes knowledge of various branches of law, ability to interpret legal texts, and even comparative law skills (Popiołek 2020) plus the general translation competence. Yet many lawyers seem unaware of these challenges, especially if they rarely work for foreign clients.
In the author’s practice as a reviser for a legal publishing house, abstracts of journal articles are frequently machine- or self-translated into English. Uncritical use of MT entails certain risks, like breach of confidentiality or miscommunication.
Additionally, lawyers seem unaware of the possibility of pre-editing their texts to improve the MT output or unwilling to post-edit such output (as revealed by literally translated typos and inconsistent terminology). They also seem to overlook the limitations of generic MT engines, when used to translate highly specialist and non-standard writing (Biel 2021).
These observations are confronted with the results of a survey based on Bowker’s (2021) questionnaire on MT use habits, filled by Polish legal practitioners and scholars participating in MT literacy workshops (N=40). The picture emerging from these answers is clearly inconsistent with the practical observations, which may suggest that workshop participants are already savvy and critical users of MT. This begs the question about how to reach less proficient MT users, who may not realize the need for learning.
BIOGRAPHY
Anna is a translator with over 25 years’ experience, specializing in legal, financial and academic texts. She has been a sworn translator of English in Poland since 2004 and a legal translator trainer since 2006. Anna has a long-standing cooperation with legal publishing houses and law firms, for services including translation, revision, and post-editing.
Anna is a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Humanities, University of Lodz, Poland.
Research interests: legal translation pedagogy; contract translation with special emphasis on boilerplate clauses; plain legal language; machine translation post-editing in the field of law; translation process research; translator expertise.
2. Patrizia Giampieri, Adjunct Professor of English at the University of Camerino (MC, Italy)
Presentation Entitled: AI-generated Land Lease Agreements in English and Italian
ABSTRACT
This paper wishes to explore the reliability and accuracy of AI-generated contracts and their translation. To do so, two prompts are entered in the ChatGPT (4.0) chatbot:
“Write a land lease agreement in Italian according to the laws of the Republic of Italy. Then, separately, write a translation in English of the Italian land lease agreement”,
and
“Write a land lease agreement in English according to the laws of the United States of America”.
The two AI-driven contracts are analysed and compared from both a legal and language perspective. To investigate the accuracy of the terminology used, two corpora of land lease agreements are created manually and consulted.
The first corpus is composed of Italian land lease agreements, whereas the second one of American English land lease agreements.
Legal principles are investigated by consulting legal dictionaries and statutory documents.
The paper findings reveal that, at a first glance, the AI-powered contracts seem flawless and “intelligently” designed. However, by investigating their wording and structures in more detail, several shortcomings come to the fore, such as incorrect terminology, mistranslations (in the translated version of the Italian contract), unnecessary clauses (especially in the Italian contract) and inconsistent contents. Therefore, at the time being, AI-powered contracts and translations cannot be fully relied on, and expert supervision is mandatory.
Keywords: AI; AI-powered contracts; chatbots; legal translation; contracts and agreements; corpus-based translation
BIOGRAPHY
Patrizia Giampieri, PhD is an adjunct professor of English at the University of Camerino (MC, Italy). She is a registered translator and interpreter for the Court of Perugia (Italy). Her last scientific monograph is titled “Legal machine translation explained: MT in legal contexts” (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2023).
Patrizia is a member of the ILETA Scientific Committee and ILETA Country Ambassador – Italy – University Sector.
3. Paulina Pietrzyk-Kowalec, PhD, professor affiliate of Uczelnia Biznesu i Nauk Stosowanych “Varsovia.
Presentation Entitled:Enhancing legal English Education through Artificial Intelligence: A Pedagogical Approach
ABSTRACT
In an era where legal professionals operate within an increasingly globalized and technologically driven landscape, the demand for proficiency in Legal English has become paramount. This presentation proposes an innovative pedagogical framework that harnesses the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the teaching and learning of Legal English.
Drawing upon recent advancements in natural language processing and machine learning, the proposed approach integrates AI-driven tools and resources into the curriculum to facilitate interactive and personalized learning experiences.
Through the utilization of AI-powered language analysis, students are afforded targeted feedback on their writing, comprehension, and oral communication skills, thereby fostering continuous improvement and mastery of Legal English concepts.
Additionally, the incorporation of AI-enabled simulations and virtual environments immerses learners in real-world legal scenarios, enabling them to develop practical linguistic competencies within authentic contexts.
Moreover, this speech discusses the potential benefits and challenges associated with integrating AI into legal English education, including considerations related to ethics, privacy, and accessibility.
By embracing AI as a complementary instructional tool, legal English educators can effectively address the evolving needs of learners and equip them with the linguistic proficiencies necessary for success in today’s legal profession
BIOGRAPHY
Paulina Pietrzyk-Kowalec is an English philologist, a scholar, a holder of the title of PhD in Strategic Management at Apsley Business School in London, a lecturer at WSB Merito University in Warsaw, a researcher on the impact of artificial intelligence on different branches of business, an expert in Legal English, an author of valued scientific publications, a member of the global scientific association WASET, a speaker and an award winner at international scientific conferences.
Paulina is a member of the ILETA Scientific Committee and ILETA Country Ambassador – Poland– University Sector.
4. Catia Lattanzi
Presentation Entitled: AI versus EI: can legal translators and interpreters negotiate?
ABSTRACT
This abstract aims to explore the advantages and disadvantages of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) in language services.
AI has revolutionized our everyday lives including the translation and interpretation industry. Machine translation tools powered by AI algorithms can process vast amounts of text in a short time, enabling rapid dissemination of information. AI-driven interpretation solutions are deemed to aid in overcoming language barriers in real-time communication scenarios, facilitating global interactions.
On the other hand, the human touch provided by Emotional Intelligence is indispensable in linguistic services. Emotional Intelligence allows interpreters and translators to understand subtle nuances, cultural connotations, and emotions embedded in language, ensuring accurate and nuanced communication. Empathy, a key component of EI, enables language professionals to align their interpretations with the speaker’s intentions and emotions, thereby fostering effective cross-cultural communication.
Despite these benefits, incorporating AI and EI in translation and interpretation poses challenges. AI, while proficient in processing large volumes of content rapidly, often struggles with grasping context, idiomatic expressions, and emotional subtleties. This limitation can lead to inaccuracies and loss of meaning, particularly in sensitive or creative content where human interpretation shines.
Additionally, relying solely on AI may risk dehumanizing the language service experience, as genuine human connection and empathy are fundamental to effective communication. Balancing the advantages of AI’s speed and efficiency with the human elements of Emotional Intelligence is crucial for providing high-quality language services that meet the complex and nuanced demands of diverse linguistic contexts.
Is it possible to reach a harmonious integration of AI and Emotional Intelligence in translation and interpretation practices?
Can accuracy be guaranteed while preserving the essential human elements such as intuition and cultural understandings?
Striking a balance between these two forms of intelligence is key to meeting the diverse and evolving needs of language service users worldwide.
BIOGRAPHY
Catia Lattanzi is a conference interpreter and lecturer in simultaneous interpreting. In 2020, she was elected President of the Italian Association of Legal Interpreters and Translators (AssITIG, Associazione italiana traduttori e interpreti giudiziari). In March 2023 she was elected as member of EULITA’s ExCom (European Legal Interpreters and Translators).
Registered with the Chamber of Commerce of Milano-MonzaBrianza-Lodi in the category translators and interpreters, she is deeply committed to training and deontology.
Catia is a member of the ILETA Scientific Committee and ILETA Country Ambassador – Italy – Translators/Interpreters Sector.
6. Jasmina Barišić, Speak Easy Foreign Language Center –
Presentation Entitled: ‘Enhancing Student Engagement in Writing Exercises’
ABSTRACT
Engaging students in writing exercises presents a notable challenge in legal education and language education in general. Teachers often struggle to not only capture their students’ attention but also sustain their interest and motivation throughout the learning process.
In this presentation, Jasmina will delve into the development and implementation of innovative lesson plans specifically designed to enhance student engagement in legal writing.
Jasmina will showcase a variety of engaging lesson plans she has crafted for her students. These plans incorporate diverse, interactive writing exercises aimed at increasing active participation and deepening the understanding of complex legal concepts.
The session will provide attendees with practical strategies and insights into creating dynamic and effective writing exercises that can be adapted to various educational settings. By the end of this presentation, participants will gain valuable tools to help students not only improve their legal writing skills but also increase their enthusiasm and engagement in their learning journey.
BIOGRAPHY
Jasmina Barišić holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature and is an official court translator and interpreter for the English language.
Jasmina is the founder of the Speak Easy Foreign Language Center, which has been successfully preparing participants for various types of internationally recognized certificates for 20 years. Jasmina is also a holder of the CELTA certificate, specialising in the methodology of teaching foreign languages.
She is a member of the ILETA Scientific Committee and ILETA Country Ambassador – Serbia.
With great dedication, she approaches the preparation of her lectures using innovative and creative teaching methods in order to enable her students to learn foreign languages more easily and quickly. Jasmina has lectured at various international conferences on Legal English.
7. Ekaterina Starzhinskaya, practising lawyer
Presentation Entitled: To Draft or Not to Draft, That Is the Question: Intercultural Communication and Legal Writing in the East and in the West
ABSTRACT
In her presentation, Ekaterina will explore the trends of intercultural communication in the business environment, the influence of culture and natural language metaphysics on the negotiation process, the formation and development of business relations. Despite all the challenges and difficulties of the current time and constantly changing circumstances, people continue to communicate, build business ties and conclude contracts with partners from other countries.
Intercultural communication in the business environment is not only the joy of learning new things, acquiring and assimilating invaluable experience from meeting another world, but also its own characteristics, conflicts and difficulties, while a mistake in communication can be very expensive.
The real result of such communication is successful negotiations and the conclusion of contracts for the implementation of projects. Preparation of contracts and other documents requiring legal writing and knowledge becomes another challenge, as the parties have difficulties in perceiving foreign legal mechanisms, peculiarities of law enforcement and traditions of legal writing. Ekaterina will make an attempt to identify such risks and show the ways to mitigate them, and shares the experience gained while working with representatives of European and Chinese businesses.
BIOGRAPHY
Ekaterina is a practising lawyer and CELTA-certified teacher of English. She currently holds the post of the Chief Legal Counsel at NLMK, one of the world’s most efficient steel producers and working on her PhD thesis in Criminal Law devoted to the commercial bribery.
As a lawyer, Ekaterina is concentrated on supporting and managing investment projects, concluding contracts with foreign counterparts.
Within her teaching practice (that is practically 15 years for now) Ekaterina has taught students from over 15 countries (from Japan to Brazil) aged 17-86 with the focus on adult learners and teaching Business English, Legal English, Advanced Grammar.
8. Olga Kosonogova
Presentation Entitled: Legal Writing in the Digital Era: Ricardian Contracts Vs.Smart Contracts
ABSTRACT
This presentation will deal with the problem of validity of legal documents in the modern conditions of the digital era. The differences between two types of a contract created on the blockchain platform – Ricardian contracts and Smart contracts – are discussed. Ricardian contracts are legally binding agreements, while Smart contracts are not. Ricardian contracts are both machine-readable as well as human readable, while Smart contracts are machine-readable but not necessarily human-readable.It is argued that prior to Ricardian contracts, to avoid fraud and conflict in the crypto industry was not an easy task. Ricardian contracts guarantee more security to investors and users of blockchain technology.
BIOGRAPHY
Olga Kosonogova is an Associate Professor of Southern Federal University Rostov-on-Don,RF and has a PhD in Linguistics (Candidate of Philological Sciences)
Olga has published more than 50 papers (monographs, articles, student’s books) and is the co-author of online-course “Legal Communication: Legal Writing and Oral Communication in the Practice of Law”.
Olga is a Member of the ILETA Scientific Committee
10. Sofia Parastatidou ILETA President
Discussion Table Topic: Why do lawyers need language training?
BIOGRAPHY
Sofia Parastatidou (Special Counsel) is a practising solicitor admitted in England and Wales, a member of the International Bar Association and New York State Bar. She has been training lawyers, accountants, and notaries as well as students at various Universities, Bar Associations, In-house. She is the founder and President of ILETA (International Legal English Teachers’ Academy) and the author of Legal English (Pearson 2021).
11. Tonya Teichert
Presentation Entitled: Lost in Translation: Challenges of Teaching Legal English to Non-Native Speakers
ABSTRACT
Teaching legal English to non-native speakers presents a unique set of challenges that extend beyond the typical difficulties of language learning. The specialized vocabulary, complex sentence structures, need for precision, cultural nuances, and lack of tailored teaching resources all contribute to a demanding learning environment. Addressing these challenges is crucial for equipping non-native speakers with the skills needed to succeed in the legal field. Let’s explore how we can develop tailored teaching resources and methodologies to support this specialized area of language education.
BIOGRAPHY
Tonya Teichert is an American living in Germany who has been teaching Medical & Legal English for 17 years. Her background began in critical care nursing where she used those skills to begin a career as a Legal Nurse Consultant.
She went on to attend law school and upon completion, received her MBA. She worked, primarily, in insurance defense and medical malpractice and product liability litigation. After moving to Germany, she began teaching specialized language courses for both private clients and institutions, including doctors, nurses, nursing students, medical organizations, corporate legal seminars, and university legal programs, as well as training-the-trainer courses for Occupational Health and Safety.
Tonya is ILETA Country Ambassador for Germany and a Member of the Scientific Committee.
BONUS PRESENTATION
Sofia Parastatidou, Special Counsel & ILETA President AI & Copyright Protection : An Update of recent case law for authors and material writers. Sofia will provide us with an update of recent developments of cases currently pending before the courts.
NEXT STEPS:
For further details, please email info@ileta.org
NOTE: Registration fees do not include accommodation and/or transport to and from Bologna Italy.