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lov

English translation: law or act

10:20 Apr 5, 2010
Danish to English translations [PRO]
Law (general) / terminology
Danish term or phrase: lov
When is a lov not a lov? When it's an Act!
My question is; With EU translations, I always seem to have problems with when to translate lov as law, or Act...or whether Act should be act in the body of the text. I would like as definitive answer - if possible.. here are some examples;

Lov nr. 508: Law or Act?
Planloven: This is Act... but is it also act?
.... ifølge loven: in accordance with the law.. or act? Or is it discretionary according to context?
... i denne lov: Probably act, but may be discretionary.
Comments please
phil curry
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:15
English translation:law or act
Explanation:
From the EU itself, at http://ec.europa.eu/translation/writing/style_guides/english... p. 116:
"Regarding act vs law, either is acceptable in translations, provided you are consistent (bearing in mind 19.40).
Note that act is a more natural translation for the title of a law, e.g. la loi sur les sociétés = the Companies Act, while law is better in a description, e.g. la loi sur les sociétés = the French law governing companies.
For draft legislation, use bill only where this is the term used in an English-speaking country or in official translations. Otherwise use draft act/law."

"19.40 For countries that produce their legislation in English and others that systematically provide translations into English, you should use the terms they use. See also Annex 7."

Annex 7 is a list of suggested translations.

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Note added at 20 mins (2010-04-05 10:40:54 GMT)
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Forgot to mention, the cited EU reference shows lov > act/law, at p. 113.

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Note added at 24 mins (2010-04-05 10:44:58 GMT)
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The unofficial Danish translations use "act" -- see the individual translations at http://juraportal.dk/links/010/010/040/020/
Selected response from:

Charles Ek
United States
Local time: 16:15
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2law or act
Charles Ek


  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
law or act


Explanation:
From the EU itself, at http://ec.europa.eu/translation/writing/style_guides/english... p. 116:
"Regarding act vs law, either is acceptable in translations, provided you are consistent (bearing in mind 19.40).
Note that act is a more natural translation for the title of a law, e.g. la loi sur les sociétés = the Companies Act, while law is better in a description, e.g. la loi sur les sociétés = the French law governing companies.
For draft legislation, use bill only where this is the term used in an English-speaking country or in official translations. Otherwise use draft act/law."

"19.40 For countries that produce their legislation in English and others that systematically provide translations into English, you should use the terms they use. See also Annex 7."

Annex 7 is a list of suggested translations.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2010-04-05 10:40:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Forgot to mention, the cited EU reference shows lov > act/law, at p. 113.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2010-04-05 10:44:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The unofficial Danish translations use "act" -- see the individual translations at http://juraportal.dk/links/010/010/040/020/


    Reference: http://ec.europa.eu/translation/writing/style_guides/english...
Charles Ek
United States
Local time: 16:15
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 73

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jytte Crooks
28 mins
  -> Tak!
agree  Brian Young: Good reference, thanks for posting it! "Act" has its own internal and unintended humor, when you think of the various political bodies putting on a show, which is basically what happens. A comedy of errors most often.
9 hrs
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