A COMPARATIVE GLOSSARY OF CONDITIONALS IN LEGAL LANGUAGE ...

1 A COMPARATIVE GLOSSARY OF CONDITIONALS IN LEGALLANGUAGE: english , ITALIAN, GERMAN, FRENCHJ acqueline Visconti (University of Birmingham)*1. AIMSThis paper describes the combined results of twoprojects: the Human Capital and Mobility project on CONDITIONALS in LEGAL LANGUAGE ; the Training andMobility of Researchers project on A ContrastiveGlossary of CONDITIONALS in LEGAL LANGUAGE . The aimsof the projects were: (i) the analysis of ComplexConditional Connectives (henceforth cccs) in english ,Italian, German and French LEGAL LANGUAGE ; (ii) thecompilation of a COMPARATIVE GLOSSARY of suchconnectives in the four languages.

2 After a briefintroductory section, I shall outline the method ofresearch and the structure of the compiled INTRODUCTIONThe expression of a conditional relationship plays animportant role in LEGAL LANGUAGE . Despite the fact thatthe successful implementation of legislation iscritically dependent on precise translation into the legallanguage of each Member State, conditionalconnectives, such as in the event of or on conditionthat, are not always translated in a systematic way.

3 Forexample, four different Italian conjunctions have beenfound throughout the Maastricht Treaty correspondingto the english connective in so far as: nella misura incui (2), semprech (4), in quanto (6), nei limiti in cui(8):(1) Any abuse by one or more undertakings of adominant position within the common market or in asubstantial part of it shall be prohibited as incompatiblewith the common market in so far as it may affect tradebetween Member States (Article 86).(2) incompatibile con il mercato comune e vietato,nella misura in cui possa essere pregiudizievole alcommercio tra Stati membri, lo sfruttamento abusivo daparte di una o pi imprese di una posizione dominantesul mercato comune o su una parte sostanziale diquesto.

4 (3) The progressive abolition of existing restrictionsshall be effected in in accordance with the provisions ofArticle 63 to 65, in so far as such abolition is notgoverned by the provisions contained in paragraphs 1and 2 (Article 73 H 3).(4) La graduale soppressione delle restrizioni esistentisi effettua conformemente alle disposizioni degliarticoli 63 a 65 inclusi, semprech non sia disciplinatadalle disposizioni dei paragrafi 1 e 2.(5) [..] However, the aids granted to shipbuildings as of1 January 1957 shall, in so far as they serve only tocompensate for the absence of customs protection, beprogressively reduced under the same conditions asapply to the elimination of custom duties (Art.)

5 (6) [..] Tuttavia, gli aiuti alle costruzioni navali esistentialla data del 1 gennaio 1957, in quanto determinatisoltanto dall'assenza di una protezione doganale, sonoprogressivamente ridotti alle stesse condizioni che siapplicano per l'abolizione dei dazi doganali [..].(7) Undertakings entrusted with the operation ofservices of general economic interest or having thecharacter of a revenue-producing monopoly shall besubject to the rules contained in this Treaty [..], in sofar as the application of such rules does not obstruct theperformance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasksassigned to them (Article ).

6 (8) Le imprese incaricate della gestione di servizid'interesse economico generale o aventi carattere dimonopolio fiscale sono sottoposte alle norme delpresente trattato [..], nei limiti in cui l'applicazione ditali norme non osti all'adempimento, in linea di diritto edi fatto, della specifica missione loro , in the French version of the Treaty,in so far as corresponds to at least three differentconnectives: dans la mesure o , pour autant que, dansles limites o (examples 9, 11, 13, 15), while inGerman the equivalent is constantly soweit (10, 12, 14,16).

7 (9) Est incompatible avec le march commun et interdit,dans la mesure o le commerce entre tats membresest susceptible d en tre affect , le fait pour une ouplusieures entreprises d exploiter de fa on abusive uneposition dominante sur le march commun ou dans unepartie substantielle de celui-ci.(10) Mit dem Gemeinsamen Markt unvereinbar undverboten ist die mi br uchliche Ausnutzung einerbeherrschenden Stellung auf dem Gemeinsamen Marktoder auf einem wesentlichen Teil desselben durch einoder mehrere Unternehmen, soweit dies dazu f hrenkann, den Handel zwischen Mitgliedstaaten zubeeintr chtigen.

8 (11) La suppression progressive des restrictionsexistantes est effectu e conform ment aux dispositionsdes articles 63 65 inclus, dans la mesure o ellen est pas r gie par le dispositions du pr sent chapitre.(12) Die bestehenden Beschr nkungen werden gem den Artikeln 63 bis 65 beseitigt, soweit hierf r nichtdie Nummer 1 und 2 oder die sonstigen Bestimmungendieses Kapitels ma gegebend sind.(13) [..] Toutefois, les aides la construction navaleexistant la date du 1. 1. 1957, pour autant qu elles necorrespondent qu l absence d une protectiondouani re, sont progressivement r duites dans lesm mes conditions que celles applicables l liminationdes droits de douane [.]

9 ].(14) [..] Beihilfen f r den Schiffbau, soweit sie am 1 Januar 1957 bestanden und lediglich einem fehlendenZollschutz entsprechen, werden jedoch entsprechendden f r die Abschaffung der Z lle geltendenBestimmungen [..] schrittweise abgebaut.(15) Les entreprises charg es de la gestion de servicesd int r t conomique g n ral ou pr sentant le caract red un monopole fiscal sont soumises aux r gles dupr sent trait [..], dans les limites o l application deces r gles ne fait pas chec l accomplissement endroit ou en fait de la mission particuli re qui leur a t impartie.

10 (16) F r Unternehmen, die mit Dienstleistungen vonallgemeinem wirtschaftlichem Interesse betraut sindoder den Charakter eines Finanzmonopols haben, geltendie Vorschriften dieses Vertrages [..], soweit dieAnwendung dieser Vorschriften nicht die Erf llung derihnen bertragenen besonderen Aufgabe rechtlich odertats chlich observation led to my idea of aComparative GLOSSARY of such expressions in legallanguage, as an aid to more systematic METHODThe analysis proceeded through the following foursteps:(i) A general examination of the category of cccs in amonolingual perspective, consisting, for each LANGUAGE ,in (a) a proposal for classifying the connectives.