Problems of Translating Oil Contracts of Multinational Companies from English into Arabic

This study investigated challenges that Saudi undergraduate learners face in translating oil contracts from English into Arabic. The study used a quantitative approach of data collection. The sample of this study consisted of 18 Saudi undergraduate learners of transaction departments at some Saudi universities. To achieve the objectives of this study, a test was designed and administered. Additionally, the relevant theoretical framework of legal translation and features of oil contracts were analysed to pinpoint the problematic areas and the gaps. The results of the study indicated that undergraduate learners provided unacceptable translation based on lexical and textual features. On the other hand, they provided poor translation based on syntactic features. The study suggests some practical solutions to overcome the difficulties of legal texts for translators.