Paratexts in the eyes of the courts: George Jamieson’s translation of the Qing Code in the Hong Kong courts

Abstract

ABSTRACT By highlighting the reactions of the court, this article examines legal translations and paratexts from the perspective of the special judicial reader to hopefully introduce new possibilities for legal translation studies. This article extends beyond a textual analysis of translations and specifically probes the intricacies of the application of George Jamieson’s (1843–1920) English rendition of the Great Qing Code in the Hong Kong courtroom. It is demonstrated that the mutual complementarity between his translation and paratexts is not always grasped by the court, which leads to an unnecessary clash between expert evidence and Jamieson’s opinions. Moreover, the incongruity between Jamieson’s translation and paratexts is amplified under the court’s gaze; this issue is further complicated by the English legal doctrine of judicial precedent, leading to both a judicial dilemma and concerns over the legitimacy of Jamieson’s interpretation.