A study on legal texts & terminological databases in Dutch

What is your background that brought you up to this point?

I had the opportunity to gain experience in the field of legal translation and terminology first through my daily work as a certified translator and court interpreter, and later on as a senior terminologist at my workplace, OFFI Ltd (Translation Office for Translation and Attestation Ltd), in Budapest. I have been working for OFFI Ltd for 15 years and I am responsible for the building of the internal IUSTerm terminology database in the field of law and public administration. I was also motivated by my university studies of law and translation, as well as by my research activities in the Research Group TERMIK led by Professor Ágota Fóris and, last but not least, by my teaching experience in terminology theory and practice, especially terminology management. In my research and teaching career, I have arrived at the point of publishing my third book, on the topic of translation-oriented databases and legal terminology.

Which hosting institution did you apply to and why?

I applied for the ELEXIS scholarship, because I wish to learn about the main activities of the Dutch Language Institute with a focus on the lexicographic and terminological work through its relevant publications and projects in the field of legal texts and terminology. I was impressed by the lectures held by Professor Fried Steurs at international conferences and wanted to learn more about the activities in the Netherlands in this field. I would like to study the upcoming legal database containing the terms of the Dutch legal system as well, and to have the opportunity to meet the editors of the database and learn about their editing principles and working methods.

Where does your interest in languages/lexicography come from and what keeps you motivated?

When I worked as a translator and interpreter, I felt the necessity to deepen my knowledge, and I applied to the Programme of Translation Studies at the Doctoral School of Linguistics at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest led by Professor Kinga Klaudy. Later on, I attended some postgraduate legal courses to further expand my knowledge. Nowadays, as a project leader of the IUSTerm project at OFFI Ltd., a part-time lecturer at universities and a researcher at TERMIK, I wish to expand, improve and share my knowledge in order to help future generations in this great and challenging field of legal terminology. I have already published an introductory book about the Hungarian key legal terms appearing in certified translations and law translations, used as a handbook at university courses and freely available on the website of OFFI Ltd.