Challenges of Legal Translation in a Multilingual Legal Order: A Study on European Union Treaties from English into Italian

The translation of legal documents represents one of the most complex and specialized domains within translation studies. Due to the highly technical nature of legal language and its critical function within judicial and institutional systems, legal translation demands exceptional precision, consistency, and fidelity to meaning. These challenges are particularly evident within multilingual legal frameworks such as the European Union, where linguistic equality among Member States requires the production of binding legal texts in all official languages. This thesis investigates how linguistic and stylistic features of European treaties, originally drafted in English, are preserved or adapted in their Italian translations. The analysis combines quantitative corpus-based methods with qualitative textual comparison to ensure methodological transparency and replicability. Particular attention is given to the extent to which linguistic uniformity and interpretative consistency are maintained across versions, and how translators reconcile divergences between distinct legal and cultural systems. Furthermore, the research will address the broader implications for legal and political interpretation, particularly emphasizing the multilingual characteristics of the European Union. The thesis concludes by suggesting directions for future research and professional practice aimed at enhancing accuracy and coherence within the Union’s multilingual legal order.