Translation Based on Skopos Norms: Excerpts from Legal Documents in Focus

This research paper presents a comprehensive study of norms-based skopos in legal translation between Arabic and English, aiming to highlight the legal translation norms via the skopos theory. The problem is whether the skopos in legal translation is the source or the target text-oriented, and which norms a translator can retain to align the skopos. Through the empirical study, the paper examines the norms-governed activity based on a previous theoretical background applicable to English and Arabic legal texts. The findings reveal that translation choices should be guided by the intention beyond the target text, with the translator who shapes the translation to attain the specific purpose of the ultimate document. Actually, it contributes to a deeper understanding of legal texts‟principles.