Reproducing Terminological Ambiguity: Ethnic Minorities in the Translations of the Estonian 1925 Cultural Autonomy Law

Abstract

This article discusses the early 20th-century challenges of conveying the concept of »ethnicity« when translating legal texts. To this end, the Cultural Autonomy Law adopted in Estonia in 1925 is analysed by comparing the Estonian original of the law, the English and French translations published in the official journal of the League of Nations, the French draft version, and the unofficial German translation the English published version and the French draft were based on. In doing so, parallels are drawn with other minority-related documents of the League of Nations. The analysis shows that the translators did not aim to maintain the terminological consistency characteristic of the Estonian original. Instead, a diverse set of grammatical choices and vocabulary was employed. The choices made by the League of Nations’ officials and translators in this and other cases show that different words were routinely used as synonyms to convey a diffuse concept reflecting the perceived diversity of mostly European societies and the boundaries between the majority and minority communities within a country. The eclectic vocabulary in early 20th-century minority-related legal texts and translations thus requires modern readers to be attentive in assessing the meaning of abstract key concepts in the minority-related legal texts of the League of Nations. The results of the article also suggest the need for greater attention to the connections between historical and contemporary legal terminology concerning ethnic and minority issues.