Understanding the Basics
Before diving into specific legal terms, it’s crucial to understand some basic concepts in the Armenian legal system. Armenia’s legal system has its roots in civil law, similar to many European countries. This means that the law is primarily codified, and legal precedents play a less significant role compared to common law systems like those in the United States or the United Kingdom.
General Legal Terms
Here are some foundational legal terms that you will often encounter in Armenian legal texts and discussions:
1. **Օրենք (Orenk)** – This word means law. It is the cornerstone of any legal discussion. For example, “Սահմանադրության օրենք” (Sahmanadrutyan orenk) means “Constitutional Law”.
2. **Դատարան (Dataran)** – This translates to court. For instance, “Վճռաբեկ դատարան” (Vchrabek dataran) means “Supreme Court”.
3. **Դատավոր (Datavor)** – This term means judge. A judge presides over court proceedings and ensures that the law is followed.
4. **Փաստաբան (P’astaban)** – This is the Armenian word for lawyer. Lawyers represent clients in legal matters and provide legal advice.
5. **Հայցվոր (Hayts’vor)** – This word means plaintiff, the person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
6. **Պաշտպան (Pashtpan)** – This term translates to defendant, the individual or entity accused in a court case.
Criminal Law Terms
Criminal law terms are essential for understanding legal proceedings related to crimes and their prosecution. Here are some key terms:
1. **Հանցագործություն (Hants’agorts’ut’yun)** – This word means crime. For instance, “Ծանր հանցագործություն” (Tsanr hants’agorts’ut’yun) translates to “serious crime”.
2. **Մեղադրանք (Meghadrank)** – This term means accusation or charge. For example, “Մեղադրանք առաջադրել” (Meghadrank arrajadel) means “to press charges”.
3. **Դատախազ (Datakhaz)** – This word translates to prosecutor. The prosecutor is responsible for bringing charges against the accused.
4. **Պատիժ (Patij)** – This term means punishment. For example, “Պատիժ սահմանել” (Patij sahmanel) means “to impose a punishment”.
5. **Ազատազրկում (Azatazrkum)** – This translates to imprisonment. For instance, “Ազատազրկման ժամկետ” (Azatazrkman jamket) means “term of imprisonment”.
Civil Law Terms
Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organizations. Understanding these terms can help in navigating civil legal matters:
1. **Պայմանագիր (Paymanagir)** – This means contract. Contracts are legally binding agreements between parties. For example, “Աշխատանքային պայմանագիր” (Ashkhatankayin paymanagir) means “employment contract”.
2. **Պայմանավորվածություն (Paymanavorvatsutyun)** – This translates to agreement. Agreements can be formal or informal but are essential in civil law.
3. **Վեճ (Vech)** – This word means dispute. For instance, “Քաղաքացիական վեճ” (K’aghak’atsiakan vech) translates to “civil dispute”.
4. **Պահանջ (Pahanch)** – This term means claim. For example, “Հայցի պահանջ” (Haytsi pahanch) means “claim in a lawsuit”.
5. **Վճիռ (Vchir)** – This word translates to verdict or judgment. For instance, “Դատարանի վճիռ” (Datarani vchir) means “court judgment”.
Property Law Terms
Property law is another critical area, especially in matters related to ownership, real estate, and inheritance. Here are some essential terms:
1. **Գույք (Guyk)** – This means property. For example, “Անշարժ գույք” (Ansharzh guyk) means “real estate”.
2. **Սեփականություն (Sepakanut’yun)** – This term translates to ownership. For instance, “Սեփականության իրավունք” (Sepakanut’yan iravunk’) means “property right”.
3. **Գործարք (Gorts’ark)** – This word means transaction. For example, “Գույքի գործարք” (Guyki gorts’ark) means “property transaction”.
4. **Ժառանգություն (Zharrangut’yun)** – This translates to inheritance. For instance, “Ժառանգական իրավունք” (Zharrangakan iravunk’) means “inheritance law”.
5. **Ավան (Avan)** – This term means settlement or village. It is often used in real estate documents to describe the location of a property.
Family Law Terms
Family law covers legal issues related to familial relationships, such as marriage, divorce, and child custody. Here are some common terms:
1. **Ամուսնություն (Amusnut’yun)** – This word means marriage. For example, “Ամուսնության պայմանագիր” (Amusnut’yan paymanagir) means “marriage contract”.
2. **Բաժանում (Bazhanum)** – This term translates to divorce. For instance, “Բաժանման պայմանագիր” (Bazhanman paymanagir) means “divorce agreement”.
3. **Խնամակալություն (Khnamakalut’yun)** – This word means custody. For example, “Երեխայի խնամակալություն” (Yerekha’i khnamakalut’yun) translates to “child custody”.
4. **Ալիմենտ (Aliment)** – This term means alimony. For instance, “Ալիմենտ վճարել” (Aliment vcharel) means “to pay alimony”.
5. **Հայրություն (Hayrut’yun)** – This translates to paternity. For example, “Հայրության հաստատում” (Hayrut’yan hastatum) means “establishment of paternity”.
Commercial Law Terms
Commercial law governs business and commercial transactions. Understanding these terms can be beneficial for business dealings:
1. **Բիզնես (Biznes)** – This means business. For example, “Բիզնես պլան” (Biznes plan) means “business plan”.
2. **Կորպորացիա (Korporatsia)** – This term translates to corporation. For instance, “Կորպորատիվ իրավունք” (Korporativ iravunk’) means “corporate law”.
3. **Պայմանագիր (Paymanagir)** – Although this term also appears in civil law, in a commercial context, it specifically refers to a business contract.
4. **Ներդրում (Nerdroom)** – This word means investment. For example, “Ներդրումային պայմանագիր” (Nerdroomayin paymanagir) means “investment contract”.
5. **Շահույթ (Shahuyt)** – This term translates to profit. For instance, “Շահույթի բաշխում” (Shahuyti bashk’um) means “distribution of profit”.
Human Rights Law Terms
Human rights law is a significant area of legal practice, focusing on protecting individuals’ fundamental rights and freedoms. Here are some key terms:
1. **Իրավունք (Iravunk’)** – This means right. For example, “Մարդու իրավունքներ” (Mardu iravunk’ner) means “human rights”.
2. **Ազատություն (Azatut’yun)** – This term translates to freedom. For instance, “Խոսքի ազատություն” (Khoski azatut’yun) means “freedom of speech”.
3. **Անվտանգություն (Anvtangut’yun)** – This word means security. For example, “Անձնական անվտանգություն” (Anzakan anvtangut’yun) means “personal security”.
4. **Պաշտպանություն (Pashtpanut’yun)** – This term translates to protection. For instance, “Մարդու պաշտպանության իրավունք” (Mardu pashtpanut’yun iravunk’) means “right to protection”.
5. **Անհավասարություն (Anhavhasarut’yun)** – This means inequality. For example, “Սոցիալական անհավասարություն” (Sots’ialakan anhavhasarut’yun) means “social inequality”.
Administrative Law Terms
Administrative law governs the activities of governmental agencies. Here are some important terms in this area:
1. **Վարչապետ (Varchapet)** – This means prime minister. For example, “Վարչապետի որոշում” (Varchapeti voroshum) means “prime minister’s decision”.
2. **Կառավարություն (Karravarut’yun)** – This term translates to government. For instance, “Կառավարության որոշում” (Karravarut’yun voroshum) means “government decision”.
3. **Մարզպետ (Marzpet)** – This word means governor. For example, “Մարզպետի հրաման” (Marzpetsi hraman) means “governor’s order”.
4. **Հրաման (Hraman)** – This term translates to order. For instance, “Հրամանագրային իրավունքը” (Hramanagrayin iravunk’) means “regulatory law”.
5. **Վարչարարություն (Varchararut’yun)** – This means administration. For example, “Վարչարարական դատարան” (Varchararakan dataran) means “administrative court”.
International Law Terms
International law governs the relations between nations. Here are some essential terms in this field:
1. **Միջազգային (Mijazgayin)** – This word means international. For example, “Միջազգային իրավունքը” (Mijazgayin iravunk’) means “international law”.
2. **Դիվանագիտություն (Divanagitut’yun)** – This term translates to diplomacy. For instance, “Դիվանագիտական հարաբերություններ” (Divanagitak haraberut’yunner) means “diplomatic relations”.
3. **Պայմանագիր (Paymanagir)** – In the context of international law, this term means treaty or agreement. For example, “Միջազգային պայմանագիր” (Mijazgayin paymanagir) means “international treaty”.
4. **Համաձայնություն (Hamajaynutyun)** – This translates to consent or agreement. For example, “Համաձայնության իրավունք” (Hamajaynutyun iravunk’) means “right to consent”.
5. **Կոնվենցիա (Konventsia)** – This word means convention. For instance, “ՄԱԿ-ի կոնվենցիա” (MAK-i konventsia) means “UN convention”.
Conclusion
Understanding these essential legal terms in Armenian can significantly enhance your ability to navigate legal documents, engage in legal discussions, and comprehend the Armenian legal system. Whether you are a legal professional, a student, or simply interested in the language, familiarizing yourself with these terms will provide a solid foundation for further exploration. Remember, language learning is a journey, and expanding your vocabulary in specialized areas like law can open up new opportunities and deepen your understanding of both the language and the legal landscape.
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