Porta Lingua

Intralingual translation of legislative texts into everyday language and understandable law for laypersons

Csilla Dobos — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:49:27 +0000

Legal terminology and the use of legal terminology can be studied in a number of contexts: we can analyse the specificities of the language used by lawyers, the differences between legal language and the vernacular/everyday language, compare the written and spoken versions of legal language, describe the layers of legal language, the specificities of legal terms, discuss legal philosophy, legal pragmatics, legal semantics, and many other aspects of the law and language trend. These aspects of analysis are also closely linked to the field of legal linguistics, the main task of which is to examine the criteria of legal professionalism, linguistic sophistication and intelligibility in light of the need for consistency. In the following, I will use examples from the 2024 issues of the newsletter "Understandable Law – Effortlessly about Law" to show how the original text of the legislation differs from the legal explanation produced by the authors of the newsletter in layman's terms. The colloquial explanation of legislative texts is done without Latin expressions and legal terms, using simple sentences, which is a special case of intralingual translation, i.e. translation from Hungarian into Hungarian. The aim of the research presented in this paper is to carry out a comparative intralingual translation analysis of legislative texts and their colloquial interpretation in newsletters, and to identify the intralingual translation operations that contribute to text simplification and clarity.

Co-agency in healthcare interpreting: The interpreter’s sociocultural and interpersonal role in clinical communication

Dániel Mány — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:50:03 +0000

This study examines interpreter co-agency in healthcare settings through three French–Hungarian medical interpreting assignments conducted in Hungary between 2023 and 2025. Moving beyond the traditional conduit model, it conceptualizes healthcare interpreters as co-agents whose work is shaped by the clinical situation and co-constructed with patients and healthcare professionals. Adopting a participant-researcher design, the analysis draws on data triangulation across written agreements, pre-assignment correspondence, and post-assignment field notes. The findings show that healthcare interpreters are expected to manage sociolinguistic and pragmatic choices (e.g., forms of address, degree of formality, register shifts, and culturally sensitive terminology), to mediate administrative and systemic differences between healthcare systems, and to contribute to the interpersonal organization of clinical interaction. In high-stakes contexts such as cancer, HIV diagnosis, and emergency care, these expectations extend to negotiating emotional presence, physical proximity, gendered constraints, and interpreting modes. The study concludes that co-agency is an expectation-driven and structurally embedded feature of healthcare interpreting, shaped not only within consultations but also through institutional arrangements and preparatory communication.

Multilevel linguistic analysis of the language use of church diplomacy

Tamara Hardiné Magyar — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:50:36 +0000

The publication examines a more sophisticated, higher-level form of political language use, the linguistic register of diplomacy, and the methods of language use in the Holy See’s diplomacy; it presents the opinions and modes of communication of Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and also a political actor, regarding certain areas of public life as well as various churches. During his foreign trips, Pope Francis meets with representatives of other religions, political leaders, members of diplomatic corps, and researchers. As a communicator, he interacts with them, provides emotional support through his programs, and conveys messages to them as well as to the wider audience. It is worth examining how the papal statement is received in communities with different cultures and religions; and which stylistic and pragmatic tools help interpret its message and achieve the goals expressed therein. The lexical, lexico-semantic, and syntactic features of the pontifical statements are also presented. The study summarizes the linguistic and extralinguistic outcomes of the individual statements, while mentioning more distant research objectives.

A terminological analysis of online patient information on dental injuries

Magdolna Pálinkás, Éva Katalin Varga — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:51:10 +0000

Tooth injuries account for 11.1% of all dental injuries; the main types are fractures and luxations. Patients often search the internet for information on what to do in the event of a dental injury. In this study, we examine the use of terminology based on a corpus compiled from patient information leaflets on dental injuries provided by ten dental clinics, as well as the egészségvonal.hu and házipatika.com websites. Using Sketch Engine software, we compared the terms identified through keyword searches with Hungarian-language terminology used in recommendations for treating various dental injuries, which aligns with international terminology for dental injuries. The aim of our study was to map the dental terminology used in patient information leaflets written for the general public, to compile terms that are identical to colloquial language or can be understood based on the language proficiency of laypeople, to observe the strategies used to explain terms related to dental injuries, and, based on this, to formulate recommendations for effective patient information and education. Based on our analysis, we found that the Hungarian terminology for dental injuries in patient information leaflets is built from vernacular elements and is understandable with everyday language proficiency but requires explanation due to laypeople’s lack of professional expertise.

Challenges and opportunities in teaching Spanish for Specific Purposes at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Timea Bánki — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:51:38 +0000

This paper examines the characteristics and development possibilities of Spanish for Specific Purposes (SSP) teaching at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The theoretical framework is based on communicative approaches to ESP teaching, research on multilingualism, and models emphasizing the role of motivation and affective factors in language learning. The empirical part of the study employs a mixed-method approach, combining focus group interviews and questionnaire data (N=34) to explore students’ motivation, learning strategies, and attitudes toward learning Spanish as a second or third foreign language. The findings indicate that students are primarily driven by intrinsic motivation and evaluate language proficiency mainly in terms of communicative effectiveness. Vocabulary acquisition and the development of speaking skills emerge as the most significant challenges for the students. The study proposes directions for syllabus development, particularly in supporting autonomous vocabulary learning and fostering a more positive attitude toward errors in the language learning process.

Teaching Languages for Specific Purposes following the elimination of the language exam requirement for graduation

Judit Mátyás — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:52:02 +0000

At universities—including the Faculty of Economics at the University of Pécs—one of the requirements for earning a degree prior to 2022 was that students pass a general higher-level or intermediate-level specialized language (economics, business) exam. For many students, the elimination of this requirement came as a great relief, as many had previously been unable to take their final exams or earn their degrees because they lacked a language certificate. At the same time, however, the repeal of this requirement has led to numerous dilemmas regarding specialised language instruction. Does specialized language instruction still have a raison d’être, and is it necessary now that this criterion—which in many cases posed an obstacle or problem for students—has been eliminated? At the Faculty of Economics of the University of Pécs, the decision was made that specialised language instruction and passing the specialised language exam remain important for students. In the labour market, in economic and business life, and in international circles, the professionals who succeed after completing their university studies are those who possess a high level of language proficiency necessary for their field. This study presents the current structure of specialised language instruction at the Faculty of Economics, as well as students’ opinions and feedback on the newly introduced specialised language requirements.

Teaching Hungarian for dental purposes – the way forward

Mónika Putz — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:55:48 +0000

A Semmelweis Egyetem Szaknyelvi Intézetében klinikai igényfelmérések alapján zajlik a magyar fogorvosi szaknyelv oktatása az angol és német program hallgatói számára első-, másod- és harmadéven. A nyelvoktatás célja az, hogy a hallgatóink sikeresen kommunikáljanak a betegekkel és az asszisztensekkel a klinikai gyakorlataik során. A digitalizáció, az új kezelések és módszerek, új eszközök és modern anyagok megjelenése, valamint az esztétikus fogpótlások elterjedése szükségessé tette a magyar fogorvosi szaknyelv oktatása során használt tananyagaink naprakésszé tételét. Az is nyilvánvaló, hogy az új hallgatói generációnak már korántsem azok az igényei, mint a korábbiaknak. A nyelvi tananyagaink tartalmi és formai megújítására van szükség. A megújításnak három pillére van: a hallgatói oldal „fogadóképességének” felmérése; a klinikákkal való interprofesszionális együttműködés (amely elengedhetetlen feltétele egy sikeres, mai igényeknek megfelelő, autentikus alapokon nyugvó szaknyelvi tananyag készítésének) és a magyar fogorvosi szaknyelvet oktató kollégák szakmai továbbképzése. Jelen tanulmányban a hallgatói oldal kerül bemutatásra a harmad- és negyedéves fogorvostan-hallgatók körében elvégzett felmérés (Dental Communication Skills Attitude Scale, DCSAS) néhány részlete alapján. A DCSAS kérdőív alkalmazásával végzett vizsgálat négy faktort azonosított: tanulás, egyetemi adottságok, jövő és siker. A felmérés kiértékelése az IBM SPSS 29 segítségével történt.

The role of empathy in language learning and language learning as a tool for developing empathy

Marianna Válóczi, Erika Huszár, Katalin Kiss — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Emotional intelligence and empathy are crucial in many areas of life; in our society, in business, and in education, including language teaching and learning. While researchers have long studied the affective factors in language learning, the role of the principles and empirical findings of positive psychology in the language learning process, including the impact of positive emotions, has entered the mainstream of research in the last decade. This study aims to provide a theoretical overview of the concept of language learner well-being based on the findings of positive psychology, touching on the so-called EMPHATICS model (Oxford, 2016). The article analyzes the definition of empathy, one of the basic elements of the model, and the role of empathy in education and language teaching, with particular regard to the language learning characteristics of university students. The authors also discuss the relationship between empathy and language learning motivation and intercultural communication. The paper also provides practical guidance on which language learning activities are particularly suitable for developing emotional competencies, especially empathy.

An investigation of AI-generated audio materials in the teaching of Hungarian medical language

Kata Baditzné Pálvölgyi — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:55:20 +0000

This research was conducted with the aim of providing a concise overview for instructors of Hungarian as a foreign language regarding AI-based tools—some of which are freely accessible—that can efficiently support and facilitate language teachers’ work through the creation of audio materials. We primarily examine the currently available options from the perspective of medical language instruction; however, the findings are also relevant for professionals teaching Hungarian as a foreign language at any level and in any context. The study investigated how AI performs in the following areas in the context of Hungarian medical terminology: audio materials created by instructors from specialized texts, as well as chatbots capable of autonomously generating audio content or even exchanging voice messages, optimized specifically for medical contexts and autonomous learning. Based on the results, voice generation—including samples created through voice cloning—remains an area in need of development. Applications are currently less capable of producing natural speech intonation. Overall, when examining segmental and suprasegmental features, ElevenLabs stood out among similar applications. Chatbots intended for autonomous language learning can also only be used cautiously at present; there are still shortcomings in pronunciation, while the vocabulary tends to be patient-centered and in a lay register.