Contracts and cultural differences

So I got a translation job and I think it's just a job, but NO! It's actually a life lesson that gives insight to understanding cultural differences. Let me tell you the story.

An empty egytian rental contract

Me and Salah Rambo had a real challenge this week to translate an estonian home rental contract into Egyptian arabic! It's the first time we have taken this kind of job, because we usually translate oriental songs and on some occasion have also translated for a travel company and even some political articles. So now we have this 6-page long contract full of legal vocabulary and specific details in long sentences that don't want to end. I got us 3 different Arabic rental contracts by my side in case we need to find some of those specific legal terms. Now that we are finished translating it, let me tell you, the rental contracts in Estonia and Egypt are like day and night! They are from different universes!

EST (for Estonian) contract makes a total of 6 pages and 2 more for extras. EGY (for Egyptian) contract makes 1,5 pages and 0,5 for extras. The EST contract is organized into sections and titles and sub-titles. No sections or titles in EGY one.

EST contract goes into every little detail, eliminating any chance of disagreement or confusion. EGY one remains simple and general, leaving more space for arguments and interpretations. For example the EST contract has a blank space to fill in the rental period with dates and also give a time by hours(!) when the flat should be handed back to the owner. EGY one just sets a date.

EGP contract is referring to traditional roles of men and women in Egyptian society. For example, the person who is renting is called a “…. family father”. EST contract doesn’t care who is renting.

EST contract talks about rights for keep pets and no-smoking policy. EGY contract… well, you can imagine ;)

In all three EGY contracts that I used for help put most of the responsibilities on the person renting, leaving the owner to enjoy a responsibility-free life. In the EST contract the owner takes an obligation to help and pay on several occasions.

Salah was over-whelmed to see how many small details are relevant to estonians to write about. The same things here would be considered unimportant and would be left to deal with by two sides when it actually happens, not beforehand on paper.

I myself feel that the EST contract wants to minimize the tiniest risks and is perhaps little bit paranoid compared to the EGY one. Also, it dimishes the possibility for face-to-face arguments. What is written is the truth. In the same time EGY contract is encouraging more face-to-face communication when it comes to problem-solving . Both contracts I quess have it’s pros and cons.