Bridging Borders Through Translation : Corpus Linguistics and Metaphor Analysis in Comparative Constitutional Law

Comparative constitutional law engages with the study and comparison of constitutions across jurisdictions: these foundational texts reflect and shape national values, identity, and legal culture. This chapter explores the central yet often underacknowledged role of translation and linguistic analysis in comparative constitutional research. It argues that translation is not a neutral conduit but an interpretative act that frames and filters constitutional meaning, thus influencing comparative insights. The chapter introduces two case studies that apply linguistic approaches to constitutional texts: a quantitative corpus-linguistic analysis that identifies key conceptual patterns across constitutions, and a qualitative metaphor analysis that uncovers shared and divergent cultural foundations. The discussion concludes by addressing the risks posed by the dominance of English as a global lingua franca, which may perpetuate linguistic and epistemic hegemony in comparative law. The chapter calls for more context-sensitive methodologies that engage directly with original languages and the socio-legal environments from which constitutions emerge.