Sometimes, one of the parties wishes to reflect the agreement in its own (or a second) language. Apart from discussions on prevailing interpretations in the case of contradictions or inconsistencies between the two language versions, the question arises how to deal with the two versions. Official documents are often required to be drafted in the original language, even though the parties prefer their own (readable) wording and will ignore the ‘official’ version. Well known examples are notarial deeds, and corporate documents that must be published in a public companies or trade register. In practice, probably no-one will bother about the translation, but for the notary or the public registrar; albeit that, if relevant, third parties are entitled to rely on the translation by operation of law.
One way to provide for language versions is to append the translation in the secondary language as an attachment to the leading text version. Another way is to place the translation next to the original version (in a two-column document). Obviously, the perception of hierarchy slightly differs in each case; an attachment conveys a stronger sentiment of subordination, as opposed to the two-column presentation.
