法律英语的语言特征及翻译

湖南第一师范学院

毕业论文(设计) 题目(中文)法律英语的语言特征及翻译

（英文）The Linguistic Features and Translation of

Legal English

学生姓名李幸成龙

学号09404050921 指导教师朱敏冠

系（部）外语系

专业班级09级英语8班完成时间2013年5月

The Linguistic Features and Translation of

Legal English

By

LI Xingchenglong

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Department of Foreign Language,

HUNAN FIRST NORMAL UNIVERSITY

May, 2013

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CONTENTS

摘要............................................................................................................. I Abstract ..................................................................................................... I I Chapter 1 Introduction. (1)

1.1 Definition of Legal English (1)

1.2 The Social Functions of Law (1)

1.2.1 Keeping Peace and Promoting Justice (2)

1.2.2 Enforcing Standards and Maintaining Order (2)

Chapter 2 Linguistic Features of Legal English (3)

2.1 Lexical Features of Legal English (3)

2.1.1 Rare Adoption of Pronouns (3)

2.1.2 Frequent Adoption of Modal Verb ----“Shall” (4)

2.1.3 Restrained Adoption of Adjectives and Adverbs (5)

2.2 Syntactic Features of Legal English. (6)

2.2.1 Declarative Sentences (7)

2.2.2 Complete Sentences (7)

2.2.3 Long Sentences (8)

2.3 Rhetoric Features of Legal English (9)

2.3.1 Usage of Parallelism (10)

2.3.2 Usage of Passive V oice (11)

2.3.3 Usage of Nominalization (11)

Chapter 3 Translation of Legal English (13)

3.1 Principles for Translation of Legal English (13)

3.1.1 Faithfulness and Rigor (13)

3.1.2 Accuracy and Precision (14)

3.1.3 Clearness and Conciseness (15)

3.2 Translation Methods of Legal English (16)

3.2.1 Translation Methods of Legal Terminology (16)

3.2.2 Translation Methods of Archaic Words (17)

3.2.3 Translation Methods of Long Sentences (19)

Chapter 4 Conclusion (21)

Bibliography (23)

Acknowledgements (25)

摘要

随着经济全球化的发展及依法治国观念的深入人心，法律文本在中西方交流合作中起到了非常重要的桥梁作用，法律英语翻译的作用也日益凸显，中文法律法规的英译已变得日益迫切。法律英语作为一种特殊用途英语，具有鲜明独特的语言特点，它要求用词准确、结构严谨，具有权威性、庄严性和强制性。在对法律英语及法律的社会功能进行概述的基础上，结合具体实例从词汇、修辞、句法三方面对法律英语的语言特征展开探讨。通过对比中英文差异及中西方法律用语的差异，提出了法律英语的翻译原则——忠实、严谨、准确、清晰、简明，并有针对性地概括了法律术语、古体词及长句的翻译与方法技巧。通过分析法律英语的语言特征，探讨其翻译原则及方法，有利于促进人们更好地实现法律法规的移植，从而进一步加快我国的法治化建设步伐。

关键词：法律英语；语言特征；翻译

Abstract

With the development of economic globalization and the deep interiorization of the “rule by law” concept in the human mind, the legal text has played a very important role as a bridge in cultural communication and other cooperation between China and the West. The Legal English translation has become increasingly prominent, and the English translations of Chinese laws and regulations have become more and more urgent. Legal English, as a kind of English for specific purpose, has its distinctive and special linguistic features. Because legal English is authoritative, solemn and mandatory, it requires that the wording is accurate and the structure is rigorous. This paper, firstly discusses linguistic features of legal English from the aspects of lexicon, rhetoric, and syntax with concrete examples based on an overview of legal English and the social functions of law, then summarizes the translation principle of legal English which includes faithfulness, rigor, accuracy, precision, clearness, conciseness and methods of legal terminology, archaic words and long sentences, by contrasting the differences between Chinese and English, and the differences between Chinese and English legal language. Through the analysis of the linguistic features of legal English and discussion of translation principles and methods of legal English, this paper aims to achieve the transplantation of laws and regulations better, so as to further accelerate the pace of construction of the rule of law in China.

Key words: Legal English; linguistic features; translation

Chapter 1 Introduction

Nowadays, with globalization and China?s entry into the WTO, there are more and more opportunities to communicate with foreign countries, especially with those countries whose official language is English. It is necessary that China?s legal system should be improved gradually to meet the requirements of social economic development. As we well accepted that legal law plays an essential role in social life. Therefore the study of legal English has become more and more important.

1.1D efinition of Legal English

Legal English refers to the legal language used in expressing concepts of law science, legal action and non-litigation legal affairs. Like commercial English, advertising English and so on, legal English belongs to the branch of English for specific purposes. Legal English is the outcome of an interdiscipline study which is composed of law science and English linguistics. Therefore, we should study legal English from two aspects. On the one hand, the study should carry out according to purposes and functions of law, the legal norm, and legal instruments. On the other hand, to study the linguistic features of law and the practice of law, we should pay much attention to the philology, especially the elementary principle and method of applied linguistics.

1.2 The Social Functions of Law

We should admit that law plays an essential part of life so we can live together amicably. As the soaring population and the globalization tendency link us all together, every action that any person takes affects another both directly and indirectly and may even cause harm or dangers. Any conflict happened inevitably must be solved peacefully with the help

of law. Otherwise, there will be just dispute, disorder and death.

According to legal theories, there are two basic social functions of law. One is keeping peace and promoting justice; another is enforcing standards and maintaining order.

1.2.1Keeping Peace and Promoting Justice

We hope that there is peace in the world and justice in the society. This function of law means not only protecting citizen?s life and property, but also protecting country?s order and stabiliza tion.

We have a general acknowledge that the law must protect citizens from the criminal who would inflict bodily harm or who would cause losses of property. The law has created police department, procuratorates, courthouses and jails to prevent and punish the criminal and to help people feel secure.

1.2.2Enforcing Standards and Maintaining Order

We live in an uncertain and chaotic world. Some people die of various kinds of accident or disasters. Some people win lotteries while stock markets collapse. No matter how amiable and loving people can be, altercations and disagreements are inevitable. Laws cannot wipe out most natural disasters, nor can they prevent unexpected episodes of fortune, but they can create an environment, in which people can work and pursue happiness with a rational expectation that their actions are worth endeavors, and resolve disputes between quarreling individuals, corporation, or governmental entities. The regulations of law stipulated the standards of our action, so the society may maintain in a good and stable order. Without this social environment, our daily life would be full with chaos and turmoil.

Chapter 2 Linguistic Features of Legal English

Language is the vehicle of law expression. When used in different fields of human society, English have formed different genres, such as EST (English for Science and Technology), commercial English, legal English, and so on. They all serve the purpose of communication in different fields of society. Legal English is one of the practical English. To implement the functions of law, it is important for people in legal areas to attach importance to the study of legal English. Therefore, this chapter analyzes the linguistic features of legal English from three aspects of lexicon, rhetoric and syntax.

2.1 Lexical Features of Legal English

Different special-purpose English languages, such as commercial English and scientific English, have different individual lexical characteristics. Legal English, likewise, has its outstanding lexical features.

2.1.1Rare Adoption of Pronouns

In our daily communication and writing, we use pronouns, espec ially the “central” pronouns, such as personal, reflexive and possessive pronouns, as the indispensable bridge. In most cases, pronouns serve as the replacements of nouns or noun. With their major function to avoid repetition and achieve cohesion, pronouns are one of the most frequently used cohesive devices. For example:

(1) To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a

hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on

your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a

hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each

other. To me, you will be unique in the entire world. To you, I shall be unique

in the entire world. (马爱农，2006:80)

In this example, pronouns are used frequently to avoid repetition. However, in legal English, because of the rigidity of legal language, pronouns are rarely employed in legal English since they can?t stipulate the rights and obligations precisely. To avoid ambiguity, the draftsmen of legal documents would rather use more words, resort to the archaic here-/there- words, or repeat the nouns instead of using pronouns. At the same time, rare adoption of pronouns in legal English gives us evidence that the writ has no subjective, personal and emotional idea of draftsmen. Nouns such as “the citizen”, “the legal person”, and “the guardian” are often repeated in legal English writs.

(2)Sentence A: The agent authorized by the holder to receive payment

shall be liable only for crediting the sum on the bill to his account according

to the items specified in the bill.

Sentence B: The agent authorized by the holder to receive payment shall be liable only for crediting the sum on the bill to the holder’s account

according to the items specified in the bill.

From these examples, we can see the word “his” in sentence A cause confusions for the reader because the word “his” might be “the holder?s” or “the agent?s”. In sentence B, using “the holder?s” makes the entire sentence clear without ambiguity.

Pronounce can have ambiguous reference, so the draftsmen have the tendency to avoid using pronouns. Obviously, lexical repetition helps achieve exactness of reference.

2.1.2Frequent Adoption of Modal Verb ----“Shall”

We generally use ordinary modal verbs where appropriate in order to communicate clearly. Common modal verbs include fourteen kinds: can, could, may, might, must, will, would, shall, should, ought to, dare, do, need, used to. Generally speaking, all those English modal verbs are frequently employed in legal English. Among aforementioned modal verbs, shall lies in the most important position in legal English.

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (1982) and Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language,there are two main uses of the word “shall”. One is to express the simple future tense; the other is to express promise, purpose, suggestion, demand, custom and so on. However, in legal English, “shall” is gen erally used to express an imperative and mandatory tone, or used as a rhetoric device. For example：

(3) a) The certificate… shall be conclusive evidence.

b) The parties to the contract shall observe the principle of good faith

in exercising rights and fulfilling obligations thereof.

In sentence a., “shall” is used just for rhetoric purpose for the reason that compared with “is”. In sentence b., “shall” is used to indicate a strong obligation. With “shall”, the clause is made authoritatively and clearly.

From the above discussion, we may put forward a conclusion that “shall” is used for two meanings in legal English: to express obligation or regulation and to be used as a rhetoric device. And the first usage is the most widely employed.

2.1.3Restrained Adoption of Adjectives and Adverbs

As we all know, legal English should be faithful and accurate. Therefore, the words used in legal English must be precise and righteous.

That is to say, legal English words and expressions seldom use emotive meanings. For this reason, people seldom use such adjectives as wonderful, happy, and they are much less frequently use in legal English than in many other varieties. Some intensifying adverbs, such as very, quite, and rather are even completely absent in the legal realm.

The adjectives used in legal English are those of limitation and modification of quality, degree and range. These adjective modifiers cannot be substituted by other words with similar meanings. The selection of proper adjectives used in legal English is in accordance with the characteristic of precision.

The same as adjectives, adverbs also rarely have any emotive meanings in legal English. The usages of adverbs also have to be discreetly taken into consideration.

For examples:

(4)a)Nominated bank means the bank with which the credit is available

or any bank in the case of a credit available with any bank. (Uniform

Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits UCP600)

b)Top reserve maritime evidence, the maritime court may, taking into

account the specific circumstances, seal up the evidence, or take the

reproductions, duplicates, photographs, or make video recording, extracts or

records of inquests. It may also take the original evidence where definitely

necessary.

In the above sentences, it?s very accurate and proper to use the adjectives and adverbs with their individual unique functions and meanings.

2.2 Syntactic Features of Legal English.

We all know that legal English has long and complicate sentences.

Therefore, the syntax becomes a very important part of legal English. Generally speaking, syntactic features of legal English consist of the usages of declarative sentences, complete sentences, periodic sentence, and so on.

2.2.1 Declarative Sentences

It is obvious that the function of declarative sentence is to make a statement, to state a factual event. In legal English, the declarative sentence controls the whole text. The functions of declarative sentence used in legal English is to identify the legal relationship, carry out the legal terms, state the fact of the legal case and stipulate the people?s rights and obligations. According to Huang Yongping?s viewpoint, we may find that declarative sentences are frequently used in each level and each area of legal context without court, cross-examinations and police interrogation, if we have an overall review of legal English about the utterance. To some extent, all the sentences if completely used in statutes and contracts are declarative sentences.

Here are some examples:

(5)The lawful civil rights and interests of citizen and legal persons shall

be protected by law; no organization or individual may infringe upon them.

The above sentence stipulates the provisions to protect the legal rights for citizens and both parties. And it is declarative sentence that makes people have a clear mind of the legal regulations.

2.2.2 Complete Sentences

To avoid misrepresentation and vagueness, elliptical sentences and omissions are seldom used in legal English. It means that the legal English requires complete sentence and precise expression.

For example:

(6)“Invention” in the Patent Law means any new technical solution

relating to a product, a process or an improvement thereof. “Utility Model”

in the Patent Law means any new technical solution relating to the shape,

the structure, or their combination, of a product, which is fit for practical

use. “Design” in the Patent Law means any new design of the shape, pattern, color, or their combination, of a product, which creates an aesthetic feeling

and is fit for industrial application.

In these legal provisions, the draftsmen used the same sentence structure to define the technical terms of “invention”,“utility model” and “design”. That is to say, the same verb of “means” is used three times in this legal context. By contrast, it is often omitted or substituted in ordinary English sentences. This type of sentence structure makes the legal language more accurate and strict, so that the meanings of legal context are expressed precisely and completely.

2.2.3 Long Sentences

We already know that legal English needs accurate, concise, formal and complete expression. Actually, it is much easier for legal draftsmen to express the complex ideas with precision and logic by long sentences. Therefore, long sentences are widely used in legal English.

In common English, the sentence is structure usually simple and the sentences are short. The length of the long sentences in legal English is much longer than the normal average of seventeen words in one sentence. While, according to the research, the average length of sentences in the novel of American famous writer Ernest is thirteen words. This is the reason why the legal context is often hard to understand. For example:

(7) the peoples of the U.N., determined to save succeeding generations

from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold

suffering to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental rights,, in the

dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and

women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under

which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other

sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social

progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, and for these ends, to

practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good

neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and

security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of

methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest,

and to employ international machinery for the promotion of economic and

social advancement of all peoples, have resolved to combine our efforts to

accomplish these aims.

This is a very long sentence with 175 words to state the aim of this organization very clearly and correctly. In this sentence, there are eight infinitive phrases, three subordinate clauses, and a large number of modifiers, which are coherent and clear. From this example, we know long sentences used in legal English may also have the special advantages.

2.3 Rhetoric Features of Legal English

There are many definitions of rhetoric. Cambridge International Dictionary of English (1995)describes rhetoric as“speech or writing which is intended to be effective and persuasive, or (specialized) the study of the ways of using language effectively.”

In the Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, it means “the study of how effective writing achieves its goals. The term ‘rhetoric? in this sense is common in North America college and university course in rhetoric or …rhetorical communication?,

which typically focus on how to express oneself correctly and effectively in relation to the topic of writing or speech, the audience, and the purpose of communication.”

Oxford Concise Dictionary of Linguistics (1997)defined it as “Traditionally a discipline concerned with the effective use of language, to persuade, give pleasure, and so on.”

In addition to all this, there are also many other definitions of rhetoric. This text would not detail any more. From all above, we can draw a conclusion that the rhetoric is a device which can help us communicate more effectively and conveniently.

2.3.1 Usage of Parallelism

Parallel structure, or parallelism, can be considered as a cohesive device. And it is used commonly in legal document, which is regularly employed in the listing of ideas, facts, events, etc. Using the parallel construction, we can understand an extremely long sentence which includes several different ideas or cases very easily. And parallelism can knit words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs together cohesively, logically and precisely. Two examples are given below, sentence a. is about word parallel; sentence b. is about phrases parallel.

(8) a)Errors and irregularities in the manner in which the testimony is

transcribed or the deposition is prepared, signed, certified, sealed, indorsed,

transmitted, filed, or otherwise dealt with by the officer under Rules 30 and

31 are waived unless a motion to suppress the deposition or some part

thereof is made with proper promptness after such a defect is, or with the

diligence might have been ascertained.

b)This Convention does not apply to sales:

(a) of goods bought for personal, family or household use, unless the

seller, at any time before or at the conclusion of the contract, neither knew

nor ought to have known that the goods were bought for any such use;

(b) by auction;

(c) on execution or otherwise by authority of law;

(d)of stocks, shares, investment securities, negotiable instruments or

money;

(e) of ships, vessels, hovercraft or aircraft;

(f) of electricity.

2.3.2 Usage of Passive Voice

Using passive voice is one of the most common methods of emphasizing the impersonal in legal documents. According to Hu Zhuanglin?s viewpoint, high frequency of the passive voice in a particular style indicates that such style lays stress on the fact itself and objectivity, which tends to use the target as the subject in the sentence. Sentence with passive voice are pervasive in legal English. For example:

(9)a)Onceamortgage15establishedonaship, the owner ship of the

mortgaged ship shall not be transferred without the consent of the

mortgagee.

b)Except as provided herein and unless otherwise specified in writing,

all Confidential Information must be returned to the disclosing Party or

destroyed after the receiving Party’s need for it has expired.

Analyzing the two examples, we may find it is proper and appropriate to use sentences with passive voice when the provisions of the law mainly concern an action or the object of an action.

2.3.3 Usage of Nominalization

Nominalization is another specific characteristic of legal English. Because of the usage of nominalization, legal English becomes more authoritative and objective. That is to say, the accurate expression of the concept in legal English depends on nominalization. In general,

nominalization refers to the nominalization of verbs, adjectives and sentences.

Here is an example of the nominalization of verbs:

(10)a)The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be

construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

b)Any provision of article 11, article 29 or Part Ⅱthis Convention

that allow a contract of sale or its modification or termination by agreement

or any offer, acceptance or other indication of intention to be made in any

form other than in writing does not apply where any party has his place of

business in a Contracting State which has made a declaration under article

96 of this Convention. The parties may not derogate from or vary the effect

or this article.

In the above sentence, if the word “enumeration”, “modification”, “termination”, “acceptance”, “indication”, “intention” and “declaration” were replaced by their corresponding verbs, the sentence would be vague in meaning and awkward in form. Because, English nouns, in particular abstract nouns, are relatively developed. And they are more stable, more explicit and more precise than verbs. By using the nominalization, the draftsmen and translators can get a greater degree of precision, objectivity and justness of the rules and regulations of law.

Chapter 3 Translation of Legal English

Legal English has the special purposes, functions and specific linguistic features. With the globalization of international world and the development of international economy, legal English plays an important role in the society even in international world. Therefore, we should pay special attention to its translation. So this chapter discusses some basic translation principles and methods of legal English.

3.1 Principles for Translation of Legal English

The most famous and notable principle of translation is proposed by Yan Fu when he translated Evolution and Ethics, that is, faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance (信、达、雅).Lin Yutang proposed three principles of translation on the basis of Yan Fu, that is, faithfulness, fluency and beauty (忠实、通顺、美). In the 1950s, Fu Lei introduced his Similarity of Spirit Model, which means that the translators shall strive for similarity in spirit rather than in form (重神似不重形似). In addition to these, there are also many other principles of translation.

According to the practice of legal translation and the studies of some experts and scholars, this chapter has summarized the basic principles for translation of legal English as follows: faithfulness and rigor, conventionality and smoothness, clearness and conciseness.

3.1.1 Faithfulness and Rigor

The law is a set of rules and conduct enacted through legislative procedures by legislative body that exercises legislative power, and its implementation is ensured by state power. Legal language, as the bearer of the legal pattern of manifestation and legal information, must embody the functions of legal English. Because the law is sacred, the translation

法律英语学习方法

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法律英语词汇的特点及其翻译 Ξ 李　丽 (三峡大学外国语学院教师　香港中文大学翻译系博士生　香港沙田) 摘　要　法律文件的英汉翻译在中国发挥着越来越重要的作用。本文从四个方面归纳法律英语词汇的特点,即专业性、正式性、客观性及准确性,并进一步探讨具体的法律词汇翻译的方法和对策。关键词　法律翻译　法律词汇特点　翻译方法　翻译策略 Abstract Translation of legal documents is now playing an ever -increasing role in China.This paper first surveys four primary characteristics of legal vocabulary ,namely ,professionalism ,formalism ,objectivity and exactitude ,followed by a presentation and discussion of s pecific strategies and methods of translating legal vo 2cabulary between English and Chinese. K ey Words Legal translation characteristics of legal vocabulary translation methods translation strate 2gies 随着中国加入WTO ,世界经济一体化,中国与世界的交往和联系越来越多。法律文件的翻译将会在社会生活中扮演很重要的角色。要做好法律文件的英汉翻译,我们必须了解法律英语的一些特点。所谓法律英语,“是指法律界通用的书面英语(包括法律、法规、条例、规章、协定、判定和裁定等),尤其是指律师起草法律文件(合同、章程、协议、契约等)惯常使用的语 言。”[1] 法律英语在词汇、句式等方面都有它自己的特点。本文尝试归纳出法律英语在词汇方面的四大特点,并进而探讨一些具体的翻译方法和策略。1　专业性 “法律语言部分地是由具有特定法律意义的词组成,部分地是由日常用语组成。具有特定法律意义的词,在日常用语中即使有也很少 使用,如预谋、过失、非法侵害等。”[2] 除了具有特定法律意义的词之外,很多在日常生活中普遍应用的词汇,一旦到了法律文本中,便具有了区别于日常意义的法律意义。这也就是我们常 说的法律词汇的“专业性”。下表列举部分英语单词的普通意义和法律意义: 英语单词 日常意义法律意义adverse 相反的非法的battery 电池伤害、人身攻击condemn 谴责判刑、定罪declaration 声明、宣言申诉书exhibit 展出物证hear 听见听审immunity 免疫力豁免权leave 离开休庭proceed 进行起诉report 报告揭发sentence 句子判决undo 解开勾引、诱奸vacation 假期休庭期warrant 保证拘捕令 除了这些普通词汇所具有的专业意义之外,法律英语中还保留了一些外来词和旧体词,这也是法律词汇专业性的一个体现和标记。 外来词:现代法律词汇中保留一些来自拉文的词汇,如: ad hoc 专门地bona fide 真诚地 de facto 事实上的inter alia 除了别的因素以外in re 关于 mutatis mutandis 已作了必要的修订pari passu 按相同比例per se 自身pro bono 为了公益pro rata 按比例 第18卷3期2005年8月 中国科技翻译CHIN ESE SCIENCE &TECHNOLO GY TRANSLATORS JOURNAL Vol.18.No.3 Aug.2005 收稿日期:2005—03—09/14

第十章 法律翻译中被动句式的翻译(课堂讲练)

第十章法律翻译中被动句式的翻译（课堂讲练） 本章教学目标：掌握法律英语翻译中有关被动句翻译的若干基本方法。 课堂讲练： 1、概述 在法律英语句式中，被动语态（PASSIVE VOICE）使用频率很高。通常在以下情况中，法律英语会使用被动语态： 例1、（1）、The Conformity Certificate of the Goods to be delivered shall be delivered directly to Party A by Party C on the Delivery Day of such Goods. 参考译文：拟交付货物的产品合格证应由丙方在该批货物交货日直接交给甲方（或：丙方应在交货日将拟交货物的产品合格证直接交给甲方）。 （2）、When the Goods to be pledged under this Agreement have been delivered to the Dealer acting on behalf of the Pledgee, the Pledgor shall submit to the Dealer a Delivery Note. 参考译文：依照本协议应质押的货物交付给代表质押权人的经销商后，质押人应向经销商提交一份交货单。 （3）、Unless otherwise specified in writing herein, all Confidential Information must be returned to the disclosing Party or destroyed on the expiration of the period of the receiving Party’s using such Confidential Information. 参考译文：除非本协议另有书面规定，所有机密信息在接收方使用期限届满时必须退还给披露方或者销毁。 （4）、如果在合同任何一方向对方发出就因本合同引起的或与之有关的任何争议进行协商的书面请求后15天内，争议仍未得到解决，则任何一方可以将该争议提交中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会仲裁。 参考译文：Where the disputes arising out of or in relation to this Contract can not be resolved within fifteen (15) days after any Party hereto requesting in writing the other Party to commencing a consultation on said disputes, either Party may submit it to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration(CIETAC). （5）、对于任何因违约而给对合同任何一方造成的损失，违约方必须做出金钱赔偿。 参考译文：Any losses suffered by any Party hereto arising from any breach shall be indemnified by the Party in breach. 小结：从上述例句的翻译中可以看出，法律英语使用被动语态，通常是因为（1）、强调动作对象（即受动者），比如例句（1）、（2），此时，往往施动者没有必要说出或不愿说出；或者（2）、施动者本身无法确定，如（3）、（4）；或者两种情形兼而有之，如（5）。在汉译时，由于汉语被动语态的使用频率较英语为少，所以，不必受英语句式限制，将所有被动句都翻译成汉语被动句，译文应以既忠实于原文意义，又符合汉语表达习惯为要旨。 2、英语被动语态基本翻译技巧 1）、译成被动句 如需要强调源语中被动语态的受动对象，一般译成汉语被动句。不过，可以使用”予以、由、受、受到、得以、得到、经“等词汇替代”被“，以表达被动含义。 例2、（1）、If any of the provisions of this Contract is held invalid or unenforceable and unless the invalidity or unenforceability materially violates the fundamental intent and sense of other parts of this Contract, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any other provisions hereof. 参考译文：如果本合同任何条款被认定为无效或不可执行，除非此无效或不可执行性实质性地违反本合同根本意图或其其他部分意义，则不得影响本合同其他条款的有效性或可执行性。

法律英语翻译

Legal English (revised version for the students) Ch.1 The Main Features of Legal English 一、法律英语的英译： David Mellinkoff（加州大学洛杉矶分校法学院教授）：《The Language of the Law》1963 1.legal English---Lawful English Legal parlance（说法、用语）/legal lingo（行话、隐语）/legal jargon（行话、黑话）/legalese( 法律八股文)/language of jurisprudence(法理语言) 2. the English Language of the Law or shortened as “the language of the law” 3. 法律英语与法学英语 二、法律英语的范围： 是否凡是涉及法律的英语（词汇、表达方法、句子结构……）都是法律英语？ 英美法学界所公认的法律英语主要是指普通法国家（common-law countries）的法律人所用的习惯语言（customary language），包括某些词汇、短语，或具有特色的一些表达方法(mode of expressions)。 三、法律英语的主要特点： I. precise or exact (准确) 正常情况下，起草法律文件时，用词造句务必十分精准（with great exactness），因为一旦笔者的思想、观点、企图落实成文字，即成为法庭判断是非的重要依据，因为按严格解释原则(principle of strict construction)或唯名论原则(principle of nominalism)，尽管实践中还存在推测意图原则(principle of presumed intent)，但其不占主导地位，书面文字仍然是法官解释法律文件的唯一依据。 实务中鉴于对法律文件中文字的理解不一，也是常有纠纷出现： e.g. The Charter required that directors “shall be elected on a vote of the stockholders representing not less than two-thirds of outstanding capital st ock of the corporation.” 甲方理解成：被选上董事的人需三分之二的股东投票赞成(a candidate to be elected needs the votes of two-thirds of the stockholders ) 乙方则认为：选董事时须有三分之二的股东出席(two-thirds of the stockholders must be present at the meeting at which the election is held) What’s the judge’s opinion? e.g. 一个阿肯色州的美国人临终前写了一个遗嘱，遗嘱写道： The remainder of the testator’s property should be “divided equally between all of our nephews and nieces on my wife’s side and my niece.” 问题出在对“between”一词的理解上。立遗嘱人妻子一边的外甥和外甥女加在一起共有22个。这句话是指立遗嘱人的遗产的一半归其妻子方的22个外甥和外甥女，另一半归其本人一方的外甥女？还是指将遗产在双方的外甥外甥女中平均分配呢？ 为达准确之目的，常使用下列招法： 1. 使用专门术语（下文有述） 2. 重复使用具有绝对含义的词汇，如all , none, perpetuity, never, unavoidable; 3. 使用具有绝对限制含义的短语：

实用法律英语中英对照版

实用法律英语中英对照版 ——民事 civil ——民事 civil affairs;affairs relating to civil law ——民事上的占有 civil possesion ——民事上的没收 civil forfeiture ——民事上诉 civil appeal ——民事主体 civil subject ——民事法律关系 civil legal relationship ——民事活动 activity relating to civil law ——民事纠纷 civil dispute ——民事客体 civil object ——民事原告 civil plaintiff ——民事被告 civil defendant ——民事指控 civil charge ——民事案件 civil case ——民事过失 civil negligence ——民事责任事故 accident involving civil liability ——民事补偿 civil remedy ——民事诉讼 civil action ——民事损害 civil injury

——民事债务 civil debt ——民事管辖 civil jurisdiction ——民事制裁 civil sanction ——民事审判 civil trial ——民事调解 civil mediation ——民事罚款 civil penalty ——民事权利争议 dispute concerning private rights ——民事权利剥夺 deprived of private rights ——民事权利请求 civil claim ——民事权利变更 alternation of private right ——民政 civil administraion ——民事权利与责任 civil right and liability ——民事权利 civil right ——人身权利 jura personarum; rights of the person ——人格权 right of personality ——上诉权 right of appeal ——不受时效限制权 imprescriptible right ——立遗嘱权 right to make a will ——合法权利 legal right ——共有权 communal tenure

法律英语课文翻译(1-3课)

法律英语课文翻译 第一课美国法律制度介绍 第一部分特征与特点 美国既是一个非常新的国家也是一个非常老的国家。与许多别的国家相比它是一个新的国家。同时，它还因新人口成分和新州的加入而持续更新，在此意义上，它也是新国家。但是在其它的意义上它是老国家。它是最老的“新”国家——第一个由旧大陆殖民地脱胎而出的国家。它拥有最古老的成文宪法、最古老的持续的联邦体制以及最古老的民族自治实践。 美国的年轻（性）有一个很有意思的特点就是它的历史肇始于印刷机发明之后。因此它的整个历史都得以记录下来：确实可以很有把握地说，任何其它国家都没有像美国这样全面的历史记录，因为像在意大利、法国或者英国过去的传说中湮没的那样的事件在美国都成了有文字记载的历史之一部分。而且其记录不仅全面，还非常浩繁。不仅包括这个国家自1776年以来的殖民时期的记录，还有当前五十个州以及各州和联邦（nation）之间错综复杂的关系网络的历史记录。因此，据一个非常简单的例子，美国最高法院判例汇编有大约350卷，而一些州的判例汇编也几乎有同样多的卷数：想研究美国法律史的读者要面对的是超过5000巨卷的司法案例。 我们不能说一个文件或几个文件就能揭示出一国人民或其政府的特性。但如果横跨一百多年的千百万个文件敲出始终如一的音调，我们就有理由说这就是其主调。当千百万个文件都以同样的方式去解决同样的中心问题，我们就有理由从中得出可以被称为国民特定的确定结论。 第二部分普通法和衡平法 同英国一样，美国法律制度从方法论上来说主要是一种判例法制度。许多私法领域仍然主要是由判例法构成，广泛而不断增长的制定法一直受制于有约束力的（解释制定法的）判例法。因此，判例法方法的知识以及使用判例法的技巧对于理解美国法律和法律方法是极其重要的。 从历史的角度来看，普通法就是由英国皇家法院的巡回法官的判决所得出的普通的一般法——优于地方法。采纳或执行某项诉讼请求是以存在法院令状这种特殊形式的诉为前提的，而这就使最初的普通法表现为由类似于古罗马法的“诉”

法律英语翻译

法律英语翻译：法律翻译常用词汇注释（A-Z） A Ab initio Ab initio是拉丁文，其意思是“自开始之时”或“从头开始”，可以直接翻译为“自始”。在法律英语中，ab initio 的使用频率较高，比较常见。如：ab initio mundi（有史以来），void ad initio（自始无效）等。 Accord accord在普通英语中的含义是符合，一致，在法律英语中则表示和解或和解协议，指指债务人和一个债权人达成的、以偿还部分债务免除全部债务责任的协议。如reach an accord达成和解协议，accord and satisfaction和解与清偿等。 Accused 被告Accused通常指刑事案件的被告，民事诉讼的被告称为Defendant；而申索案件中的被索偿的一方称为Respondent（答辩人）。 Acquire acquire在普通英语中的含义是获得，获取，而且通常指通过后天的努力获得。在法律英语中通常指对公司的购买，收购，我们通常所说的M&A，即是acquire的名词acquisition和merger的缩写。如The foreign investor has acquired more than 10 PRC domestic enterprises engaging in related industries within a year. 外国投资者一年内并购中国境内关联行业的企业超过10个。 Acquittal 罪名不成立。刑事案件经审讯后，被告罪名不成立被释放，称为“The accused is acquitted”。Acquittal 是名词。详见民法中和刑法中表达不同意思的“acquit”一文。 Act act在普通英语中的含义是行动，行为，在法律英语中通常理解为作为，与不作为forbear相对应。如：Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Minister may, on the recommendation of the Commission, direct the Commission to act or forbear from。 Action act在普通英语中的含义是行动，在法律英语中则理解为诉讼，相当于suit或lawsuit，如initiate an action提起诉讼，win an action在诉讼中获胜，defend oneself in an action在诉讼中为自己辩护等。 Adjourn

法律英语的特点及翻译难点有哪些复习课程

法律英语的特点及翻译难点有哪些

法律英语的特点及翻译难点有哪些 近年来,随着对外法律文化交流的增多,为了让世界更多地了解中国的法律法规,我国每年都有大量的法律文献被译成外文。同时,为了向发达国家学习,我们也大量翻译外国的法律、法规以便学习借鉴。法律翻译作为翻译的一种,因法律英语独特的表达模式和规范与其他种类的翻译区别开来。它在词汇用语、句法结构上具有鲜明的特点,体现了法律语言的独特性。这里我推荐一个在线真人外教一对一的网站给大家——阿卡索外教网来辅助学习，它一节课15元，外教很不错，有欧美和菲律宾的，可以随意选择，上课体验很好，时间地点都可以自己安排，比较灵活方便，感兴趣的，可以去体验下他们的英语免费试听课。 本文试图以法律英语语言特点为切入点,探讨法律英语翻译的难点。法律翻译属于应用文体翻译的一种,涉及多个领域的知识。别于其他场合的语言,法律文本应属于庄重文本,是各体英语中正式程度最高的一种。法律语言呈现出以下特点: 1准确性和正确性 鉴于立法语言所表述的内容是全体公民的行为规范,同时也是司法人员的执法依据,立法者要通过语言文字的准确运用来表述国家的立法思想和具体的法律内容。因此,翻译时一定要反复推敲,做到用词准确,不产生歧义。 所谓准确性(precision),就是指内容表达清楚明了,用词准确无误,不产生歧义。正确性(correctness)是指用语恰当、符合、一致。为保持法律专业术语的稳定性及概念表达上的一致性,英美国家的法学界和司法界人士常常奉行的是坚持一贯的原则,结果既保留了法律英语惯有的表达方式,又明显地区别于其他行业用语。 2庄重性 法律代表着国家意志,是权力的象征,具有至高无上的权威性,法律英语即赋予正式和严谨的特点,表现出庄重性的特点。法律语言的庄重性主要体现在法律词汇的特殊性征上,反映在以下几个方面: (1)含有法律专业意义的普通词汇。 法律英语和普通英语的重要区别之一就是法律英语中用到的很多普通词汇往往具有专业特定含义。例如:prejudice指损害,counterpart指有同等效力的

英语、法律翻译类书籍评价

作者：lliusulin提交日期：2009-3-30 11:44:00 访 问：2377 回复：24 本人是法律英语翻译爱好者，以学习法律英语，实践法律翻译为乐趣，在此开贴点评大陆法律英语法律翻译类书籍，各位有相关问题请跟帖，我将尽量解答。本人博客有更多的相关内容，感兴趣者请去https://www.wendangku.net/doc/3b8381195.html,/ 本文欢迎转载，但请注明出处转引自法律翻译博客 https://www.wendangku.net/doc/3b8381195.html,/ 1、007 国内法律出版物点评原创 欢迎转载，但请注明出处转引自法律翻译博客 https://www.wendangku.net/doc/3b8381195.html,/ 国内的法律英语出版物现在是多如牛毛，读者应该如何取舍呢？本文旨在对当前的法律英语出版物进行综述点评，希望对大家能有所帮助。 入门级的可以选择下列出版物： （1）法律出版社，美国法精要系列 具体包括：合同法、侵权法、公司法、产品责任法、家庭法、民事诉讼法、联邦证据法、刑事程序法、保险法、证券管理法、银行及金融机构法、行政法等。 （2）武汉大学出版社，影印版法学基础系列 这是以英国和欧盟法律为主要内容的系列， 具体内容包括：合同法、证券法、侵权法、劳动法、信托法、医疗法、继承法、家庭法、刑法、宪法、法理、英国法律体系等。 想更深地了解英美法律制度的读者可选择： （3）中信出版社，伊曼纽尔法律精要系列 具体包括合同法、侵权法、公司法、财产法、刑法、证据法、刑事诉讼程序、律师职业责任等。 这是一套非常不错的书，内容详尽，重点突出，易读，且附有练习题和答案，缺点是价格太高，都在百元左右。 （4）中信出版社，案例与解析影印系列 本系列中有许多一般系列中没有的专业，比如知识产权、遗嘱和继承等，可补充其它系列阅读。 （6）中信出版社，案例教程影印系列 此系列为美国名校法学院所采用，其主要内容是一些经典案例，想更深入了

法律英语翻译(二)

法律英语翻译：法律翻译常用词汇注释（A-C） 翻译法律文件时，有些专用词不知道怎么翻，或者不确定最准确、最专业的译法是什么，确实让人苦恼。这里有法律翻译中常见词的中文注释，按字母排序，方便查找。 A Ab initio Ab initio是拉丁文，其意思是“自开始之时”或“从头开始”，可以直接翻译为“自始”。在法律英语中，ab initio的使用频率较高，比较常见。如：ab initio mundi（有史以来），void ad initio （自始无效）等。 Accord accord在普通英语中的含义是符合，一致，在法律英语中则表示和解或和解协议，指指债务人和一个债权人达成的、以偿还部分债务免除全部债务责任的协议。如reach an accord达成和解协议，accord and satisfaction和解与清偿等。 Accused 被告Accused通常指刑事案件的被告，民事诉讼的被告称为Defendant；而申索案件中的被索偿的一方称为Respondent（答辩人）。 Acquire acquire在普通英语中的含义是获得，获取，而且通常指通过后天的努力获得。在法律英语中通常指对公司的购买，收购，我们通常所说的M&A，即是acquire的名词acquisition和merger的缩写。如The foreign investor has acquired more than 10 PRC domestic enterprises engaging in related industries within a year. 外国投资者一年内并购中国境内关联行业的企业超过10个。 Acquittal 罪名不成立。刑事案件经审讯后，被告罪名不成立被释放，称为“The accused is acquitted”。Acquittal是名词。详见民法中和刑法中表达不同意思的“acquit”一文。 Act act在普通英语中的含义是行动，行为，在法律英语中通常理解为作为，与不作为forbear相对应。如：Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Minister may, on the recommendation of the Commission, direct the Commission to act or forbear from。 Action

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法律英语句子结构的理解与翻译 法律英语的句子结构特点之一是句式冗长，往往出现从句套从句的现象，一个长句包含了一连环的若干个从句，中间还有插入语。翻译好这样的长句，主要采用“切割法”，即在原文句子中的主从句连接处、连词处、关系代词处切断。翻译时，首先要着重理解原文，要耐心读懂长句，分析长句中各意群的关系，然后按意群，并按其逻辑关系，译成汉语分句，使译入语结构层次分明，意思连贯，语言通顺，逻辑性强。 例 原文Now the Condition of the above-written Guarantee is such that if the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms provisions conditions and stipulations of the said Contract on the Contractor’s part to be performed and observed in accordance with the true purport intent and meaning thereof or if on default by the Contractor the Guarantor shall satisfy and discharge the damages sustained by the Employer thereby up to the amount of the above-written Guarantee then this obligation shall be null and void but otherwise shall be and remain in full force and effect but no alteration in terms of the said Contractor or in the extent or nature of the Works to be executed, completed and defects in the Works remedied thereunder and no allowance of time by the Employer of the Engineer under the said Contract nor any forbearance or forgiveness in or in respect of any matter or thing concerning the said Contract of the part of the Employer or the said Engineer shall in any way release the Guarantor from any liability under the above-written Guarantee. 注解1)这句话由170多个词构成，中间只有了一逗号，由if，or, but等连词把几层意思连成一个整体。为了便于分析、阐述，现将原句切分成几部分，简称各部分为A、B、C、D。 2)句子的 A 部分：“Now the Condition of the above-written Guarantee is such that”，是句子的主要部分，比较简单，除above-written及Such that为法律英语用词外，其它部分与普通英语表达别无两样。在英语里用定冠词the有限定作用，限定Guarantee，但法律语言为了更明确限定Guarantee，又以above-written分词短语作强调限定。Such也是进一步限定that引起的表语从句，在法律英语中常用Such that来引导表语从句。在翻译时，应把上述限定的语气译出来，可译成：“上述保证书”，“规定如下”。 3)B 部分即第一个if 从句:“if the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms provisions conditions and stipulations of the said Contract on the Contractor’s part to be performed and observed in accordance with the true purport intent and meaning thereof”，句中shall是法律英语用词，在这里表明主语the Contractor 应尽责任。句中又以perform and observe两个并列动词，对主语行为职责规定得非常清楚，在翻译时，也要把其含义译出来，可译成：“应切实履行并遵守”。句子的后半部分以of the said Contract 来限制terms provisions conditions and stipulations 后，又补以on the Contractor’s part to be performed and observed 把责任限定到合同中规定的承包人一方所要履行和遵守的所有条款、条件及规定，继而又以in accordance with the true intent and meaning thereof明确提出承包人履行这些条款、条件及规定的根据：就以三个介词短语和一个不定式短语把前后两部分严密组织在一起，把承包人对于合同应承担的责任作为此保证书有效的一个条件讲得清清楚楚，翻译时，应注意年证对原文文体的适应性原则，译好上述三个短语的严密结构，不必苛求短句。句中的thereof为法律英语用词，这里意为of the Contract。 4) C 部分原文是：“or if on default by the Contractor the Guarantor shall satisfy and discharge the damages sustained by the Employer thereby up to the amount of the