法律语言(英文)

1、法律文本要求详尽及准确，不能引起任何歧义，这必然导致其句法结构的复杂。法律英语已在句法层次上形成了自身的特色：多为长句、完整句，通常是陈述句，常使用被动句和名词化结构。而法律汉语有相同之处，也有不同之处，下面会通过对比详尽介绍。（一） 复杂长句和简短句的结合使用 中文行文忌长句，以短句、分句为主，而法律英语常常使用长句。把长句的原语，译为短句、分句的译入语，需要我们认真研究，进行大量的实践。才能掌握这方面的翻译技巧。 法律条文依靠法律语言包含性来规范多样的社会行为，因此法律语言必须具有高度的概括性。这一特点体现在句法上即表现为简短句子的使用。 请看下面的例子： 1、中华人民共和国的一切权力属于

2、人民。（中华人民共和国宪法总纲第二条） 2、The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.（The Constitution of United States of America, Article IV, Section 2） 在这类简单句中，汉语法律条款常常是无主语的句子，而在英文法律条款一定是主谓齐全的，因此在翻译英语被动句时，可以将其转换为汉语的无主语句子。 同时，为了确保法律的准确性和严密性，法律语言中多使用

3、结构复杂的长句来避免立法上的漏洞。结构复杂的长句所包含的信息量大，在描述复杂事物时可以达到叙事具体，说理严密，层次分明的效果。 如：公司、企业或者其他单位的人员，利用职务上的便利，将本单位的财物非法占为己有，数额较大的，处五年以下有期徒刑或者拘役；数额巨大的，处五年以上有期徒刑，可以并处没收财产。国有公司、企业或者其他国有单位委派到非国有公司、企业以及其他单位从事公务的人员有前款行为的，依照本法第三百八十二条、第三百八十三条的规定定罪处罚。（中华人民共和国刑法第271条） 这个特点在法律英语中也很突出，如：No person shall be a Senator or Representati

4、ve in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an exec

5、utive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. (The Constitution of the United States of America, Amendment 14) 法律英语的句法特征之一就是长句的使用，往往出现从句套从句的现象

6、，一个长句包含了连环的若干个从句，中间还有插入语。由于正式的法律文本或条例中，对中心词的限定过多，对某一概念成立的条件限定也多，所以造成长句多，短句少的现象。这些长句的运用确保了法律英语的严谨性。句子的语法结构很复杂，多为复合长句。句中的定语，状语等对其所修饰概念的内涵及外延的界定起了很大作用。 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联接处、连词处、关系代词处切断。翻译时，首先要着重理解原文，分析长句中各个意群的关系，然后按意群，并按其逻辑关系，译成汉语分句；使得译文能够层次分明，意思连贯，语言通顺，逻辑性强。 例1：China shall establish or de

7、signate an official journal dedicated to the publication of all laws, regulations and other measures pertaining to or affecting trade in goods，services，TRIPS or the control of foreign exchange and, after publication of its laws, regulations or other measures in such journal ,shall provide a reasonab

8、le period of comment to the appropriate authorities before such measures are implemented, except for those laws, regulations and other measures involving other national security, specific measures setting foreign exchange rates or monetary policy and other measures the publication of which would imp

9、ede law enforcement.(95 words ) 卢敏：42 参考译文：中国应设立或指定一官方刊物，用于公布所有有关或影响货物贸易、服务贸易、TRIPS或外汇管制的法律、法规及其他措施，并且在其法律、法规或其他措施在该刊物上公布之后，应在此类措施实施之前提供一段可向有关主管机关提出意见的合理时间，但涉及国家安全的法律、法规及其他措施、确定外汇汇率或货币政策的特定措施以及一旦公布则会妨碍法律实施的其他措施除外。 解析：此句是由两个并列动词构成的句子“China shall establishandshall provide”,其中并列连词and之后包含“after publicat

10、ion”和“before such measure”两个时间状语从句同时修饰第二个并列句，句子末尾是“except for”介词短语引导的条件状语。 例2：We hereby declare that this invoice amounting to USD 4,500 is in all respects correct and contains full and true statement of the particulars of the goods and of the price actually paid or to be paid for the said goods and

11、 the actual quantity thereof and that no other invoice has been or to be furnished to anyone else, and that the goods are of Chinese origin, and that on discount or rebate had been or will be allowed other than that shown on this invoice. 卢敏：42 参考译文：兹声明发票金额4500美元是正确的；发票对本批货物和对所说货物及其实际数量已付或将付的价格的所有详细

12、情况的陈述是全面而真实的；同时我们声明没有其他的发票已经或将提供给其他人；同时声明产品是中国产；除了本发票上所示，我们没有或将会给予折扣。 解析：此句为主从复合句，主体结构是“”后引导四个引导的宾语从句。分析好句子结构后，可根据原句顺序来翻译。 例3：If the bill of lading contains particulars concerning the general nature, leading marks, number of packages or pieces, weight or quantity of the goods which the carrier or ot

13、her person issuing the bill of lading on his behalf knows or has reasonable grounds to suspect do not accurately represent the goods actually taken over or, where a “shipped” bill of lading is, issued, loaded, or if he had no reasonable means of checking such particulars, the carrier or such other p

14、erson must insert in the bill of lading a reservation specifying these inaccuracies, grounds of suspicion or the absence of reasonable means of checking. 卢敏:32 参考译文：如果承运人或代其签发提单的其他人确知或者有合理的根据怀疑提单所载有关货物的品类、主要标志、包数或件数、重量或数等项目没有标准地表示实际接管的货物，或在签发“已装船”提单的情况下，没有准确地表示实际装船的货物，或者他无适当的方法来核对这些项目，则承运人或其他人必须在提单上

15、做出保留，说明不符之处、怀疑根据或无适当的核对方法。 解析：此句取自联合国1978年海上货物运输公约中有关提单的条款。该句结构复杂，修饰语多，翻译时要注意分析句子结构，步步为营，以免使译文发生歧义。 例4: 被宣告缓刑的犯罪分子，在缓刑考验期间内犯新罪或者发现判决宣告以前还有其他罪没有判决的，应当撤销缓刑，对新犯的罪或者新发现的罪作出判决，把前罪和后罪所判处的刑罚，依照本法第六十九条的规定，决定执行的刑罚。 参考译文：If, during the probation period of suspension of sentence, a criminal whose sentence is s

16、uspended commits a crime again or it is discovered that before the judgment is pronounced, he has committed another crime for which he is not sentenced, the suspension shall be revoked and another judgment rendered for the newly committed or discovered crime; the punishment to be executed shall be d

17、ecided on the basis of the punishments for the old crime and the new crime and according to the provisions of Article 69 of this Law. 例5：在少数民族聚居或者多民族共同居住的地区，应当用当地通用的语言进行审理；起诉书、判决书、布告和其他文书应当根据实际需要使用当地通用的一种或者几种文字。 参考译文：In an area where people of a minority nationality live in a concentrated community

18、or where a number of nationalities live together, court hearings should be conducted in the language or language commonly used in the locality; indictments, judgments, notices and other documents should be written, according to actual needs, in the language or languages commonly used in locality.本帖最

19、后由 sid 于 2009-9-8 09:12 编辑（二） 英文中的被动句和中文中的主动句的比较使用 在法律文献中,英语中的被动语态使用范围很广。为了保持法律语言的准确性、客观性, 避免主观臆断之嫌, 许多话多用被动式表达。主要原因在于法律文本是用于规范行为人的权利义务以及相关法律后果。被动句也正突出了动作的承受者，客观的体现有关事项的规定。而汉语常喜欢使用主动句。详情请看以下例子及几种翻译技巧。1、保留原主语, 译成相应的主动句。 英语中较常使用被动句, 而汉语正好相反。因此, 可将出现的被动句保留原主语, 译成符合汉语习惯的主动句。 例1： The civil law system can

20、 be traced back to Roman Law. 大陆法系可追溯到罗马法。 例2： Criminal law is enforced on behalf of the state. 刑法以国家名义执行。 例3： This Agreement is executed in Chinese. If necessary, it may be translated into other languages. 参考译文：本协议以中文文本签署。如有必要，本协议可以译成其它文字。 解析：此例直接将英语的被动句译成了汉语的主动句。孙万彪：193 例4：禁止破坏婚姻自由，禁止虐待老人、妇女和儿童。 参

21、考译文：Violation of the freedom of marriage is prohibited. Maltreatment of old people, women and children is prohibited. 8：22 解析：中文法律条文中的“禁止”常常被译为“be prohibited”。此句强调的是被禁止的内容，即不可破坏婚姻自由，虐待老人、妇女、儿童等弱势群体，故在此使用被动句。 例5：Heads of federal departments are named by the President, and judges are either elected di

22、rectly by the people or are appointed by elected officials. 参考译文：联邦政府各部部长由总统任命，法官由人民直接选举，或者由选举出来的官员任命。 解析：一般情况下，以“by somebody”表示动作发出者时，可借助汉语中表被动意义的词如“被”、“由”、“得到”等译为被动句。 例6：宪法的修改，由全国人民代表大会常务委员会或者五分之一以上的全国人民代表大会提议，并由全国人民代表大会以全体代表的三分之二以上的多数通过。法律和其它议案由全国人民代表大会以全体代表的过半数通过。 参考译文：Amendments to the Constitu

23、tion are to be proposed by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress or by more than one-fifth of the deputies to the National Peoples Congress and adopted by a vote of more than two-thirds of all the deputies to the Congress. Laws and resolutions are to be adopted by a majority vote o

24、f all the deputies to the Congress. 8:26 解析：（1）除了被动句的表达方法，提醒读者注意关于分数的表达方法，以及专有名词的译法；例如句中“过半数通过”，“常务委员会”及“议案”等。（2）汉语中的“由”字句常被翻译为by 句式。而by句式正是英语行文中表现被动结构的典型标志。2、用原句的宾语充当译文的主语, 译成主动句。 例1：When a controversy is presented to a court or a lawyer, the immediate problem is to find the appropriate code provis

25、ion covering the situation and then to apply it to the problem at hand. 参考译文：当法院或律师遇到一项争端时, 其迫在眉睫的问题是查出与案情有关的适当的法典条文, 然后把该条文适用于手头的问题。 例2：The plant, machinery and equipment, components and the Product shall be insured by JVC for adequate replacement value against fire, storm, tempest, accident, flood

26、, theft and other risks which may destroy or diminish the value of the Products or which may render the Products until for consumption. 参考译文：合营公司应为厂房、机器设备、部件和产品投保，一旦发生火灾、暴风雨、风暴、事故、水灾、盗窃和可能损害或降低产品的价值或使产品不适用于消费的其它风险，保险获得的赔付应足以重置该财产。 解析：由于汉语被动句用得比较少，有时将以by 引导的动作发出者译成汉语句中的主语；这样更符合汉语的表达习惯，且避免了“头重脚轻”。3、增添

27、主语, 译成主动句。 当原文中没有行为主体, 但译文在意义和句法上需要说明行为主体时, 应把意会的行为主体提出来作为主语,译成主动句。 例如:It is now accepted as a scientific fact that no two people has the same finger- prints. 参考译文：如今人们把没有两个人有相同的指纹看作是科学事实。（3） 陈述句为基本句型 根据句子使用目的的不同，英语句式分为四大类：陈述句、祈使句、疑问句和感叹句。汉英法律语言中的句法最显著特点之一即为基本句型倾向单一化-陈述句型。这一特点的形成是由法律语言正面客观地陈述事理的特点决定

28、的，同是陈述句型亦与质朴简洁的法律语言特点相符。陈述句型在法律条文中的比例为98%以上。陈述句可以用于表达准确、严密、客观、规范的内容，正符合法律文书的写作要求。比如以下法律条文； 例1: 劳动是一切有劳动能力的公民的光荣职责。国营企业和城乡集体经济组织的劳动者都应当以国家主人翁的态度对待自己的劳动。国家提倡社会主义劳动竞赛，奖励劳动模范和先进工作者。国家提倡公民从事义务劳动。 参考译文：Work is a matter of honor for every citizen who is able to work. All working people in State enterprises

29、 and in urban and rural economic collectives should approach their work as the master of the country that they are. The State promotes socialist labor emulation, and commends and rewards model and advanced workers. The States encourages citizens to take part in voluntary labor. 8：19 例2：中华人民共和国公民有受教育

30、的权利和义务。国家培养青年、少年、儿童在品德、智力、体质等方面全面发展。 参考译文：Citizens of the Peoples Republic of China have the duty as well as the right to receive education. The State promotes the all-round development of children and young people, morally, intellectually and physically. 8:20 例3：中华人民共和国国旗是五星红旗。中华人民共和国国徽，中间是五星照耀下的天安

31、门，周围是谷穗和齿轮。中华人民共和国首都是北京。 参考译文：The national flag of the Peoples Republic of China is a red flag with five starts. The national emblem of the Peoples Republic of China consists of an image of Tiananmen in its centre illuminated by five stars and encircled by ears of grain and cogwheel. The capital of

32、the Peoples Republic of China is Beijing. 8:49-50 例4：All legislative Power herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. 参考译文：本宪法所授予之立法权，均属于由参议院及众议院组成之美国国会。 例5：The right of citizens of the United States, who are eight

33、een years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. 参考译文：凡年满十八岁或十八岁以上之美国公民的投票权，联邦政府或任何州均不得以年龄为由而加以否决或剥夺之。 例6：No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of Pres

34、ident, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article beco

35、mes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. 参考译文：任何人被选为总统者，不得超过两任。任何人继位为总统或代行总统之职权者，其期间如超过一任中两年以上者，任满后仅能再连任一次。本条款对于国会提出本条款时之总统不适用之；本条款对于实施时已继任为总统或代行总统职权而补足原任期间者，亦不适用之。（4） （四）多为完整主谓句少见省略句 应法律文书结构完整性和表意严密性的要求，法律英语中的句子多为主语、谓语都具备的完全主谓句，即完整

36、句。通常不使用省略句，以免造成意义不清，避免歧义；并且不厌其烦地一次又一次地使用完全主谓句结构。请看例句: 例1：乡、民族乡、镇的人民政府执行本级人民代表大会的决议和上级国家行政机关的决定和命令，管理本行政区域的行政工作。省、直辖市的人民政府决定乡、民族乡、镇的建置和区域划分。 参考译文：Peoples government of townships, nationality townships, and towns execute the resolutions of the Peoples congresses at the corresponding levels as well as

37、the decisions and orders of the State administrative organs at the next higher level and conduct administrative work in their respective administrative areas. Peoples governments of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government decide on the establishment and geographic division

38、 of townships, nationality townships, and towns. 例2：民族自治地区的人民代表大会有权依照当地民族的政治、经济和文化的特点，制定自治区条例和单行条例。自治区的自治条例和单行条例，报全国人民代表大会常务委员会批准后生效。自治州、自治县的自治条例和单行条例，报省或者自治区的人民代表大会常务委员会批准后生效，并报全国人民代表大会常务委员会备案。 参考译文：The peoples congresses of national autonomous areas have the power to enact regulations on the exerc

39、ise of autonomy and other separate regulations in the light of political, economic and cultural characteristics of the nationality or nationalities in the areas concerned. The regulations on the exercise of autonomy and other separate regulations of autonomous regions shall be submitted to the Stand

40、ing Committee of the National Peoples Congress for approval before they go into effect. Those of autonomous prefectures and the counties shall be submitted to the standing committees of the peoples congresses of provinces or autonomous regions for approval before they go into effect, and they shall

41、be reported to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress for the record.8:45 解析：本例中，“自治条例”和“单行条例”等词汇重复出现，以确保意思表达得准确，以防歧义。 例3: 最高人民检察院是最高检察机关。最高人民检察院领导地方各级人民检察院和专门人民检察院的工作，上级人民检察院领导下级人民检察院的工作。 参考译文：The Supreme Peoples Procuratorate is the highest procuratorial organ. The Supreme Peoples

42、 Procuratorate directs the work of the peoples procuratorates at various local levels and of the special peoples procuratorates. Peoples procuratorates at higher levels direct the work of those at lower levels. 例4：买方自1997年7月1日起分三年偿付卖方全部设备的总金额。 参考译文：The buyers shall reimburse the sellers the total va

43、lue of the entire equipment by installments in three years stating from July 1st, 1997. 例5：本新区内外商投资企业生产的出口产品，除国家另有规定的产品外免征关税。 参考译文：Exports manufactured by foreign-invested enterprises in the New Area are duty-free, unless otherwise regulated by the State. 例6：All States have the duty to contribute to

44、 the balanced expansion of the world economy, taking duty into account the close interrelationship between the well-being of the developed countries and the growth and development of the developing countries, and the fact that the prosperity of the international community as a whole depends upon the

45、 prosperity of its constituent parts. (选自联合国国际货物销售合同公约第39条第（1）款) 参考译文：所有国家有义务对世界经济的均衡发展做出贡献，要适量考虑到发达国家的福利同发展中国家的增长和发展之间的密切关联，并考虑到整个国家社会的繁荣依赖于其组成部分的繁荣。（5） （五）名词化结构的使用 根据现代语言学词典 的界定，名词化(nominalization)是“指从其它某个词类形成名词的过程或指从一个底层小句得出一个名词短语的派生过程”。 Trauth&Kazzazi 也认为名词化是指名词从其它词类的派生，如动词(feeling，swearing，

46、twiddling ones thumbs)或形容词(redness，the inconceivable，the good，ones contemporaries)，但也可从名词派生(womanhood)。也就是说，“名词化”本身是一个过程，这一过程不管是派生或是零转换，其结果都是出现或产生名词。 在英语法律文本中，使用名词化结构，可使行文流畅、简洁，表达客观、精确。有关学者曾对20篇不同文体的英文中名词化结构现象做过统计，结果显示不同文体中名词化的应用差异是相当大的：法律文体最高，达83.5%；科技文体为72.6%；新闻文体为40.3%；而童话寓言最少，为0.7%。法律文体的名词化程度最高，

47、正是其追求精确、权威和信息的缘故（赵军峰，2006：1112）。 例1： 禁止任何组织或者个人扰乱社会经济秩序，破坏国家经济计划。8:11 参考译文：Distribution of the socio-economic order or disruption of the State economic plan by any organization or individual is prohibited. 解析：汉语文本中，用词为动词“扰乱”“破坏”，而在英语文本中确实名词“distribution”“disruption”. 例2： 国家保护社会主义的公共财产。禁止任何组织或者个人用任何手

48、段侵占或者破坏国家和集体的财产。 参考译文：The State protects socialist public property. Appropriation or damaging of State or collective property by any organization or individual by whatever means is prohibited. 例3: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be constructed to deny or disparage o

49、thers retained by the people.（选自美国宪法） 参考译文：即使本宪法列举了某些权利，人民享有的其他权利并不因此而视为取消或剥夺。 例4：The obligation under Article 3 and 4 do not apply to procedures provided in multilateral agreements concluded under the auspices of WIPO relating to the acquisition or maintenance of intellectual property rights. 参考译文：

50、第三条和第四条项下的义务不适用于由WIPO支持缔结的多边协议中有关获得和维持知识产权的程序。卢敏：34（6） （六） 平行句式的运用 法律文本，尤其是立法文本，主要采用条款形式规定法律事项。为保证信息的完整性、详尽性，需要将大量信息罗列在有限的条款之中；为避免条款过于繁琐，常采用平行句式。平行的成分可以是词、短语，也可以是分句，甚至是段落。其特点在于排列有序，层次分明，前后照应，很好地体现了法律文体的严谨性。 例1：无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力的精神病人，由下列人员担任监护人： （一）配偶 （二）父母（三）成年子女（四）其他近亲属（五）关系密切的其他亲属，朋友愿意承担监护责任，经精神病人

51、的所在单位或住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会同意的（选自中华人民共和国民法通则）参考译文: A person from the following categories shall act as guardians for a mentally ill person without or with limited capacity for civil conduct: (1) spouse ; (2) parent ; (3) adult child (4) any other near relative; (5)any other closely connected relative or f

52、riend willing to bear the responsibility of guardianship and having approval from the unit to which the mentally ill person belongs or from the neighborhood or village community in the place of his residence.例：企业法人由于下列原因之一终止：（1）依法被撤销（2）解散（3）依法宣告破产（4）其他原因 参考译文：An enterprise as legal person shall term

53、inate for any of the following reasons:（1）if it is dissolved by the law;（2）if it is disbanded;（3）if it is declared bankrupt in accordance with the law; or （4）for other reasons. 例3：Section 8 - Powers of CongressThe Congress shall have the power1. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises,

54、 to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States:国会有权规定并征收税金、捐税、关税和其它赋税，用以偿付国债并为合众国的共同防御和全民福利提供经费，但是各种捐税、关税和其它赋税，在合众国内应划一征收 2. To borrow money on the credit of the United S

55、tates:以合众国的信用举债3. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes:管理与外国的、州与州间的，以及对印第安部落的贸易 4. To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States:制定在合众国内一致适用的归化条例，和有关破产的一致适用的法

56、律5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures:铸造货币，调议其价值，并确定外币价值，以及制定度量衡的标准6. To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States:制定对伪造合众国证券和货币的惩罚条例7. To establish post-offices and pos

57、t-roads:设立邮政局及建设驿路8. To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries:为促进科学和实用技艺的进步，对作家和发明家的著作和发明，在一定期限内给予专利权的保障9. To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court:设置最高法院以下的各级法院10. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high