一部法律是全體公民都應(yīng)遵守的法律文件。在法律文件中，用詞極為嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)、準(zhǔn)確，翻譯英文法律文件時(shí)，要特別研究這些法律用詞的含義。同時(shí)，在英文法律文件中，對(duì)一些關(guān)鍵性的詞常常采用同義詞連用的表述方法。這主要是為了避免由于許多英語(yǔ)詞語(yǔ)具有一詞多義的特點(diǎn)而可能引發(fā)的歧義，從而杜絕協(xié)議雙方故意按照自己需要的意思來(lái)理解文本條款的情況發(fā)生。
由此可見(jiàn)，法律英語(yǔ)中掌握正式用詞的理解與翻譯以及同義詞的理解與翻譯很重要。本節(jié)課主要從這兩個(gè)方面詮釋法律英語(yǔ)翻譯技巧。
第一部分：正式用詞的理解與翻譯。詳見(jiàn)以下例句及部分注解：
1. The first Board meeting shall be convened within one month after the issuance of the Company’s business license.
譯文：第一次董事會(huì)應(yīng)在公司營(yíng)業(yè)執(zhí)照簽發(fā)后一個(gè)月內(nèi)召開(kāi)。
2．The headings and marginal notes in these conditions shall not be deemed part thereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation or construction thereof or of the Contract.
譯文：本合同條件中的標(biāo)題和旁注不應(yīng)視為合同文本的一部分，在理解或解釋合同條件或合同本身時(shí)，也不應(yīng)考慮這些標(biāo)題和旁注。
Notes: 句中construction 意為explanation, 但比explanation正式，譯為解釋。在英文法律文件中常用。
3. The submission to and consent by the Engineer of such programs or the provision of such general descriptions or cash flow estimates shall not relieve the Contractor of any of his duties or responsibilities under the Contract.
譯文：向工程師提交并經(jīng)工程師同意的工程進(jìn)度計(jì)劃或提供工程的一般說(shuō)明或現(xiàn)金流通量的估算，并不解除合同規(guī)定的承包人的任何義務(wù)或責(zé)任。
4．The Employer hereby covenants to pay the Contractor in consideration of the execution and completion of the Works and the remedying of defects therein the Contract Price.
譯文：業(yè)主特此立約保證向承包商支付合同總價(jià)，以作為本工程施工、竣工及修補(bǔ)工程中缺陷的報(bào)酬。
Notes: covenants 是法律用詞，意為簽訂有法律約束力的正式合約。
5．The Times，Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators.
譯文：每州的參議員和眾議員選舉的時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)與方式，應(yīng)由該州議會(huì)規(guī)定。但除選舉參議員的地點(diǎn)外，國(guó)會(huì)可隨時(shí)依法制定或修改此類規(guī)定。
句中prescribed是常用的法律用詞，一般在法律條文對(duì)某事做較詳細(xì)規(guī)定時(shí)使用該詞，譯成：規(guī)定。句中的law為不可數(shù)名詞，泛指法律（體系），by law譯成：依法。
6. Prior to making a claim under the performance security, the Employer shall, in every case, notify the Contractor stating the nature of the default for which the claim is to be made.
譯文：根據(jù)履約保函提出索賠之前，業(yè)主應(yīng)在任何情況下通知承包人，說(shuō)明導(dǎo)致索賠的違約性質(zhì)。
7．All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
譯文：本憲法授予的全部立法權(quán)，應(yīng)屬于由參議院和眾議院組成的合眾國(guó)國(guó)會(huì)。
Notes:句中詞組vest sth. in sb. 為法律正式用詞，意為授予，給予（合法權(quán)利或權(quán)力）。
第二部分：同義詞的理解與翻譯
一、有時(shí)具有相同意思的詞語(yǔ)不必都翻譯出來(lái)。如：
1． This agreement is made and entered into by and between Party A and Party B.
譯文：本協(xié)議由甲方和乙方簽訂。
Notes：句中made和entered into同義，by和between同義。
2． Party A shall no longer be responsible for keeping secret and confidential the part already published.
譯文：甲方對(duì)（合同中）已被公開(kāi)部分不再承擔(dān)保密義務(wù)。
Notes：句中secret和confidential同義，譯成：保密的。
3． The Parties to this Contract shall fulfill or perform any of the obligations under this Contract.
譯文：本合同雙方應(yīng)履行合同規(guī)定的義務(wù)。
二、有時(shí)則必需譯出。如：
1．The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation.
Notes: 此處Oath or Affirmation應(yīng)譯為宣誓或陳詞。
2．The Construction documents shall be in the custody and care of the Contractor. Unless otherwise stated in the Employer’s Requirements, the Contractor shall provide six copies for the use of the Employer’s Representative and assistants.
譯文：施工文件應(yīng)由承包人保存、保管。除非在業(yè)主要求中另有規(guī)定，承包人應(yīng)向業(yè)主代表及其助理提供六份復(fù)印件。
Notes:句中custody和care同義，可譯成：保存、保管。
三、有時(shí)則都需要考慮。如下面這個(gè)例子：
If the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms, provisions, conditions and stipulations of the said Contract, this obligation shall be null and void but otherwise shall be and remain in full force and effect.
譯文：如果承包人切實(shí)履行并遵守上述合同的所有條款、條件及規(guī)定，本報(bào)證書(shū)所承擔(dān)的義務(wù)應(yīng)告終止，否則這種義務(wù)完全有效。
Notice：句中連用了幾組同義詞，以表示強(qiáng)調(diào)法律條款的嚴(yán)密性。其中terms，provisions, conditions 和stipulations皆為同義，意為：合同的條款及規(guī)定；null和void為同義，意為
：無(wú)效。另外，be and remain，in force and effect 也是兩組同義詞，可譯為：有效。be and remain可譯成：是，仍然是。亦可不譯，其意在字里行間即可表達(dá)清楚。
Exercise：
1．All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
參考譯文：一切征稅議案應(yīng)首先在眾議院提出，但參議員可（被許可）按照處理其他議案的方式，提出修正案或表示贊同。
Notes：originate 為法律正式用詞，譯成：首先提出。
2．Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitutions, the Legislature shall have power to release, rescind, cancel, or otherwise nullify in whole or in part any encumbrance on property, personnel obligation, or other form of security heretofore or hereafter exacted or imposed by the Legislature to secure the repayment to, or reimbursement of, the State, and the countries or other agencies of the state government, of aid lawfully granted to and received by aged persons.
參考譯文：盡管本州憲法有其他規(guī)定，本州議會(huì)應(yīng)有權(quán)免除、撤消、取消或廢除任何全部或部分財(cái)產(chǎn)負(fù)擔(dān)、個(gè)人義務(wù)，或到本憲法頒發(fā)時(shí)或頒發(fā)后由本州議會(huì)強(qiáng)制推行的用于確保本州及本州各縣或州的其他機(jī)構(gòu)依法給予老年人的補(bǔ)助，得到補(bǔ)償或償付的其他保障形式。
Notes：（1）句中to release，rescind，cancel和nullify是幾個(gè)同義詞連用，基本意思是“去除”，用法律語(yǔ)言表達(dá)分別是免除、撤銷、取消、廢除。
（2）句中exacted和imposed是同義詞，都表示強(qiáng)行、強(qiáng)迫、強(qiáng)制推行或執(zhí)行之意。
（3）句中repayment to和reimbursement of是同義詞詞組，是補(bǔ)償、償還之意。
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