法律文本翻译中的英汉标点差异

Differences Between Chinese and English Punctuations in Translations of Legal Texts

英语属于形合语言,标点符号与句法结构关系密切。在法律文本中,标点与其他形态手段的配合,直接参与句法和语义的建构。由于译者对英文标点的重要特征认识不足,在翻译过程中受母语思维的影响,容易将汉语逗号的停顿式用法搬进译文,再加上审校阶段易于疏漏,致使法律合同英译出现的标点错误引起更大的问题,造成译文语句不通甚至法律效力的弱化。

As English is characterized by hypotaxis, its syntax is closely bound up with punctuation as well as other typographical devices. Syntactical and semantic structures of English sentences are immediately affected by the use of punctuation marks. However, owing to the underestimation of their syntactical function in English, translators of legal texts are susceptible to error under the influence of Chinese punctuation usage, which is elocutionary rather than syntactical. If still ignored by editors and proofreaders, these errors may result in grave consequences, damaging both the grammaticality and legal force of the translated version.