论英语法律文本特点及其翻译

Analysis of Characteristics of English Legal Documents and Their Translation

法律文本主要由具有区别性特征的法律语言构成,法律语言作为一种特殊的工具性语言具有独特的风格。法律英语词汇中包含许多专业术语、模糊语、古体词和外来词;在语法特征上,法律英语中常使用名词性结构、并列结构和长句;法律英语的篇章呈现出正式庄重、冗余晦涩、准确性与模糊性并存的特征。了解法律英语在词汇和文体方面的特征,是进行法律翻译的基础和前提条件。在翻译英语法律文本时,要努力做到意义的准确性和清晰性、语篇风格的一致性以及语言的简洁性,这样才能翻译得精准、严谨、简练。

Legal document consists of characteristic legal language that is regarded as a special tool language.There are plenty of legal terminologies,vague languages,archaisms and loanwords in legal English.Legal English has its own grammatical features—the use of nominal structure,coordinate structure and long sentence.Moreover,it has special textual feature that is formal,redundant,accurate and vague.It＇s requisite and fundamental for translators to understand these features.For translation of English legal documents,several standards must be followed—precision and clarity in meaning,consistency in discourse style and conciseness in language so that the translation will be accurate,rigorous and succinct.