法学汉译的原则与变通

Principles and Flexibility of Chinese Translation of Law

本文首先提出了法学翻译的基本原则,解释了什么是"直译"及其和"信雅达"之间的关系,并论证直译对于法学翻译的必要性。然后,本文从字词和句子两个层面上探讨直译原则的实践操作,以及必要的变通。最后,本文对初译者提出几条可供参考的具体建议。初译者应毫无保留地将直译作为原则,只有在为了照顾中文表达习惯的情况下才在尊重原意的基础上,对原文结构进行必要的调整。

This article summarizes the basic principles governing legal translation, explains the ＂literal translation＂ con- cept and its relationship with the accepted Chinese precepts of ＂authenticity, elegance and expressivity＂, and discusses the ne- cessity of literal translation for translating legal works. The article then explores the practical application of literal transition at the levels of words and sentences, as well as its necessary variations. It ends with several specific recommendations for the be- ginners in translating legal works. A beginner should always take literal translation as the principle, and adjust the structure in the original sentence only when it is necessary in view of accommodating the custom of Chinese expression and on the condition that such variation accurately expresses the original meaning.