一部法律是全體公民都應遵守的法律文件。在法律文件中，用詞極為嚴謹、準確，翻譯英文法律文件時，要特別研究這些法律用詞的含義。同時，在英文法律文件中，對一些關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詞語具有一詞多義的特點而可能引發(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理解文本條款的情況發(fā)生。
由此可見，法律英語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)課主要從這兩個方面詮釋法律英語翻譯技巧。
第一部分：正式用詞的理解與翻譯。詳見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：第一次董事會應在公司營業(yè)執(zhí)照簽發(fā)后一個月內召開。
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：本合同條件中的標題和旁注不應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，也不應考慮這些標題和旁注。
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：向工程師提交并經工程師同意的工程進度計劃或提供工程的一般說明或現金流通量的估算，并不解除合同規(guī)定的承包人的任何義務或責任。
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，以作為本工程施工、竣工及修補工程中缺陷的報酬。
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間、地點與方式，應由該州議會規(guī)定。但除選舉參議員的地點外，國會可隨時依法制定或修改此類規(guī)定。
句中prescribed是常用的法律用詞，一般在法律條文對某事做較詳細規(guī)定時使用該詞，譯成：規(guī)定。句中的law為不可數名詞，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：根據履約保函提出索賠之前，業(yè)主應在任何情況下通知承包人，說明導致索賠的違約性質。
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，應屬于由參議院和眾議院組成的合眾國國會。
Notes:句中詞組vest sth. in sb. 為法律正式用詞，意為授予，給予（合法權利或權力）。
第二部分：同義詞的理解與翻譯
一、有時具有相同意思的詞語不必都翻譯出來。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（合同中）已被公開部分不再承擔保密義務。
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：本合同雙方應履行合同規(guī)定的義務。
二、有時則必需譯出。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，承包人應向業(yè)主代表及其助理提供六份復印件。
Notes:句中custody和care同義，可譯成：保存、保管。
三、有時則都需要考慮。如下面這個例子：
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：如果承包人切實履行并遵守上述合同的所有條款、條件及規(guī)定，本報證書所承擔的義務應告終止，否則這種義務完全有效。
Notice：句中連用了幾組同義詞，以表示強調法律條款的嚴密性。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，本州議會應有權免除、撤消、取消或廢除任何全部或部分財產負擔、個人義務，或到本憲法頒發(fā)時或頒發(fā)后由本州議會強制推行的用于確保本州及本州各縣或州的其他機構依法給予老年人的補助，得到補償或償付的其他保障形式。
Notes：（1）句中to release，rescind，cancel和nullify是幾個同義詞連用，基本意思是“去除”，用法律語言表達分別是免除、撤銷、取消、廢除。
（2）句中exacted和imposed是同義詞，都表示強行、強迫、強制推行或執(zhí)行之意。
（3）句中repayment to和reimbursement of是同義詞詞組，是補償、償還之意。
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