法律英语应考—注意事项(2)
法律翻译:中译英、英译中。
解题思路:
英译中
(1) 透彻理解英文原意,尤其是正确理解某些专业词汇或短语的含义。
(2) 明确句子的结构、框架,尤其是修饰和限定成分。
(3) 先按英文顺序直接翻译成中文,再根据中文语言习惯调整译文的先后次序。
中译英
(1) 理清中文句子的框架结构。(本法所称)合同是(平等主体的自然人、法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权利义务关系的)协议。
(2) 准确使用法律英语的表达句式,以及法律英语专业术语。
(3) 注意检查和避免拼写、语法错误,如时态,主谓一致(尤其是第三人称单数),定语/状语从句,非谓语动词(如-ed, -ing形式充当后置定语)方面的错误。
举例:
1. Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII.
翻译提示:authorize, 授权; essentially within,本质上属于;domestic jurisdiction,国内管辖; prejudice,损害,妨碍
字面翻译:七、本宪章中规定的任何条款不得授权联合国干涉本质上属于任何国家国内管辖的事项,也不得要求会员国将此类事项根据本宪章提请解决;但此项原则不应妨碍第七章规定的执行办法的适用。
官方译文:七、本宪章不得认为授权联合国干涉在本质上属于任何国家国内管辖之事件,且并不要求会员国将该项事件依本宪章提请解决;但此项原则不妨碍第七章内执行办法之适用。
2. 为了保护合同当事人的合法权益,维护社会经济秩序,促进社会主义现代化建设,制定本法。
翻译提示:合同当事人, the parties to contracts;合法权益, legitimate/lawful rights and interests(**比较:lawful依法的,合法的,合乎法律标准的,如lawful business合法生意/事务;legal 法律上的,属于法律范围或形式的,如legal effect法律效力,legal advice法律咨询; legitimate, 合法而正当的,如legitimate defense,正当防卫;legitimate child, 婚生子女)
答案:This Law is formulated and enacted in order to protect the lawful/legitimate rights and interests of the parties to contracts, maintain/safeguard the social economic order, and promote the progress of the socialist modernization drive.
3. 本法所称合同是平等主体的自然人、法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权利义务关系的协议。
婚姻、收养、监护等有关身份关系的协议,适用其他法律的规定。
翻译提示:平等主体,即处于平等地位的主体,可译为:subjects on an equal footing. footing: 立足点;地位,基础;关系。又如:on a sound footing在牢固的基础上;on an equal footing平等地;on a friendly footing with sb.同某人有友好关系。
设立、变更、终止:establish, modify, terminate
婚姻、收养、监护:matrimony, adoption, guardianship
答案:A contract defined in this Law refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating the civil rights and obligations between subjects on an equal footing, that is, between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations.
Agreements involving personal status relationship such as on matrimony, adoption, guardianship, (官方译文的shall应当删除) apply within the provisions of other laws.
4. 维护社会公平正义,是司法改革的价值取向。
答案:Maintaining social fairness and justice is the value to be enforced in China’s judicial reform.