条法英语的语言特征及中文条法的英译\Linguistics Charaterstics of Legal English and Translation of Chinese Law


金孝柏



条法英语是表述条约、法律（包括宪法，下同）条款具体内容的英语语言变体，属于法律英语的范畴。它是一种具体表述义务性、授权性、禁止性、制裁性法律规范和表达立法指导思想、目的、任务以及立法与司法解释的手段和载体。本文拟分析条法英语的语言特征，并以中国法制出版社1999年6月出版的《中华人民共和国合同法》英文译本为例（以下简称《合同法》英译本），探讨中文条法的英译技巧。　

　　一、 条法英语的语言特征　

　　（一）文体特征。　

　　法律英语是一种正式文体，或称冰冻文体（frozen style），[1]（P246）是一种“由字符传播的正式性书面语言”。[2]（P340） 以具体规定权利、明确义务为内容的条法英语也具有法律语言的共同特征，即庄重性、规范性、平实性和严谨性。庄重性是指条法英语的遣词造句讲究准确和精炼，体现法律和条约的庄严。规范性指条法英语采用叙述性、说明性语言通过经常化和固定化的表达方式表述法律或条约的具体内容。平实性指条法英语体现的平直、明确、不夸饰、无婉曲的文体风格。严谨性指条法英语在结构上审慎严密、逻辑上无懈可击的特点。例如：　

　　We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States. (美国宪法)　

　　（二）词汇特点。　

　　（1）条法英语用词讲究精炼准确，语义单一，用法固定，一般不能作通常的解释，如offerer, offeree, donator, donee, obligor, obligee等等。　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　（2）经常使用外来词，尤其是法语和拉丁词语。例如：　

　　…Provided that the Provisions of Part II other than Article XXIII shall be replaced, mutatis mutandis, in the form in which they then appeared in the Havana Charter,… （《关税和贸易总协定》） 　

　　(3）广泛使用古英语词汇，尤其是诸如here, there, where 等副词加上in, on, to, by, of, after等介词或介词组合构成的复合词的使用尤为常见。例如： 　

　　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. (美国宪法)　

　　(4) 词义的同一性。在同一法律文件中同一词汇必须也只能作同一种解释。 　

　　A government not party to this agreement, or a government acting on behalf of a separate customs territory possessing full autonomy in the conduct of its external commercial relations and of the other matters provided for in this agreement, on its own behalf or on behalf of that territory, on terms to be agreed between such government and… (《关税和贸易总协定》）。　

　　上文的territory应该作限制的解释，指关税区。　

　　(5) 介词和介词词组运用广泛而灵活，使条法的结构更紧凑，逻辑更严密。例如：　

　　This Agreement and the Multilateral Trade Agreements annexed hereto shall enter into force on the date determined by Ministers in accordance with Paragraph 3 of the Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations and shall remain open for acceptance for a period of two years following that Date unless the Ministers decide otherwise. (《关于建立世界贸易组织的协议》)　

　　（6）shall的广泛运用。根据《新韦伯大词典》的解释， shall is “used in laws , regulations, or directions to express what is mandatory”。 因此，条法英语通常用shall表述义务性规范。根据统计，1789年美国宪法的七个条款中，shall的使用达一百八十次之多。例如：　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　The President, Vice President, and civil officers of the United States, shall be removed on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. (美国宪法)　

　　（7）连词的应用十分重要。and和or经常用以连接单词、短语、非谓语结构或句子表示并列关系，增强了条法逻辑的严密性。例如：　

　　The tribunal may give directions in relation to any property which is the subject of the proceedings or as to which any question arises in the proceedings, and which is owned by or is in the possession of a party to the proceedings—　

　　(a) for the inspection, photographing, preservation, custody, or detention of the property by the tribunal, an expert or a party, or　

　　(b) ordering that samples be taken from, or any observation be made of or experiment conducted upon, the property. (Arbitration Act1996)　

　　（三）复杂的句法。　

　　条法英语经常运用复杂的程式化句法结构，体现了法律文体的庄重性和严谨性风格。　

　　（1） 连续使用非谓语动词，体现条法内容的不同层次划分，包括条、款、项、 目。例如：　

　　Nothing in this agreement shall be construed　

　　(a) to require any contracting party to furnish any information the disclosure of which it considers contrary to its essential security interests; or　

　　(b) to prevent any contracting party from taking any action which it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests　

　　(i) relating to fissionable materials or the materials from which they are derived;　

　　(ii) relating to the traffic in arms, ammunition and implements of war and to such traffic in other goods and materials as is carried on directly or indirectly for the purpose of supplying a military establishment;　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　(iii) taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations; or　

　　(c) to prevent any contracting party from taking any action in pursuance of its obligations under the United nations Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security. （《关税和贸易总协定》）　

　　（2） 使用结构复杂、逻辑严密的长难复合句。例如：　

　　If agreement between the parties primarily concerned cannot be reached before January 1, 1958 or before the expiration of a period envisaged in paragraph 1 of this Article, the contracting party which proposes to modify or withdraw the concession shall, nevertheless, be free to do so and if such action is taken any contracting party with which such concession was initially negotiated, any contracting party determined under Paragraph 1 to have a principal supplying interest and any contracting party under paragraph 1 to have a substantial interest shall then be free not later than six months after such action is taken, to withdraw, upon the expiration of thirty days from the day on which written notice of such withdrawal is received by the CONTRACTING P.ARTIES, substantially equivalent concessions initially negotiated with the applicant contracting party. （《关税和贸易总协定》）　

　　（四）被动语态的运用。　

　　由于条法英语规定权利义务，许多情况下不必或无法指明动作的执行者，因而经常使用被动语态。对此曾经有学者做过专门的统计。[3]（P252）　

　　In accordance with regulations prescribed pursuant to Section 353 of this title, the Federal agency head or the Secretary is hereby authorized to carry out the provisions of this section. （美国《合同法》）　

　　但是，在不少我国法律英译本中，被动语态的滥用非常严重，应该引起足够的重视。[4]（P30）　

　　二、中文条法的英译　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　翻译作为“一种信息传递的方式”， 是“用另一种语言的种种形式表达相同的内容”。[5]（P223） 因此，译文必须忠实而准确地表达原文的内容，传达原文的文体风格。就条法的翻译而言，译文的使用者或信息的接受者通常是法律的适用者，译文的准确与否直接关系到权利的行使和义务的承担，因而对译文的忠实性要求更高。　

　　客观地说，我国的《合同法》英译本为尽快向英语读者介绍中国的合同法作出了积极的贡献。但是，从翻译学的角度来看，译本也有与其他中文法律英译本同样的不容忽视的瑕疵。主要表现在以下几个方面。　

　　（一） 曲解原文，译文表达不清甚至背离原文。 　

　　第十四条 要约是希望和他人订立合同的意思表示，该意思表示应当符合下列规定：（一）内容具体确定；（二）表明经受要约人承诺，要约人即受该意思表示约束。　

　　原译文：Article 14 An offer is a proposal hoping to enter into a contract with other parties. The proposal shall comply with the following stipulations: (1) Its contents shall be detailed and definite; (2) It indicates the proposal of the offerer to be bound in case of acceptance.　

　　译文中至少有两处不妥。首先，作出意思表示的是要约人，译文第一句没有译出；其次，原文的“内容具体确定”指主要条款齐备，即certain and definite as to all material terms, 而不是detailed and definite。　

　　第九十八条 合同的权利义务终止，不影响合同中结算和清理条款的效力。　

　　原译文：Article 98 The termination of the rights and obligations of a contract may not affect the force of the settlement and clearance clauses in the contract. 　

　　原文客观陈述合同的权利义务终止会导致的法律后果，而may not在法律英语中表示禁止，不知此处译文用意何在。　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　(二) 同义异译，异义同译。　

　　原文“总则”和第一章的“一般规定”都被翻译为General Provisions，而第十八章的“一般规定”又翻译为General Rules，令人费解。再如：　

　　第九十五条 法律规定或者当事人约定解除权行使期限，期限届满当事人不行使的，该权利消灭。　

　　法律没有规定或者当事人没有约定解除权行使期限，经对方催告后在合理期限内不行使的，该权利消灭。　

　　原译文：Article 95 Where the laws stipulate or the parties agree upon the time limit to exercise the right to rescind the contract, and no party exercises it when the time limit expires, the said right shall be extinguished.　

　　Where the law does not stipulate or the parties make no agreement upon the time limit to exercise the right to rescind the contract, and no party exercises it within a reasonable time period after being urged, the said right shall be extinguished. 　

　　原文中的“法律”应该作广义的解释，指包括《合同法》在内的法律法规，而原译文分别用了 laws和 law，不知为何。　

　　（三）术语翻译不准确。译文中不少术语翻译不规范、不准确，甚至是错误的。仅举几例如下：　

　　译本原译 建议翻译　

　　合同标的 (p11) contract object subject matter　

　　赠与合同 (p3) contracts for donation contracts of gift　

　　委托合同 (p4) contracts for commission contracts for mandate　

　　行纪合同 (p4) contracts for brokerage contracts for commission agency　

　　居间合同 (p4) contracts for intermediation contracts for brokerage　

　　违约金 (p55) breach of contract damages liquidated damages 　

　　（四）shall的滥用。我国法律英译本中shall的滥用已引起了不少学者的批评与关注。[6](P33)　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　第四百二十八条 本法自爱999年10月1日起施行。　

　　Article 428 This law shall come into force as of October 1st,1999.　

　　(五) 语法错误。试举两例：　

　　第一百六十五条 ……但该物与他物分离使标的物的价值显受损害的， 当事人可以就数物解除合同。　

　　Article 165 …However, if its separation from other items will damage the object value obviously, the parties may rescind the contract with respect to such several items. (斜体部分应为several such items)　

　　第二百九十六条 ……超过限量携带行李的，应当办理托运手续。　

　　Article 296 …A passenger takes luggage exceeding the limit shall check in the luggage. （斜体部分应为从句或分词结构）　

　　（六）介词运用不当。　

　　第一百九十九条 订立借款合同，借款人应当按照贷款人的要求提供与借款有关的业务活动和财务状况的真实情况。　

　　Article 199 In concluding a loan contract , the borrower shall provide with the truthful information about the business activities and financial conditions relating to the loan according to the requirements of the lender. (with多余，删去)　

　　第一百四十一条 出卖人应当按照约定的地点交付标的物。　

　　Article 141 The seller shall deliver the object according to the agreed place. （according to应为to）　

　　（七）过分拘泥原文，舍简求繁，译文拖沓甚至导致死译、硬译。　

　　第一百二十八条 当事人可以通过和解或者调解解决合同争议。……　

　　Article 128 The parties may settle their disputes relevant to the contract through conciliation or mediation… （斜体部分建议改为contractual disputes）　

　　第九十六条 ……法律、行政法规规定解除合同应当办理批准、登记等手续的，依照其规定。　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　Article 96 …Where the laws or administrative regulations stipulate that the rescinding of a contract shall go through the formalities of approval and registration, the provisions there of shall be followed. 　

　　建议改译： Article 96 …The rescission of contracts shall be subject to official approval or registration if laws or administrative regulations have so stipulated.　

　　（八）被动语态的滥用。　

　　第三百二十五条 技术合同价款、报酬或者使用费的支付方式由当事人约定，可以采取一次总算、一次总付或者一次总算、分期支付，也可以采取提成支付或者提成支付加预付入门费的方式。　

　　Article 325 The method of payment of price, remuneration or royalties in the technology contract shall be agreed upon by the parties. The parties may agree on the method of an overall calculation and one time payment, or of an overall calculation and payment by installment. They may also agree on the method of proportionate payment or such payment plus an advance payment of entrance fee.　

　　上文被动语态弱化了双方的权利，而且与后面句式不太一致，过于拘泥原文，导致行文拖沓。　

　　三、结论　

　　一般来说，中国法律语言具有通俗性、朴实性、简明性、庄严性的语体特征。[7]（P18） 但是，由于属于两种不同的法系，中国的法律条文与西方国家尤其是英美等国的法律条文在语体特征上毕竟存有差异。比较而言，英美等国的法律条文语言更保守、结构更严谨、逻辑更严密，中国的法律条文语言更朴实、更通俗、结构更简明。作为翻译者，必须了解并在译文中体现这一差异。具体来说，在翻译中文条法时，除了尽可能保持原文的文体风格外，更要注意汉英句法的转换与运用，译文不能过于讲究词汇与句子结构的完全对等，而应该简则简，该繁则繁。对被动语态的把握应适当。正确处理英语介词和介词短语的在译文中的运用。　 #p#分页标题#e#

　　其次，译者应该对法律知识有所了解，尤其是专业术语的涵义必须理解准确，以免出现对原文的曲解、误解而导致词不达意，甚至错误，影响条法的正确适用。因此，译文的忠实性的首要前提是正确理解原文。[8]（P124）　

　　再次，评价条法译文的标准不在于译文的华丽的词语，矫饰的修辞，而是它是否可以被理解和被适用，。因此，应坚持意译与直译相结合，既不过分拘泥原文，又不能随意发挥，乱译一通。　

【Exprss】
[1] 刘显正.法律英语的语言特征.法律英语世界[C].北京：法律出版社，1999　
　　[2] 张徳禄.功能文体学[M].济南：山东教育出版社，1998　
　　[3] 刘显正.法律英语的语言特征.法律英语世界[C].北京：法律出版社，1999　
　　[4] 陈忠诚.主被切莫倒置.法窗译话[C].北京：中国对外翻译出版公司，1998　
　　[5] 吕俊.翻译学——传播学的一个特殊领域[M].青岛：青岛出版社，1998　
　　[6] 陈忠诚.法律汉译英中shall与should以及will.法窗译话[C].北京：中国对外翻译出版公司，1998　
　　[7] 孙懿华.法律语言学[M].北京：中国政法大学出版社，1997　
　　[8] 金隄.等效翻译探索[M].北京：中国对外翻译出版公司，1998