1、Translation of Legal English Translation of Legal Writing I. Legal English A. definition B. special features1. vocabulary i. specialized word ii. quotidian word iii. archaic word iv. loan word 2. other lexical featuresTranslation of Legal Writing II. Legal Writing1. definition2. categories of legal

2、writing3. syntactic features4. fixed formatsTranslation of Legal Writing III. Legal Translation1. definition 2. difficulties and risks3. guiding principles4. prerequisites for legal translators5. translating strategies IV. Translating Practice ( textbook and the teachers own translation) V. Exercise

3、s and suggested books for further readingPREAMBLE WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of t

4、he human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of

5、 life in larger freedom,PREAMBLE AND FOR THESE ENDS to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed

6、force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,PREAMBLE HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives

7、assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations. 序言序言 我聯(lián)合國(guó)人民同茲決心欲免后世再遭今代人類兩度身歷慘不堪言之戰(zhàn)禍，重申基本人權(quán)

8、，人格尊嚴(yán)與價(jià)值，以及男女與大小各國(guó)平等權(quán)利之信念，創(chuàng)造適當(dāng)環(huán)境，俾克維持正義，尊重由條約與國(guó)際法其他淵源而起之義務(wù)，久而弗懈，促成大自由中之社會(huì)進(jìn)步及較善之民生，序言序言 并為達(dá)此目的力行容恕，彼此以善鄰之道，和睦相處，集中力量，以維持國(guó)際和平及安全，接受原則，確立方法，以保證非為公共利益，不得使用武力，運(yùn)用國(guó)際機(jī)構(gòu)，以促成全球人民經(jīng)濟(jì)及社會(huì)之進(jìn)展，用是發(fā)憤立志，務(wù)當(dāng)同心協(xié)力，以竟厥功。序言序言 爰由我各本國(guó)政府，經(jīng)齊集金山市之代表各將所奉全權(quán)證書，互相校閱，均屬妥善，議定本聯(lián)合國(guó)憲章，并設(shè)立國(guó)際組織，定名聯(lián)合國(guó)。 反分裂國(guó)家法 年月日第十屆全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)第三次會(huì)議通過 第一條 為了反對(duì)和

9、遏制“臺(tái)獨(dú)”分裂勢(shì)力分裂國(guó)家，促進(jìn)祖國(guó)和平統(tǒng)一，維護(hù)臺(tái)灣海峽地區(qū)和平穩(wěn)定，維護(hù)國(guó)家主權(quán)和領(lǐng)土完整，維護(hù)中華民族的根本利益，根據(jù)憲法，制定本法。 Anti-Secession Law (Adopted at the Third Session of the Tenth National Peoples Congress on March 14, 2005) Article 1 This Law is formulated, in accordance with the Constitution, for the purpose of opposing and checking Taiwans s

10、ecession from China by secessionists in the name of Taiwan independence, promoting peaceful national reunification, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, preserving Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. Legal

11、English Legal English: the style of English by lawyers and other legal professionals: 1）legal documents: contracts, licences etc 2）court pleadings (法庭訴狀): summons（傳票）briefs（訴狀）judgments（判決） 3）laws: Acts of parliament and subordinate legislation, case reports 4）legal correspondence Special Features o

12、f Legal English 1) terminology, 2)linguistic structure, 3) linguistic conventions, 4) punctuation, Vocabulary Four Categories of Technical terminology: 1) Specialized words and phrases, e.g. waiver,棄權(quán)聲明書 restraint of trade 貿(mào)易管制 restrictive covenant, 限制性契約 promissory estoppel. 允諾禁止抗辯 plaintiff原告，defe

13、ndant被告， recidivism累犯，bigamy重婚罪， homicide殺人者，affray在公共場(chǎng)所斗毆罪Vocabulary This law is promulgated with the purpose of regulating insurance activities, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the parties involved, strengthening supervision and regulation of the insurance industry and promoting

14、its healthy development. Vocabulary 為了規(guī)范保險(xiǎn)活動(dòng),保護(hù)保險(xiǎn)活動(dòng)當(dāng)事人的合法權(quán)益,加強(qiáng)對(duì)保險(xiǎn)業(yè)的監(jiān)督管理,促進(jìn)保險(xiǎn)事業(yè)的健康發(fā)展,制定本法 。 This Law is formulated for the purpose of standardizing negotiable instrument acts protecting the legal rights of parties concerned in negotiable instrument activities, maintaining the socialist market economy

15、.Vocabulary 為了規(guī)范票據(jù)行為,保障票據(jù)活動(dòng)中當(dāng)事人的合法權(quán)益,維護(hù)社會(huì)經(jīng)濟(jì)秩序,促進(jìn)社會(huì)主義市場(chǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)的發(fā)展,制訂本法。 Vocabulary in accordance with /according to, in the event that / if , in compliance with / comply with; subsequent to / after , prior to / before； as regards / concerning or relating to； commence / start； miscellaneous /other matters/

16、events“； deem / think or believe；Vocabulary 2). Quotidian（ordinary）words having different meanings in law, e.g. action (lawsuit), consideration (support for a promise), execute (to sign to effect), and party (a principal in a lawsuit). “alibi” is legal term meaning“不在犯罪現(xiàn)場(chǎng)”, now it also means “an exc

17、use intended to avert blame or punishment”“借口，托辭”“為辯解 Vocabulary “statute”法令，成文法,（公司、學(xué)校等的）章程，條例, jury陪審團(tuán)（競(jìng)賽時(shí)）評(píng)獎(jiǎng)團(tuán) code法典、法規(guī) 密碼，電碼 plead辯護(hù) 懇求 guilt有罪 內(nèi)疚 Vocabulary familiar word “box”“盒，箱”now acquires legal meaning “證人席，陪審席”. Parole 俘虜 宣誓 假釋, Complaint 報(bào)怨 控告，起訴 Exhibit 展覽 證據(jù)，特征 Deed 行為 契約 Suit 一套衣服 起訴

18、 Vocabulary 3) Archaic vocabulary: Words like hereof, thereof, and whereof (and further derivatives, including -at, -in, -after, -before, -with, -by, -above, -on, -upon etc) . E.g. the parties hereto instead of the parties to this contract. Vocabulary hereby by this means 特此 herein in this (piece of

19、 writing) 此中，于此 hereinafter later in this official paper 在下文中hereto to this (piece of writing) 至此 hereunder below, following 在此之下 hereupon about this matter 關(guān)于此事notwithstanding 盡管 therewith 在其上，之后立即 whereupon 于是，因此 Vocabulary Reasons for archaic English: 1) common law system: unwritten, uncodified.

20、2) the fundamental law of the US. And UK older. 3) for dramatic effect: e.g. a subpoena (傳票) with the archaic threat Fail not, at your peril（We can arrest you if you dont show up） Vocabulary 4) Extensive use of words and phrases derived from French and Latin: E.g. property, estate, chattel,（動(dòng)產(chǎn)） leas

21、e（租賃）executor（遺囑執(zhí)行人）and tenant（承租人） en route adv. on the way 在途中 force majeure n. force or power that can not be acted or fought against 不可抗力。 Vocabulary Latin: ad hoc adj. 特別的 bona fide n. 誠(chéng)實(shí)，真實(shí) de facto adj. 實(shí)際上 inaudita altera parte adv. 不預(yù)先通知 inter alia adv. 尤其 per se adv. 就本身而論Vocabulary Use of

22、 doublets and triplets to string together two or three words to convey what is usually a single legal concept to avoid ambiguity or for emphasis e.g. null and void 無(wú)效Vocabulary breaking and entering (English/French)強(qiáng)行闖入, “fit and proper”正確合理(English/French), “l(fā)ands and tenements” (English/French)地產(chǎn)

23、will and testament遺囑(English/Latin). Examples of English only doublets are: let and hindrance無(wú)阻礙地Vocabulary affirm and confirm 確認(rèn) fit and proper 合適的 just and fair 公正的 terms and conditions 條款 rights and interests權(quán)益, complete and final understanding全部和最終的理解, customs fees and duties關(guān)稅, losses and damag

24、es損壞, sign and issue簽發(fā)Vocabulary conciliation and mediation 調(diào)解和調(diào)停 reciprocal and mutual benefit 互惠互利 rectify, amend or modify 更正、修正或修改 privileges and immunities 特權(quán)和豁免 strength and improve the effectiveness of 加強(qiáng)和提高。的有效性 Lack of Punctuation Past: a widespread belief that punctuation was unimportant,

25、potentially confusing. Now: punctuation is (or should be) used to give clarification about meaningUnusual word use Where the sum payable is expressed in words and also in figures, and there is a discrepancy between the two, the sum denoted by the words is the amount payable. 如應(yīng)付金額同時(shí)用大小寫表示而兩者有差異時(shí),應(yīng)以大

26、寫所表示的金額為準(zhǔn)。Use of Unfamiliar Pronouns the same, the said, the aforementioned etc. interesting since very frequently they do not replace the noun which is the whole purpose of pronouns but are used to supplement them. e.g. the said John Smith. Use of Unfamiliar Pronouns When an international treaty th

27、at relates to a contract and which the Peoples Republic of China has concluded on participated into has provisions of the said treaty shall be applied, but with the exception of clauses to which the Peoples Republic of China has declared reservation.Use of Unfamiliar Pronouns 中華人民共和國(guó)締結(jié)或者參加的與合同有關(guān)的國(guó)際條

28、約同中華人民共和國(guó)法律有不同規(guī)定的,適用該國(guó)際條約的規(guī)定。但是,中華人民共和國(guó)聲明保留的條款除外。(the said treaty指上述條約)-er, -or, and -ee name endings Names and titles, such as employer and employee, or lessor 出租人and lessee承租人, in which the reciprocal and opposite nature of the relationship is indicated by the use of alternative endings. Use of Ph

29、rasal Verbs Phrasal verbs often used in a quasi-technical sense. E.g. parties enter into contracts(達(dá)成), put down deposits, (支付定金) serve documents upon other parties, (送達(dá)) write off debts (注銷債務(wù)) Legal Writing Definition: a type of technical writing used by legislators, lawyers, judges, and others in

30、law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties. Distinguishing features 1) reliance on and citation to authority, 2) importance of precedent, 3) specialized vocabulary or jargon, 4) a tendency toward excessively 5) complicated grammar and overformality Authority Legal writing places heavy

31、 reliance on authority. In most legal writing, the writer must back up assertions and statements with citations to authority. This is accomplished by a unique and complicated citation system, unlike that used in any other genre of writing Precedent Precedent means the way things have been done befor

32、e. E.g. a lawyer will often re-use, with limited changes, the old contract for the new occasion. Many lawyers use and re-use written documents in this way and call these re-usable documents templates 模版or, less commonly, forms Formality Classical, formal, complex manner for the sake of legal clarity

33、. New change to from classical legal writing towards a concise, mainstream, reader-friendly style. Principal purpose: to provide a thorough and precise document. In following a tried-and-true format, a legal document leaves little open to interpretation. Categories of Legal Writing (i) legal analysi

34、s 法律分析 (1) predictive analysis預(yù)測(cè)性分析, i.e. an outcome-predicting memorandum (positive or negative) of a given action for the attorneys client; and (2) persuasive analysis說服性分析. e.g. motions 訴狀and briefs 辯護(hù)狀 Predictive legal analysis Most common type: the legal memorandum 法律備忘錄 1) predicts the outcome

35、 of a legal question by analyzing the authorities and the relevant facts. 2) explains and applies the authorities in predicting an outcome, 3) ends with advice and recommendations 4) serves as record of the research done for a given legal question. Persuasive Legal Analysis A motions （訴狀)and briefs(

36、辯護(hù)狀 ), attempts persuading the deciding authority to favourably decide the dispute for the authors client. usually submitted to judges, but also to mediators, arbitrators, and others. persuasive writing is the most rhetorically stylised. not a neutral analysis. Legal Drafting (ii) legal drafting.法律文

37、書 including enacted law, i.e. statutes, rules, regulations, contracts (private, public), agreements, notices, legal information, and related documents about personal legal matters (wills, trusts). Legal drafting requires no legal authority citation, and generally is written without a stylised voice

38、Legal Drafting Plagiarism is strictly prohibited in academic work, especially in law review articles, seminar papers, and similar writings intended to reflect the authors original thoughts. Bur for legal drafting, plagiarism is acceptable Legalese 1) long sentences, 2) many modifying clauses, 3) com

39、plex vocabulary, 4) high abstraction, 5) insensitivity to the laymans need to understand the documents gist. Plain Language Movement to demystify legalese Stages of Formality Frozen: Visitors would make their way at once to the upper floor by way of the staircase. Formal: Visitors should go up the s

40、tairs at once. Consultative: Would you mind going upstairs right away, please? Casual: Time you all went upstairs now. Intimate: Up you go, chaps. Syntactic Features of Legal Writing While this agreement is in effect, that Author shall not, without prior written consent of the Publisher, write, edit

41、, print, or publish, or cause to be written, edited, printed or published, any other edition of the Work, whether revised, supplemented, corrected, enlarged, abridged, or otherwise Syntactic Features of Legal Writing The basic difference is this, that in tort, the plaintiff gets such damages as put

42、him into the position in which he would have been, if the tort had not been committed, while in contract, he is entitled to be put into the position in which he would have been, if the contract had been performed. Syntactic Features of Legal Writing 其基本差別為：在侵權(quán)行為之訴中，原告所得賠償應(yīng)使其處于為發(fā)生侵行為的情況一樣，而在合同之訴中，要使原

43、告處于合同已經(jīng)獲得履行后的情況一樣。 Syntactic Features of Legal Writing1) If X, then Y shall be / do Z2) Long and complex sentence (48, 2.86 / 6.74) 3) unusual amount of negation4) Impersonal constructionExamples The buyer shall bear any additional costs incurred because the vessel named by him shall have failed to

44、arrive on the stipulated dateprovided, however that the goods shall have been duly appropriated to the contract. (if)Examples 如買方指定的船只不能在規(guī)定的日期到達(dá)，買方應(yīng)負(fù)擔(dān)由此而產(chǎn)生的額外費(fèi)用，但以上貨物確定為履行本和約之用為限。Examples When a party assigns, wholly or in part, its contractual rights and obligations to a third party, it must obtain

45、 the consent of the other party. (when) 當(dāng)事人一方將合同權(quán)利和義務(wù)的全部或者部分轉(zhuǎn)讓給第三人的,應(yīng)當(dāng)取得另一方的同意。 Examples Where a foreigner, enterprise applies for trademark registration in China, the matter shall be handled in accordance with any agreement concluded between the country to which the applicant belongs and the People

46、s Republic of China, or any international treaty to which both countries are parties, or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity. (where) Examples 外國(guó)人或者外國(guó)企業(yè)在中國(guó)申請(qǐng)商標(biāo)注冊(cè)的,應(yīng)當(dāng)按其所屬國(guó)和中華人民共和國(guó)簽訂的協(xié)議或者共同參加的國(guó)際條約辦理,或者按對(duì)等原則辦理。 Examples The accused has the right to defense, which is guaranteed by the constitut

47、ion. (relative clause) 被告人有辯護(hù)權(quán),這一辯護(hù)權(quán)受到憲法的保障。 Civil actions generally are brought for breach of a contract, or for a wrong or tort. (passive voice) 民事訴訟通常是指因違反合同、民事犯罪或侵權(quán)所提起的訴訟。Examples If the goods are proven defective within the guarantee period stipulated in Article 15 for any reason, including lat

48、ent defect or the use of unsuitable materials, the buyer shall arrange for a survey to be carried out by the General Administration and have the right to claim against the seller on the strength of specification certificate. (third person) Examples 根據(jù)第15條款的規(guī)定，在保證期內(nèi)，如果發(fā)現(xiàn)貨物有缺陷包括隱性缺陷或使用不合格的材料-不論其系何種原因造

49、成，購(gòu)方可申請(qǐng)總局進(jìn)行調(diào)查并根據(jù)檢驗(yàn)證書的內(nèi)容有權(quán)提出索賠。 Examples The progress to the statute book of the necessary legal infrastructure for electronic commerce has in many countries been delayed by a difficult and politically sensitive debate created by the concerns of law enforcement authorities that the widespread use of

50、strong encryption (加密)may facilitate crime and terrorism to a degree that will de-stabilize civilized governments. (long sentence) Examples 在許多國(guó)家，執(zhí)法機(jī)關(guān)擔(dān)心嚴(yán)格加密的廣泛使用，會(huì)給犯罪分子和恐怖活動(dòng)提供方便，從而破壞文明政府的穩(wěn)定。這種擔(dān)心引起了一場(chǎng)難以解決的、政治上敏感的辯論。而這場(chǎng)辯論則延誤了必要的電子商務(wù)法律歸入法典的進(jìn)程。 Examples In order to promote the establishment and maintena

51、nce of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the worlds human and economic resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance the Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of th

52、e United Nations for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments. (excessive use of adverbial) Examples 為促進(jìn)國(guó)際和平及安全之建立及維持，以盡量減少世界人力及經(jīng)濟(jì)資源之消耗于軍備起見，安全理事會(huì)借第四十七條所指之軍事參謀團(tuán)之協(xié)助，應(yīng)負(fù)責(zé)擬具方案，提交聯(lián)合國(guó)會(huì)員國(guó)，以建立軍備管制制度。 Fixed Formats Contract refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating t

53、he civil rights and obligations between subjects of equal footing, that is, between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations. Agreement is a consensus of mind, or evidence of such consensus, in spoke or written form, relating to anything done or to be done.Fixed Formats 1. offer and abs

54、olute and unqualified acceptance 2. consensus ad idem （meeting of minds) 3. intention to create legal relations 4. genuineness of consent 5. contractual capacity of the parties 6. legality of object 7. possibility of performance 8. certainty of terms 9. valuable considerationPurchase Contract a. gen

55、eral principles, b. contracted product, c. price and payment, d. packing and marks, e. inspection and checking, f. quality control and guarantee, g. technical training, h. delivery date, i. Validity of contract, j. shipping, k. insurance, l. claim, m. security, n. arbitration, o. force majeure, p. l

56、egal address and signature, q. others. Purchase Contract This contract was made on the -day of -, between Mr.- of -Ltd (hereinafter referred to as the seller以下簡(jiǎn)稱售方) and Mr. -of -Company (hereinafter referred to as the Buyer) whereas鑒于 the Seller has agreed to sell and the Buyer has agreed to buy- (h

57、ereinafter referred to as Contracted Product). The quality, specifications, quantity of the contracted products have been confirmed by both parties and this contract is signed with the following terms and conditions. Purchase Contract Shipment: First shipment to commence within 30-40 days from the d

58、ate of receipt of L/C, and all shipments are to be completed within 12 months from the date of first shipment 第一次裝船應(yīng)于接到信用證后30天至40天內(nèi)予以辦理。從第一次裝船至終了應(yīng)于12月內(nèi)完成。 Purchase Contract Insurance: to be effected by the Buyer 由購(gòu)方辦理。 Packing: in new craft paper bags of -kg/bag or in wooden cases of -kg/case, free

59、of charge. 用新牛皮紙袋裝，每袋為-公斤，或木箱裝，免費(fèi)包裝。Purchase Contract Payment: The buyer shall open a 100% confirmed, irrevocable divisible and negotiable and partial shipment permitted L/C in favor of the seller within 5 calendar days from the date of the agreement through the issuing bank. The L/C shall be drawn

60、against draft at sight upon first presentation of the following documents: a: full set of sellers commercial invoices; b. full set of clean, blank, endorsed Bill of loading; c: inspection certificates of quality and weight. Purchase Contract 簽定合同5天后（公歷日）內(nèi)購(gòu)方通過開證行開出以售方為受益人經(jīng)確認(rèn)的全金額100%的不可撤消的可分割的可轉(zhuǎn)讓的允許分期