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法律文件中的近義和同義詞翻譯
Date:2009-3-24
摘 要：本文就法律文件用詞精確這一特點，探討中譯英這類文件時經常遇到的近義和同義詞問題，用實例印證，指出如何理解這些詞，并根據法律用語要求傳意精確的特點，如何選用譯文的詞語，以保證譯入語與原語具有對等的法律含意和功能。
關鍵詞：近義和同義詞；法律文件；譯入語；原語
The Translation of Words of Similar Meanings and Synonyms in Legal Documents
Abstract: This article discusses the importance of the diction of English words of similar meanings and synonyms in the translation of legal documents from Chinese into English, and, by analyzing a sampling of translated legal clauses, tries to point out that correct English wording is essential to the total transmission of their meaning in relation to their legal functions in both source and translated languages.
Key Words: words of similar meanings and synonyms, legal documents, translated language, source language
隨著我國入世，法律文件翻譯的研究已成為翻譯工作者的一項重要任務。我們不僅要把國際的法律文本譯成中文，使我們能了解熟悉國際法律；我們還要把我國的涉外法規譯成英文，使世界了解中國。
法律文件包括各類法律文獻，如合同法、公司法、仲裁法等行政法規，以及合同雙方締約的合同文本，合資企業的章程等。要做好這類文件的中譯英，首先要研究這兩種語言在法律文件中的特點。法律語言自成體系，有自己個性與特點，它要求準確、正規、鮮明，并有自身專業用語，自成一家的語言結構。掌握原語及譯入語的上述特點，是譯好法律文件的根本。
用詞準確是法律文件翻譯的特點之一，法律文件的權威性就是通過這點顯示出來的，所以譯文要保證譯入語準確無誤地表達出原語法律文件中的真正含義。因此法律文件英譯時，英語詞匯的選擇，尤顯重要。選詞時要考慮到近義和同義詞的區分，單復數的不同含義，還要注意到中英詞匯廣義、狹義、具體意義和抽象意義的不同之處。本文憑借一些例子，探討見諸法律文件中這類英語近義和同義詞的正確用法，以確保譯入語的準確性。
1． 關于request 和 require的區別
例：
人民法院有權要求當事人提供或者補充證據。
原譯：
A people’s court shall have the authority to request the parties
to provide or supplement evidence.
英語表示“要求”這個詞大致有3個，即ask, request, require。 ask為泛指，request和 require為特指。request表示make a request，所以 request （sb to do sth） 是“請求（某人做某事）”，是下對上的要求；而require表示order, demand, 是“命令，要求”之意，指上對下的要求，比如法律條款對當事人的要求，業主對雇員的要求。此句中人民法院對當事人的要求，當然是require；譯文使用request不準確。此句可改為：
A people’s court shall have the authority to require the parties to provide or supplement evidence.
2．關于legal，lawful 和legitimate的區別
例：
公司職工依法組織工會，開展工會活動，維護職工的合法
權益。
原譯：
The staff and workers of a company organize a trade union
in accordance with the law to carry out union activities and protect
the lawful rights and interests of the staff and workers.
原文的“維護職工的合法權益”意為“維護職工的合法正當權益”，因此譯文用lawful欠準確，應譯為“legitimate”。
關于“合法的”，英文中有三個詞“legal，lawful 和legitimate，”它們意思很近，但有差別�！發egal”按《牛津現代高級辭典》，意為：connected with, in accordance with, authorized or required by the law (法律上的, 合法的，法律承認的，法律要求的，法定的。)，它強調 “合乎國家正式頒布的法律的，或經法律許可的”。例如：“訴訟過程”應譯為the course of legal proceedings，即法定程序，所謂“法定”是指“合乎國家正式頒布的”，所以“法律行為”是legal act，“法定地址”是legal address，“法定代理人”是legal agent，；“司法協助”是legal assistance，“法人”是legal entity，“法律事務”是legal business，“法律效力”是legal effect，“法律效用”是legal effectiveness，“法定財產”是legal estate，等。
“lawful” 意為allowed by law；according to law(合法的，法定的)，是強調“合理合法的”，意為“合乎或不違反國家的法律、教會的戒律或道德的標準”，與“legal, legitimate”有差別。 例如：“合法行為”是lawful action，“合法政黨”是lawful party，“合法財產”是lawful property，“合法席位”是lawful seat，“合法婚姻”是lawful wedlock，等。
“legitimate” 意為lawful, regular, reasonable，(合法的，正規的，合理的，可說明為正當的) ，是強調既是合法的，又是正當的，指根據法律、公認權威與準則為正當的。例如：“合法防衛，正當防衛”是legitimate defence，“合法的自由，正當的自由”是legitimate freedom，“合法收入，正當收入”是legitimate income，“合法的宗教活動”是legitimate religious activities，等。準此，原文的“職工的合法權益”應理解為“合法正當權益”，譯文中lawful rights and interests of the staff and workers應改為legitimate rights and interests of the staff and workers。又，原譯系敘事，而原文是法律規定，含義大有出入，所以全句可改為：
The staff and workers of a company may, in accordance with the law, organize a trade union to carry out union activities and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the staff and workers.
3. 關于formulate和enact的區別：
例：
為了發展對外貿易，維護對外貿易秩序，促進社會主義市
場經濟的健康發展，制定本法。
原譯：
This Law is formulated with a view to developing the foreign
trade, maintaining the foreign trade order and promoting a healthy
development of the socialist market economy.
“制定”譯為formulated不十分準確。目前國內法律文件中，凡提及“制定法律”一般用此詞，各文件相互參照，似乎formulate已成為慣用法。根據《牛津現代高級英文辭典》定義，formulate意為express clearly and exactly，即明確表達，比如formulate one’s thoughts / a doctrine（明確表達思想或宗旨）。法律英語中表示“制定法律”，應用動詞enact。按上述辭典定義，enact意為make (a law)；decree, ordain（制定（法律），頒令，規定）。比如，“制定法律”應譯為enact a law，“制定條文”是enact clauses；其名詞enactment，也有“制定，規定，頒布，通過，法令，法規”等意。比如，enactment of law（制定法律，法的制定）。為顧及習慣用法并按照英文法律文件的語言特點，采用同義詞連用，此句可改為：
This Law is formulated and enacted in order to develop the foreign trade, maintain the foreign trade order and promote a healthy development of the socialist market economy.
4．關于terms和clause的區別；in reasonable ways和in a reasonable manner的區別
例：
采用格式條款訂立合同的，提供格式條款的一方應當遵
循公平原則確定當事人之間的權利和義務，并采取合理的方
式請對方注意免除或者限制其責任的條款，按照對方的要求，
對該條款予以說明。
原譯：
Where standard terms are adopted in concluding a contract,
the party which supplies the standard terms shall define the rights
and obligations between the parties abiding by the principle of
fairness, request the other party to note the exclusion or restriction
of its liabilities in reasonable ways, and explain the standard terms
according to the requirement of the other party.
評：此段譯文有多處用詞不當的地方。
原文的“格式條款”，不能直接按字面譯出。中文的“條款”一詞有兩種含義，一是表示“條件、條款”，意為“規定”，二是表示合同法律文件中某一具體條款，例如第幾條款，這里的“格式條款”應該屬于后一種，因為合同有“格式條款”與“非格式條款”兩種，而不是“規定”。因此，“格式條款”不能譯成 “standard terms”。 Terms (pl) 意為conditions, provisions，比如“根據合同條件條款”我們應譯成：in accordance with the terms, conditions and provisions of the contract。
本條文里的“格式條款”應譯成 “standard clauses”。clause意為(legal) complete paragraph in an agreement, or legal document（法律），即“合同協議，法律文件的條款�！彼浴昂贤�10條款”應譯成Clause 10 of the contract。
原文中的“合理的方式”譯成 “in reasonable ways”不妥。way一般表示“ method”方法，有時也表示 “condition, state, degree，（情形，狀態及程度），比如“大規模地”可譯成in a big way。“合理的方式”應譯成 “in a reasonable manner”。 manner 表示“方式”（可數，通常作單數），比如“以這種方式”可譯成“in this manner”。
此句可改為：
Where standard clauses are adopted in concluding and entering into a contract, the party supplying the standard clauses shall, under the principle of fairness, define the rights and obligations between the parties thereto, ask the other party, in a reasonable manner, to note the clause on the exclusion or restriction of its liabilities, and explain the standard clauses in accordance with the requirement of the other party.
5．關于revoke和rescind的區別
例：
合同無效或者被撤銷后，因該合同取得的財產，應當予
以返還。
原譯：
The property acquired as a result of a contract shall be returned
after the contract is confirmed to be null and void or has been revoked.
原文的“被撤銷”譯為 has been revoked，欠準確，應為rescind。按《牛津現代高級雙解辭典》定義，revoke意為repeal, cancel, withdraw (a decree, consent, permission, etc)，即“廢止，撤銷，取消；宣告（命令，同意，允許等）無效”，例如“取消決定”可譯成revoke a decision，“撤銷委托”可譯成revoke commission，“吊銷執照”可譯成revoke a licence。
rescind意為legally repeal, annual, cancel (a law, contract, etc)即“（法律）廢止，撤銷（法規，合約等）”，例如“取消合約” 可譯成rescind an agreement，“廢除法律”可譯為rescind a law.“廢除不合理的規章”可譯為rescind the unreasonable rules，“取消判決”可譯為rescind a judgment。
根據上述定義，本句可改為：
The property acquired by either party as a result of a contract shall be returned to the other party after the contract is confirmed to be null and void or has been rescinded.
6．關于reject和refuse的用法；“負責任的人”與“負責人”的區別
例：
合同生效后，當事人不得因姓名、名稱的變更或者法定代
表人、負責人、承辦人的變更而不履行合同義務。
原譯：
After a contract becomes effective, the parties may not reject to
perform the obligations of the contract because of modification of the
title or name of the parties, or change of the statutory representative,
the responsible person or the executive person of the parties.
原文中的“不得…….而不履行合同義務”譯為 “may not reject to perform the obligations of the contract”，是誤譯，應將reject改為refuse。按《牛津現代高級英文辭典》，reject法律上意為refuse to accept即“拒絕，不接受，駁回”。比如，“不受理申訴”可譯為reject a complaint，“駁回證據”可譯為reject （a） proof,“駁回上訴”可譯為reject an appeal。refuse意為show unwillingness to accept (something offered),“拒絕，拒受，拒給，不愿”等意。例如，“不準保釋；拒絕保釋”可譯為refuse bail；“拒絕履行”可譯成refuse to perform，“拒絕查帳”可譯為refuse inspection of books，“抗稅”可譯為refuse to pay tax。
原文中的“負責人”譯成responsible person不妥。 Responsible指“負有職責”，“有責任感”，“可靠”，與“負責人”不是一回事。例如：Isn’t he too young for such a responsible job? （讓他負責如此重要的職責，他是否太年輕了？）；又如：Alice is a very responsible baby-sitter. （阿莉絲看小孩很負責任。）；Give the job to a responsible man. （把工作交給負責任的人）；Betty is a responsible young lady.（貝蒂是個有責任感的姑娘。）
position 作可數名詞（多作單數），表示“處境，境地”之意。例如：A man in his position might have done the same thing.(一個處于他位置的人也會做出同樣的事。); Madame Michel found herself in an embarrassing position （米歇爾夫人發現她處境很尷尬）; “負責人”應譯為“the person in a responsible position”， 即“處于負責崗位上的人”。準此，此句可改為：
After a contract becomes effective, the parties thereto shall not refuse to perform the obligations of the contract due to the modification of the title or name of the parties thereto, or the change of the statutory representative, the person in a responsible position or the executive person of the parties thereto.
7．關于enlarge和increase的區別
例：
當事人一方違約后，對方應當采取適當措施防止損失的擴大，
沒有采取適當措施致使損失擴大的，不得就擴大的損失要求賠償。
原譯：
After one party violates a contract, the other party shall
take proper measures to prevent from the enlargement of losses; if
the other party fails to take proper measures so that the losses are
enlarged, it may not claim any compensation as to the enlarged losses.
原文中的“防止損失的擴大”應理解為“防止損失的增加”，因此譯成enlarge不妥，應為increase。根據《牛津現代高級英文辭典》的定義，enlarge意為make or become larger (擴大，增大)，比如，放大相片，enlarge a photograph；擴建房屋，enlarge one’s house。increase意為make or become greater in size, number, degree, etc.即在尺寸、大小、數量、程度上的增加、增大、增多。“損失的擴大”意為“損失程度的增加”，故應為 increase。
另，原譯中“from”和“as to”均系誤譯，見改譯。此句可改為：
After either party violates a contract, the other party shall take proper measures to prevent the increase of the loss. Provided that if the other party fails to take proper measures so that the losses are increased, the party in question shall not claim any compensation in relation to the increased losses.
8．關于package和packing的區別
例：
買賣合同的內容除依照本法第十二條的規定以外，還可以
包括包裝方式、檢驗標準和方法、結算方式、合同使用的文字
及其效力等條款。
原譯：
Other than those as stipulated in Article 12 of this Law, a sales
contract may also contain such clauses as package manner, inspection
standards and method, method of settlement and clearance, language
adopted in the contract and its authenticity.
原文中的“包裝方式”，不能譯成package manner，而應譯為manner of packing。這兩個意思相近的詞，中譯英時應特別注意。
package意為parcel of things, packed together即，“包、包裹”。比如：一捆信件，a package of letters, 二十支裝的一包香煙，a package of 20 cigarettes。packing （不可數名詞）意為process of packing (goods)，（包裝貨物的過程，打包，打行李）等意。此句中的“包裝方式”自然是指“包裝的方式”“打包的方式”，而不是“包裹的式樣”，因此應譯成packing。此句可改為：
Besides those specified in Article 12 of this Law, a sales contract may also contain such clauses as manner of packing, inspection standards and method of settlement and clearance, and the language adopted in the contract and its authenticity.
9．關于above, over and beyond的用法
例：
租賃期限六個月以上的，應當采用書面形式。當事人不
采用書面形式的，視為不定期租賃。
原譯：
Where the lease term is above 6 months, the lease contract
shall be in written form. If the parties do not conclude it in written
form, it shall be deemed an unfixed lease.
“超過”“高于”有三個英語用詞，above, over, beyond, 但各自用法不同。
“六個月以上”譯成above 6 months，不如“beyond 6 month”好。介詞above表示greater in number, price, weight, etc，即（數目）大于，（價格）高于，（重量）超過，但above有“在…..之上”的意思，指位置，引伸為“超出”“多余” 或“與……無關”之意，因此通常在表示高低的才用above。比如, The temperature is three degrees above zero.(現在的溫度是零上3度)。遇到數字和表示數量與長度的詞語，over較為常用，over意為more than。比如，You have to be over 18 to see this film. （18歲以上的人才能看這部電影）。There were over 100,000 people at the pop art festival.(參加流行藝術節的人數超過10萬)。
beyond意為(of time)later than, 指時間超過。比如，Don’t stay out beyond 10 o’clock. (10點以后不要呆在外面)。He never sees beyond the present.(他眼光只看到現在。) 此句可改為：
Where the lease term is beyond 6 months, the lease contract shall be made and concluded in a written form. If the parties thereto fail to conclude the lease contract in written form, the lease in question shall be deemed an unfixed lease.
10．關于urge 和remind的用法
例：
承租人應當按照約定支付租金。承租人經催告在合理期
限內仍不支付租金的，出租人可以要求支付全部租金，也可
以解除合同，收回租賃物。
原譯：
The lessee shall pay the rent according to the terms of the contract.
If the lessee still does not pay the rent within a reasonable time limit
after being urged, the lessor may request it to pay all the rent, or rescind
the contract and take back the leased property.
原文中的“催告”譯成urged，欠準確，應用remind。根據《牛津現代高級英文辭典》定義，urge表示request earnestly, try to persuade; strongly recommend, （力請，力勸，推薦之意）。比如，The salesman urged me to buy a new car. 而remind somebody to do something, 表示cause (somebody) to remember to do something，提醒（某人）做某事。比如，Please remind me to answer that letter.(請提醒我復信)。
原文中的“承租人經催告后”，譯成英文時，應進行語內譯，理解為“承租人經提醒”，才能使譯文準確。原譯文中尚有其他不妥之處，一并改正如下：
The lessee shall, under the requirements and provisions of the contract, pay rent. If, within a reasonable time limit after being reminded to do so, the lessee still fails to pay the rent, the lessor may request the lessee to pay all the rent, or may rescind the contract and take back the leased property.
11．關于at risk 和in danger的用法；“處于危險之中”與“處境危險”的區別
例：
承運人在運輸過程中，應當盡力援助患有急病、分娩、
遇險的旅客。
原譯：
A carrier shall, during the period of carriage, render whatever
help assistance as it can to a passenger who is seriously ill, or who is
giving birth to a child or whose life is at risk.
原文中的“遇險的旅客”譯成whose life is at risk是誤譯，“遇險的旅客”即“旅客生命遇到危險”，應該譯成whose life is in danger。at risk一意為threatened by uncertainties (such as failure, loss, etc)指可能遭到失敗，損失等意。比如，Is the government’s income tax policy seriously at risk? （政府的稅收政策有可能招來大損失？）
in danger意為“處境危險”，“遇險”，例如：He was in danger of losing his life. （他那時生命危在旦夕）；We were in danger of being hit by a stone.（我們有隨時被石頭砸傷的危險）。此句可改為：
A carrier shall, during the period of carriage, render whatever help and assistance as it can to passenger who is seriously ill, or who is giving birth or whose life is in danger.
12．關于untrue和false的用法區別
例：
因托運人申報不實或者遺漏重要情況，造成承運人損失的，
托運人應當承擔損害賠償責任。
原譯：
Where a carrier suffers from damage due to untrue declaration
or omission of important information by the shipper, the shipper shall
be liable for damages.
原文的“申報不實”即為“虛報”，英語的法律用詞是false declaration。Untrue declaration按字面譯出，欠準確。False有not right/ true/ real（錯誤，不對，不真實）之意，也有deceiving, lying（欺騙，不誠實）之意，比如，假賬false account，誣告false accusation，欺騙性廣告false advertisement，假報告false report，等。此句可改為：
Where, due to the false declaration or omission of important information by the shipper, a carrier suffers from damage, the shipper shall be liable for the compensation for the damages.
13．關于warehousing 和 warehoused的區別
例：
保管人根據存貨人或者倉單持有人的要求，應同意其檢查
倉儲物或者提取樣品。
原譯：
At the request of the storing party or the person who holds the
warehouse voucher, the safekeeping party shall permit the person to
check the warehousing goods or take samples.
原文的“倉儲物”不應譯為warehousing goods，應譯為warehoused goods。這里warehouse是及物動詞，意為to deposit, store, or store in or as if in a warehouse (在倉庫存放); warehousing一般作名詞，意為“倉儲”，“倉儲費”�！皞}儲物”應理解為“倉儲在倉庫里的貨物”, 因此譯為warehoused goods。此句可改為：
Upon the requirement of the storing party or the person who holds the warehouse warrant, the safekeeping party shall permit the person in question to inspect the warehoused goods or take samples.
14．關于goods carriage和 the carriage of goods的用法區別
例：
貨物運輸需要辦理審批、檢驗等手續的，托運人應當將
辦理完有關手續的文件提交承運人。
原譯：
Where such formalities as examination and approval or inspection
are required for goods carriage， the shipper shall submit the documents
of fulfillment of the relevant formalities to the carrier.
原文中的“貨物運輸”應譯為the carriage of goods，意為carrying of goods from place to place，比如“旅客運輸”的英文是carriage of passengers，“航空貨物運輸”可譯為carriage of goods by air，陸地貨物運輸為carriage of goods by land，海上貨物運輸carriage of goods by sea。Carriage of Goods by Sea Act為英國《海洋貨物運輸法》（1924年）。Goods carriage 指 goods that are carried (運載的貨物。) 此句可改為：
Where such formalities as examination and approval or/and inspection are required for the carriage of goods, the shipper shall submit the documents of fulfillment of the relevant formalities to the carrier.
中文的特點是用詞簡煉、詞義深奧，用于法律文件更是如此。中譯英時首先要把漢語的內含弄清。法律文件用詞嚴謹，一字之差就有可能引起預想不到的后果。近義和同義詞表達的法律含義有時不互等或不互用，因此翻譯時，對它們的含義要把握確切，這樣在語言轉換時，就能保證譯入語的用詞與原語用詞具有對等的法律上的意義和功能。
參考文獻
倜西 董樂山 《英漢翻譯手冊》 北京：商務印書館國際有限公司, 2002
傅偉良 《英文合同寫作指要》 北京：商務印書館國際有限公司, 2002
夏登峻 何聯昇 《英漢法律詞典》 北京：法律出版社, 1999
單其昌 《漢英翻譯技巧》 北京：外語教學與研究出版社, 1990
法律文件中的近義和同義詞翻譯
(The Translation of Words of Similar Meanings and Synonyms in Legal Documents)
作者簡介
傅偉良，北京第二外國語學院英語系
電話：65710251,89528030;13691166295
郵編：100024
電子信箱：fuweiliang@ sohu.com
Fu Weiliang，English Department, Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute, Beijing 100024；
Tel.65710251；89528030；13691166295
E-mail: fuweiliang@ sohu.com
傅偉良，英語副教授，碩士研究生導師。研究方向：合同寫作與翻譯，合同法，國際經濟合作。
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