一部法律是全体公民都应遵守的法律文件。在法律文件中，用词极为严谨、准确，翻译英文法律文件时，要特别研究这些法律用词的含义。同时，在英文法律文件中，对一些关键性的词常常采用同义词连用的表述方法。这主要是为了避免由于许多英语词语具有一词多义的特点而可能引发的歧义，从而杜绝协议双方故意按照自己需要的意思来理解文本条款的情况发生。
由此可见，法律英语中掌握正式用词的理解与翻译以及同义词的理解与翻译很重要。本节课主要从这两个方面诠释法律英语翻译技巧。
第一部分：正式用词的理解与翻译。详见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.
译文：第一次董事会应在公司营业执照签发后一个月内召开。
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.
译文：本合同条件中的标题和旁注不应视为合同文本的一部分，在理解或解释合同条件或合同本身时，也不应考虑这些标题和旁注。
Notes: 句中construction 意为explanation, 但比explanation正式，译为解释。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.
译文：向工程师提交并经工程师同意的工程进度计划或提供工程的一般说明或现金流通量的估算，并不解除合同规定的承包人的任何义务或责任。
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.
译文：业主特此立约保证向承包商支付合同总价，以作为本工程施工、竣工及修补工程中缺陷的报酬。
Notes: covenants 是法律用词，意为签订有法律约束力的正式合约。
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.
译文：每州的参议员和众议员选举的时间、地点与方式，应由该州议会规定。但除选举参议员的地点外，国会可随时依法制定或修改此类规定。
句中prescribed是常用的法律用词，一般在法律条文对某事做较详细规定时使用该词，译成：规定。句中的law为不可数名词，泛指法律（体系），by law译成：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.
译文：根据履约保函提出索赔之前，业主应在任何情况下通知承包人，说明导致索赔的违约性质。
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.
译文：本宪法授予的全部立法权，应属于由参议院和众议院组成的合众国国会。
Notes:句中词组vest sth. in sb. 为法律正式用词，意为授予，给予（合法权利或权力）。
第二部分：同义词的理解与翻译
一、有时具有相同意思的词语不必都翻译出来。如：
1． This agreement is made and entered into by and between Party A and Party B.
译文：本协议由甲方和乙方签订。
Notes：句中made和entered into同义，by和between同义。
2． Party A shall no longer be responsible for keeping secret and confidential the part already published.
译文：甲方对（合同中）已被公开部分不再承担保密义务。
Notes：句中secret和confidential同义，译成：保密的。
3． The Parties to this Contract shall fulfill or perform any of the obligations under this Contract.
译文：本合同双方应履行合同规定的义务。
二、有时则必需译出。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: 此处Oath or Affirmation应译为宣誓或陈词。
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.
译文：施工文件应由承包人保存、保管。除非在业主要求中另有规定，承包人应向业主代表及其助理提供六份复印件。
Notes:句中custody和care同义，可译成：保存、保管。
三、有时则都需要考虑。如下面这个例子：
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.
译文：如果承包人切实履行并遵守上述合同的所有条款、条件及规定，本报证书所承担的义务应告终止，否则这种义务完全有效。
Notice：句中连用了几组同义词，以表示强调法律条款的严密性。其中terms，provisions, conditions 和stipulations皆为同义，意为：合同的条款及规定；null和void为同义，意为
：无效。另外，be and remain，in force and effect 也是两组同义词，可译为：有效。be and remain可译成：是，仍然是。亦可不译，其意在字里行间即可表达清楚。
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.
参考译文：一切征税议案应首先在众议院提出，但参议员可（被许可）按照处理其他议案的方式，提出修正案或表示赞同。
Notes：originate 为法律正式用词，译成：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.
参考译文：尽管本州宪法有其他规定，本州议会应有权免除、撤消、取消或废除任何全部或部分财产负担、个人义务，或到本宪法颁发时或颁发后由本州议会强制推行的用于确保本州及本州各县或州的其他机构依法给予老年人的补助，得到补偿或偿付的其他保障形式。
Notes：（1）句中to release，rescind，cancel和nullify是几个同义词连用，基本意思是“去除”，用法律语言表达分别是免除、撤销、取消、废除。
（2）句中exacted和imposed是同义词，都表示强行、强迫、强制推行或执行之意。
（3）句中repayment to和reimbursement of是同义词词组，是补偿、偿还之意。
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