从比较法律文化的视角论法律术语翻译

摘要

法律语言翻译是一种双语活动。它涉及两个重要方面:一个是语言,一个是文化。几乎所有翻译理论都在一定程度上将翻译视为交际,交往的一种形式,因此翻译是一种跨文化的交际活动。法律英语的翻译涉及不同法律文化的差异及融合。法律英语的翻译,一方面要考虑其特殊的文体特征,即在语法、句型结构及用词等上的独特性;另一方面还要对法律的分类、渊源、法律条文的内容及释义,尤其是制定法律的背景及中西方国家在法律文化上的差异有所了解。
　　本文作者介绍了语言、文化、法律之间相辅相成的关系,引入了法律文化的概念及国内外学者的观点,同时回顾了法律翻译的基本概念及原则,以及译者应当具备的素质。作者拟从比较中西法律文化的角度着手,分析法律翻译过程中,法律文化是如何制约和影响译者翻译活动的过程,论证了中西法律文化中源语法律术语与目的语法律术语之间的三种对应关系,即:接近对应,部分对应和零对应。对于每种对应关系,作者都进行了详细阐述并列举了具体的法律术语翻译的实例以及图示作辅助说明。同时,作者还提出了每种对应关系下可行的术语翻译策略,如直译,解释性翻译,创造新词,使用中性词等等。探讨法律术语翻译中的对比法律文化因素,有助于我们从更高的层面来认识法律语言及其翻译,并扩展学科领域,体现各个学科间的融会贯通。把法律翻译与比较法律文化两者结合起来进行研究才刚刚起步,作者期待更多的学者来对此课题进行广泛而深刻的探讨。

目录

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

List of Tables and Figures

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Present Study

1.2 Rationale and Significance of the Study

1.3 Research Objective and Research Questions

1.4 Research Methodology

1.5 Organization of the Thesis

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 The Interrelationship of Language, Culture and Law

2.1.1 The Relationship of Language and Culture

2.1.2 The Relationship of Language and Law

2.1.3 Legal Language

2.2 Previous Studies on Legal Culture

2.2.1 Viewpoints of Foreign Scholars

2.2.2 Viewpoints of Chinese Scholars

2.3 Previous Studies on Legal Translation

2.3.1 The Translator’s Qualification for Doing Legal Translation

2.4 Previous Studies on Legal Terms

2.4.1 The Definition of Legal Term

2.4.2 The Characteristics of Legal Terms

2.4.3 Etymology of Modern Legal Terms

2.4.4 Terminological Incongruency

CHAPTER THREE COMPARISON OF WESTERN AND CHINESE LEGAL CULTURES

3.1 Diversity: Inherent Differences between Western and Chinese Legal Culture

3.1.1 Etymological and Semantic Differences in Explicating the Concept “Law”in the West and “Fa(法)”in China

3.1.2 Cultural Attribute of Law: Public Law Culture or Private Law Culture

3.1.3 Spirit of Law: Rule by Men or Rule by Law

3.1.4 Substantive Justice or Procedural Justice

3.1.5 Belief in Law

3.1.6 Value Orientation of Legal Culture: Justice or “Wu Song (Litigation-aversion)”

3.2 Convergence: Inner Connections between Western and Chinese Legal Culture

CHPATER FOUR PROCESS OF LEGAL TERM TRANSLATION

4.1 The Processes of Legal Translation

4.2 The Way Legal Culture Influences the Translation Process

4.3 Four Levels of Correspondence between Chinese and Western Legal Culture

CHAPTER FIVE THE RELATIONSHIP OF EQUIVALENCE IN LEGAL TERM TRANSLATION AND RESPECTIVE TRANSLATION STRATEGIES

5.1 Near Equivalence and Translation Strategies

5.2 Partial Equivalence and Translation Strategies

5.3 Non-equivalence and Translation Strategies

5.3.1 Transliteration \(Non-translation\)

5.3.2 Neologism

5.3.3 Neutral Terms

CHAPTER SIX CONCLUSION

6.1 Overview of the Study

6.2 Findings and Conclusions

6.3 Limitations

6.4 Suggestions for Future Study

Bibliography