法律英语句子结构的理解与翻译

法律英语句子结构的理解与翻译

法律英语的句子结构特点之一是句式冗长，往往出现从句套从句的现象，一个长句包含了一连环的若干个从句，中间还有插入语。翻译好这样的长句，主要采用“切割法”，即在原文句子中的主从句连接处、连词处、关系代词处切断。翻译时，首先要着重理解原文，要耐心读懂长句，分析长句中各意群的关系，然后按意群，并按其逻辑关系，译成汉语分句，使译入语结构层次分明，意思连贯，语言通顺，逻辑性强。

例

原文Now the Condition of the above-written Guarantee is such that if the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms provisions conditions and stipulations of the said Contract on the Contractor’s part to be performed and observed in accordance with the true purport intent and meaning thereof or if on default by the Contractor the Guarantor shall satisfy and discharge the damages sustained by the Employer thereby up to the amount of the above-written Guarantee then this obligation shall be null and void but otherwise shall be and remain in full force and effect but no alteration in terms of the said Contractor or in the extent or nature of the Works to be executed, completed and defects in the Works remedied thereunder and no allowance of time by the Employer of the Engineer under the said Contract nor any forbearance or forgiveness in or in respect of any matter or thing concerning the said Contract of the part of the Employer or the said Engineer shall in any way release the Guarantor from any liability under the above-written Guarantee.

注解1)这句话由170多个词构成，中间只有了一逗号，由if，or, but等连词把几层意思连成一个整体。为了便于分析、阐述，现将原句切分成几部分，简称各部分为A、B、C、D。

2)句子的 A 部分：“Now the Condition of the above-written Guarantee is such that”，是句子的主要部分，比较简单，除above-written及Such that为法律英语用词外，其它部分与普通英语表达别无两样。在英语里用定冠词the有限定作用，限定Guarantee，但法律语言为了更明确限定Guarantee，又以above-written分词短语作强调限定。Such也是进一步限定that引起的表语从句，在法律英语中常用Such that来引导表语从句。在翻译时，应把上述限定的语气译出来，可译成：“上述保证书”，“规定如下”。

3)B 部分即第一个if 从句:“if the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms provisions conditions and stipulations of the said Contract on the Contractor’s part to be performed and observed in accordance with the true purport intent and meaning thereof”，句中shall是法律英语用词，在这里表明主语the Contractor 应尽责任。句中又以perform and observe两个并列动词，对主语行为职责规定得非常清楚，在翻译时，也要把其含义译出来，可译成：“应切实履行并遵守”。句子的后半部分以of the said Contract 来限制terms provisions conditions and stipulations 后，又补以on the Contractor’s part to be performed and observed 把责任限定到合同中规定的承包人一方所要履行和遵守的所有条款、条件及规定，继而又以in accordance with the true intent and meaning thereof明确提出承包人履行这些条款、条件及规定的根据：就以三个介词短语和一个不定式短语把前后两部分严密组织在一起，把承包人对于合同应承担的责任作为此保证书有效的一个条件讲得清清楚楚，翻译时，应注意年证对原文文体的适应性原则，译好上述三个短语的严密结构，不必苛求短句。句中的thereof为法律英语用词，这里意为of the Contract。

4) C 部分原文是：“or if on default by the Contractor the Guarantor shall satisfy and discharge the damages sustained by the Employer thereby up to the amount of the