法律英语词汇特点
法律英语术语的分类及语言特点
法律英语术语的分类及语言特点法律英语专门术语是用来准确表达特有的法律概念的专门用语。
这类专门用语既有和其它各类术语相同的共性，也有其自己特有的个性。
根据意义结构或语义范围，这类专门用语可分为常用术语、排他性专门涵义术语、专门法律术语和借用术语四种形式。
1.常用术语法律英语常用术语有两种概念：第一，不明确表示特定的法律概念，语域比较广，既常用于法律语言中，也是社会日常生活各方面不可缺少的词语，在两种语域中无语义差别，而且通俗易懂。
例如：conduct（行为），write （签字），witness（证明），goods（商品），individual（个人），sum（总额），signing（签署），insurance（保险），gambling（赌博），rule（规则），marriage （婚姻），divorce（离婚）等等。
第二，表示特定的法律概念，但是随着应用范围的扩大和全民词汇发生密切联系而经常互相交换与影响，结果由原来只有法律工作者知晓的术语扩伸到全民词汇领域中。
例如：law（法律），lawyer（律师），debt（债务），murder（谋杀），crime（罪行），prison（监狱），court（法庭），contract（合同），police（警察），will（遗嘱），fine（罚款），punishment （惩罚），sentence（判决），judgement（审判），robbery（抢劫），theft（偷窃）等等。
随着法律知识的普及和法制的发展，这类术语全民化的数量会不断加大。
法律英语常用术语由于法律和全民通用，所以其最大特点就是常用性及适用场合广。
据此，这类术语一般文体信息较少，具有中性文体意义效果。
另外由于这类术语都是常用词，所以其构词能力较强，如law lawful和lawyer， crime criminal， contract contractual，而且有的具有多义性，应用时要注意词形变化和语境。
法律英语的词汇特点
法律英语的词汇特点摘要:法律英语有别于普通英语,特点鲜明。
现结合法律文本简要探讨法律英语词汇的十大特点,即古体词、拉丁词、古法语词、正式用词、具有法律概念的普通词、法律术语、法律行话、精确的词语和表达形式、同义词或近义词并列、伸缩词。
这些特点综合体现了法律语言的权威性、规范性、专业性、精确性和伸缩性。
关键词:法律英语;词汇;特点“法律是由语言构成的,而法律语言则是一种专业阶级的语言,是一般人敬而生畏的精英性语言。
”[1]法律语言这一被誉为专业阶级的、精英性的语言具有许多区别于一般语言的特点,其中尤以法律词汇为代表,因为“词汇是语言意义的主要载体”。
[2]著名法律语言学家DavidMellinkoff也曾说“法律是措辞的职业”,[3]在其专著The Language of the Law (1963)中,他总结出了法律语言措辞的九大特点。
李克兴和张新红(2006)在此基础上列举了法律英语词汇的十大特点。
[4]本文将结合法律文本针对这些词汇特点,尝试将其分为五大类,分别侧重体现法律英语的权威性、规范性、专业性、精确性和伸缩性。
一、权威性法律作为行为标准必须具备很强的权威性,这一点在法律英语词汇中主要表现在古体词、拉丁词、古法语词的频繁使用上。
笔者对香港律政司出版社的《英汉法律词汇》[5]一书前三页的词汇进行统计,发现23个词中,古体词1个、拉丁词5个、古法语词7个,这三类词在法律英语中的重要性可见一斑。
这些词汇对一般人而言晦涩难懂,但却能给人以威严肃穆的感觉,让人觉得法律犹如圣旨般不可侵犯。
(一)古体词例1: INWITNESSTH WHEREOFPthe partiesheretohave executed thisContractby their authorized representatives as of the date first abovewritten·法律英语已有较长的历史,至今仍保留着一些古英语和中世纪英语的词汇。
法律英语的词汇特点
• Bill Time Bill /overdue bill /
2、古体词和配对词
• This contract is made the 4th day of July, 1996
by and between Away (China) daily necessities company Limited (hereinafter
• Rights and interests • the Rights and Interests of Women and Children
• Aid and Comfort • Clause 1:Treason against the United States, shall consist only in
inclusive of your 2% commission.
古体词B
• Herewith • Please sign the document enclosed herewith. • My resume is enclosed herewith. • Thereto • The relevant inspecting organs shall give
assistance thereto. • The signature on a negotiable instrument
shall be the true name of the party thereto.
Doublets(legal pairs)
• Null and void • The contract was declared null and void.
浅析法律英语词汇的特点
浅析法律英语词汇的特点作者：刘瑜来源：《大学教育》2013年第09期[摘要]法律英语特色鲜明，在很多方面都有别于普通英语。
法律英语具有在词汇方面使用正式的法律术语、古体英语和拉丁语和法语等外来语、模糊语言与准确语言并用、赘言赘语等四大特点，深入学习可以指导和帮助我们在法律翻译中更好地认识和把握词汇的准确含义。
[关键词]法律英语词汇特点[中图分类号] H31 [文献标识码] A [文章编号] 2095-3437（2013）09-0063-02随着全球经济一体化进程的加快，中外法律的交流愈加频繁和重要，法律英语翻译越来越受到人们的重视。
由于法律是由国家或国际组织制定并为人们所认可的行为规范的总和，所以法律语言具有权威性、庄严性和强制性。
法律语言的功能决定了其属于“冷冻体”（frozen style）语言，所以法律语言又呈现出保守型和专业化的特点。
法律英语作为普通英语的一个分支，既具有普通英语的一般特点，如语法等，又具有其自身的语言特点，特别是在词汇、句式、文体等方面有别于普通英语。
本文着重探讨法律英语在词汇方面有别于普通英语的特点，从而指导和帮助我们在法律英语翻译中更好地认识和把握词汇的准确含义。
一、法律术语的准确性、严谨性美国法律语言学家David Mellinkoff 认为，法律术语（terms of law/ terms of legal art）是指具有特定意义的专门化词汇（a technical word with a specific meaning）。
具体来说，法律术语又可分为通用术语、特别术语、专门术语和行话三种形式。
（一）通用术语通用术语既用于日常普通英语，也用于法律英语，所表达的意义是一致的。
比如agreement（协议），contract（合同），debt（债务）， trial（审判）等。
（二）特别术语特别术语是指在法律英语的演变过程中，有些法律英语词汇逐渐地从多义的普通英语中分离出来。
法律英语
法律英语词汇1、具有特殊法律含义的常用词在英语语言的发展过程中，词义的演变十分复杂。
总体来说，英语词义是在“共时性变化”和“历时性变化”的交替变化中发展演变的。
下列常用词语是人们所熟知的一些单词或词组，然而在法律语言中他们却具有独特的含义，完全不同于在普通语言中的含义。
例如，单词“action”在法律中的含义是“诉讼”：“damage”是造成的“损坏”而“damages”为“损害赔偿金”：“demise”（死亡）在法律中的含义是“转让，遗赠”，这个词经常出现在出租、赠与这类场合，例如：“demise premises”（遗赠房产）。
“consideration”通常指“考虑” “体贴”，而在法律英语中的含义是“对价” “约因”：“instrument”（器具）在法律中的含义是“法律文件”。
法律英语词汇的词义是在英语的发展历史过程中逐步从英语多义词中分离出来的，这类词汇需要一定语境或上下文才能确定词义。
2、古英语和中世纪英语词汇法律英语词汇的另一个特征是经常使用曾经常用、但现在已经很少使用的古代英语和中世纪英语的词语。
古词ye是you 的复数“你们”，在普通英语中已经不再使用了，但在法庭开庭时仍沿用here ye “静听”（宣读、审判）或用古词oyez “静听”。
这里的here ye 实际相当于现代英语中的listen up！古词sayeth等于现代英语中的say ，在普通英语中早已不用了，但在法庭上仍然常用。
法律文本中使用古英语和中世纪英语词语，有助于形成严肃、庄重、正式、紧凑的文体风格。
试看一下一段合约：Provided further that this policy shall be subject to the Conditions herein contained and to any Memoranda endorsed hereon and such Conditions and part of the Policy and the observance and performance by the Insured of the times and terms therein contained so far as they relate to anything to be done by the Insured are of the essence of this contract and shall be conditions precedent to any liability on the part of the Insured under this Policy.上例合约条款选自一份现代的保险合同，但其中herein，hereon ，such全是普通英文中废弃的典型的古旧副词，而其他旧式用法还有provided that ，subject to 等。
法律英语词汇特点
用词特点（cont.）
（3）古词、旧词的频繁使用 frequent Use of the archaic words or phrases Esp. archaic adverbs and prepositional phrases aforementioned ( =previously mentioned）, aforesaid ( = above) ,behoove ( = to be necessary/ tobe proper) ,foregoing ,forthwith ( = immediately) , henceforth( = from now on) , hitherto ( = until this time/ up to now) ,pursuant to ( = under/ according to） hereafter , herebefore ,hereby ,herein ,herinabove ( = above) ,hereinafter ,hereinunder( = below) , hereof , heretofore ( = before/ up to this time) ,hereunder , herewith ( eg. enclosed herewith = enclosed)
法律英语用词特点和法律条款英译
法律英语用词特点和法律条款英译摘要：本文就合同法律文件用词特征，着重探讨法律文件正规性问题。
文中列举若干中英文原文条款的翻译实例，论述法律术语及专业词汇怎样在汉译英时起到译文与原文功能对等的效应。
关键词：法律术语，译入语，专业词汇合同法律文件的翻译要求严谨，而翻译中的用词准确是达到这一要求的重要一步。
无论是汉语还是英语在合同法律用语上都自成一格，有鲜明的用词特点。
汉译英时须将译入语的用词定位于正规、精确、鲜明，使译文具有法律文件的严谨性、准确性、权威性。
本文就合同法律文件翻译的用词正规问题谈两点看法。
一、使用恰当的法律术语不论是汉语合同还是英语合同都有自己的法律术语。
合同法律文件的汉译英就是要在充分理解原语（汉语）的法律术语的基础上，正确选择、使用译入语的法律术语。
为保证译入语能精确地表达原语的含意，研究英语的法律术语、法律英语的用词特点就显得十分重要。
一部分法律英语的的专门术语常常以here-, there-, where-作前缀与另一个词构成一个正式法律词语，如：hereafter, hereby, herein, hereinafter, hereinbefore, hereof, hereto, hereunder, hereupon, herewith, thereafter, thereby, therefrom, therein, thereafter, thereinbefore, thereon, thereof, thereupon, therewith; whereas, whereby, wherein, whereon, etc. 下面列举几个实例来解释汉译英时使用这些词的意义及用法：例1：“合同生效后，当事人就质量、价款或者报酬、履行地点等内容没有约定或者约定不明确的，可以协议补充；……”（《中华人民共和国合同法》第61条）。
翻译此条款时，应从语内译入手，因该条款暗含一个条件句：“如果合同生效后，当事人就……约定不明确的，”其主句是“可以协议补充；……”因此可以译为：If, after the contract made by and between the parties becomes effective, there is no agreement therein on the terms and provisions regarding quality, price or remuneration and place of performance, etc. or such agreement is unclear, the parties may, through consultation, agree upon supplementary terms and provisions.译文there is no agreement后面用了therein，为agreement下了明确的界说，指agreement in the contract，因therein表示 in that; in that particular context; in that respect之意，在此它指上文所指的范围。
试析法律英语的词汇特点
试析法律英语的词汇特点摘要法律英语(Legal English),在英语国家中被称为Legal Language或Language of the Law,即法律语言,在英语中指表述法律科学概念以及诉讼或非诉讼法律事务时所用的语种或某一语种的部分用语。
法律英语是一门有别于普通英语的工具性语言。
作为一门法律习惯语言,法律英语在语法、词汇、逻辑上均有其自身的特点。
本文对法律英语的词汇特点从八个方面进行了简单的分析，希望对学习和掌握法律英语的学习者有所帮助。
关键词法律英语词汇精确性古体词法律语言法律词汇普通英语法律术语法学又称法律学或法律科学，其词源是罗马语族的拉丁文juris-pmdentia。
法律是由立法机构或者其他有权机构制定或认可的准则、规定、规则等。
法律英语（ＬｅｇａｌＥｎｇｌｉｓｈ）是指英国、美国、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰等国家的法律语言。
最贴切的英文解释是Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈｆｏｒｔｈｅｌａｗ。
法律英语是一种特殊用途英语(ESP)，它属于应用语言学的范畴，是一种具有法律职业技能特征的行业语言。
词汇是法律英语语言的基本组成部分，它包括俚语、术语、行话等。
英语词汇分两种，一种是普通词汇，一种是专业词汇。
普通词汇有全面、稳定和造词能力强等特点。
语言中有大量的普通词汇。
法律专业词汇是人们在长期使用民族共同语的过程中，根据立法、司法工作的实际需要而逐步形成的一套具有法律专业特色的词汇和术语。
《牛津法律英语大词典》指出：法律语言部分是由具有特定法律意义的词组成，部分是由日常用语组成，但这些日常词汇往往具有特定法律意义。
我们将这一现象称之为具有普通词形态而无普通词意义的法律词汇。
法律英语是一门有别于普通英语的工具性语言。
作为一门法律习惯语言,法律英语在语法、词汇、逻辑上均有其自身的特点。
随着我国入世和对外开放程度的不断加深，国际合作日益加强，涉外法务活动空前频繁，法律英语的重要性日渐凸显。
2008年5月，教育部法律英语证书（LEC）全国统一考试委员会在中国政法大学成功举办了首次全国统考，把法律英语的学习和研究推向了高潮。
法律英语专业术语的特点及翻译法
摘要：法律英语专业术语是最正式、最规范的法律语言。
具有专业性、严谨性、相对模糊性及对义性等特征。
在翻译法律英语专业术语时，应该灵活地采用直译、意译、使用内涵最接近的功能对等词、进行必要的解释、以及适度的增减词等方法，准确地传递原文中术语的意义。
了解及掌握法律英语专业术语的特点及翻译技巧，对于我们从事法律文件的翻译具有一定的指导意义。
关键词：法律英语；专业术语；翻译法律英语是以英语为工具用以表述法律科学概念及诉讼或非诉讼法律事务时所使用的语言，是在立法和司法等活动中形成和使用的具有法律专业特点的语言。
法律英语主要由法律术语、法律工作常用词语和民族共同语中的其他基本词和非基本词构成，而法律术语是其中的重要词汇成员。
专业术语的作用在于以最简洁的单词或词组叙述一项普遍接受的复杂的法律概念、学说或法则，使法律人能用较简洁的语言相互沟通，但是，因为每种法律评议的一套专用术语相对应的是一套法律概念系统，而且与其他词语相比，法律专用术语更能体现某一法律体系或体制的典型特征。
因此，在法律翻译中，研究专业术语的特点及其翻译方法非常重要。
一、法律英语专业术语的特征一般地说，法律英语专业术语主要分为三类：由一般术语演变的专业术语；纯专业术语；借用其它学科的专业术语。
法律英语专业术语具有以下特征：首先，专业术语的词义具有明显的专业性。
专业术语使用频繁，而且最具有法律语言的特征。
法律专业术语专业性体现在它们仅仅出现在法律语体中，并使法律语体区别于其他语体。
比如我国“对外贸易法”这部法律中有十处提到“应当”这个词，具有英语常识的人都知道，在普通英语中，“应当”的常用词汇有be supposed to,should,be ought to等。
但这些词汇无法表达法律上的“义务”、“责任”，属普通用词；英文法律中表示“应当”的常用词语为shall。
其次，专业术语的严谨性。
法律术语最突出的特点是词义单一而固定，每个专业术语所表示的都是一个特定的法律概念，在使用时其他任何词语都不能代替。
法律英语语言的基本特点
法律英语语言的基本特点法律英语语言的基本特点法律英语是一种比较特殊的英语文体，有其自身的特点，它在词语、词义、专业用语以及表达方式等方面有别于普通英语。
根据我的学习与研究体会，法律英语语言具有以下几个基本特点：1. 用词比较准确。
这一点在英语介词的使用上体现得尤为明显。
不同的介词表示不同的意义，不可像在日常英语中随意使用，否则可能会引起法律纠纷。
2. 用词比较正式、拘谨。
比如，不用before而用prior，不用but 而用provided that，不用after而用sequent，不用tell而用advise，不用begin或start而用commence，不用use而用employ，不用according to而用in accordance with，不用show而用demonstrate，等等。
3. 大量使用外来词语，特别是拉丁词语。
比如，de facto（事实上的），in re（关于），inter alia（除了别的因素以外；特别），alibi（不在犯罪现场），bona fide（真正的，真诚的），quasi（好像；准），per se（自身）， ad hoc（专门的；专门地），等等。
4. 使用具有不同意义的常用词。
比如，action（诉讼），avoid （取消），consideration（对价），execute（签署），prejudice （损害），save（除了，除……外），serve（送达），said（上述，该），minor（未成年）或major（已成年），instrument（法律文件），等等。
5. 经常使用古英语和中古英语。
古英语（Old English）是公元约1100年以前的英语，中古英语（Middle English）则是公元约1100年至1500年间的英语。
这一点主要体现在大量使用以here, there和where与介词合成的词，比如，hereafter，herein，hereunder，hereafter，thereto，whereby，wherein，等等。
论法律英语的词汇特征
论法律英语的词汇特征一、本文概述法律英语，作为英语的一个专业分支，其词汇特征独特且丰富。
本文旨在探讨法律英语的词汇特征，并揭示这些特征在法律语境中的重要性。
我们将从法律英语的精确性、专业性、古体词和外来词的使用，以及同义词和近义词的丰富性等方面进行详细分析。
通过了解这些词汇特征，我们可以更深入地理解法律英语的语言魅力，并提升我们在法律领域中的语言应用能力。
本文首先将对法律英语的定义和范围进行界定，以便为后续的词汇特征分析提供清晰的背景。
接着，我们将逐一分析法律英语的词汇特征，包括其精确性、专业性、古体词和外来词的使用，以及同义词和近义词的丰富性等方面。
我们将通过具体的例子来说明这些特征，并探讨它们在法律语境中的实际应用。
本文将对法律英语的词汇特征进行总结，并指出这些特征对于法律从业者和法律学习者的重要性。
通过深入了解和掌握这些特征，我们可以更好地理解和运用法律英语，从而在法律领域中取得更好的成果。
二、法律英语词汇的基本特征法律英语作为一种专门领域的语言，其词汇特征鲜明，主要体现在以下几个方面：专业术语丰富：法律英语中包含大量专业的法律术语，这些术语具有精确的法律含义和特定的用法。
例如，“plaintiff”（原告）、“defendant”（被告）、“tort”（侵权行为）等，都是法律英语中常见的专业术语。
外来词和古词使用广泛：法律英语中常使用外来词，特别是源自拉丁文和法文的外来词。
这些外来词丰富了法律英语的词汇库，也体现了法律英语的权威性和历史性。
同时，法律英语中还保留了许多古词，这些古词在现代英语中较少使用，但在法律英语中仍保持着其原有的含义和用法。
词汇意义精确：法律英语要求词汇的使用必须精确无误，以避免产生歧义或误解。
因此，法律英语中的词汇往往具有明确的法律含义，而不是普通英语中的日常含义。
例如，“contract”（合同）在法律英语中具有特定的法律定义和要素，与普通英语中的“contract”含义有所不同。
论法律英语的词汇特点与翻译原则
论法律英语的词汇特点与翻译原则摘要：法律英语就其文体而言属于职业专用语言(english for occupational purposes），具有其自身的语言特征。
随着我国改革开放的深入、对外政治经济文化来往的日益频繁，涉外法律问题也逐渐增多。
因此，无论是对于涉外法律工作者、法学研究者还是法律翻译工作者，了解和掌握法律英语的语言特征是很必要的。
本文主要针对法律英语在词汇层面的特点提出相应的翻译原则，对于提高法律英语的翻译水平有一定帮助。
关键词：法律英语; 词汇特征; 翻译原则法律英语是一门专门用途英语。
一般认为法律英语主要指的是以英语为母语的普通法(common law）国家的法学研究人员、法官、律师和其他司法工作者在以法律为职业和以法学研究为目的的过程中所使用的法律习惯语言(customary language）。
一般主张用legal english来表述“法律英语”，而美国法律语言研究权威mellinkoff则认为legal english会产生“合法的英语”的歧义，认为“法律英语”用the english language of law更合适。
作为专门用途语言，法律英语有其自身的特点，主要表现在词汇、句法和语篇等层面上。
本文将主要结合法律英语的词汇特征提出相应的翻译原则。
一、法律英语的词汇特征词汇特征是法律英语特征的重要组成部分，具体有一下几个方面：1．法律英语用词严谨规范、书面语较多法律英语体现了在阶级社会中处于统治地位的阶级、集团的意志，具有鲜明的政策导向和权威意识。
因此要求语言严谨规范，必须使用正式的、被赋予专门法律意义的书面语，而不能像文学作品那样使用华丽的词藻和丰富的修饰语，也不能使用比喻、夸张和委婉语气等修辞手法。
如“制定法律”中的“制定”一词,就经常用正式的promulgate或formulate来表示，而不用日常生活中常见的make一词。
另外，为了体现法律上的严肃性，法律英语的措辞风格仍以严谨、庄重为主，用词正式、规范。
法律英语的词汇特征及其翻译方法
2018年9月 山西省政法管理干部学院学报 S e p .,2018 第31卷 第3期 J o u r n a l o f S h a n x i P o l i t i c s a n dL a wI n s t i t u t e f o rA d m i n i s t r a t o r s V o l .31N o .3【司法实务】收稿日期:2018-06-17作者简介:樊慧燕(1979-),女,山西省政法管理干部学院基础教学部讲师。
法律英语的词汇特征及其翻译方法樊慧燕(山西省政法管理干部学院,山西太原 030012)〔摘 要〕 法律英语作为众多专用英语的重要组成部分之一,与日常英语相比,更为复杂和专业。
不同种类的英语在进行翻译时都会遵循不同的翻译原则,法律英语翻译时亦需要遵守特殊的翻译原则。
文章通过案例分析,对其翻译原则与翻译方法进行分析。
针对法律英语的词汇特征,文章提出了直译、意译和增减词法等翻译方法,以期为同类英语翻译提供借鉴和参考。
〔关键词〕 法律英语;词汇特征;翻译方法〔中图分类号〕D F 0-055 〔文献标识码〕A 〔文章编号〕1672-1500(2018)03-0110-03 随着国际交流日益的频繁,法律英语在涉外英语中发挥着无可替代的作用。
法律英语与日常用语不同,法律英语的学科交叉性很强,不仅包含了日常英语用语的特性,还具有法律专业词汇的特征。
在涉外贸易交流中,当事人不仅要熟悉双方国家的文化背景,还要对彼此的法律内容有一个深刻的了解。
在熟悉他国法律内容的过程中,需要一定的法律英语作为基础,基于这一点,法律英语的应用就显得尤为重要。
在当前的法律环境下,法律英语指的是在英语作为主要语言的国家中进行的一切司法活动。
法律内容与其他领域不同,在不同的国家法律都是规定好的,不能够随意的更改,用英语对法律语言进行描述同样如此,很多词汇的翻译都是特定的,不能按照字面意思进行翻译和理解。
法律英语词汇特点分析
法律英语词汇特点分析
1、法律英语词汇的特点是专业性强，涉及到法律领域的概念、术语和表达方式都有其固定的表达形式，词汇有其明确的定义，且多为拉丁文词汇，术语及表达方式也比较固定，且比较抽象。
2、法律英语词汇的表达方式比较严谨，词汇有其明确的定义，表达也比较固定，多为拉丁文词汇，术语及表达方式也比较固定，且比较抽象。
3、法律英语词汇的表达方式也比较精确，因为法律英语词汇
的表达方式是由法律规定的，而不是由一般的英语表达方式来决定的，所以法律英语词汇的表达方式比较精确，而且不容易出错。
法律英语‘
法律英语特点法律英语（Legal English），在英语国家中被称为Legal Language或Language of the Law，即法律语言，在英语中指表述法律科学概念以及诉讼或非诉讼法律事务时所用的语种或某一语种的部分用语。
(从此概念可以看出，法律英语所使用的语言不仅是英语本身，还包括其它语种，如法语、拉丁文等。
)今天要讲的五个内容：正式性，准确性，模糊性，专业性，法律英语词汇来源2 ，准确性A，法律英语作为一种具有规约性的语言的分支，有其独特的语言风格，而其中最重要、最本质的特点就是语言的准确性。
根据严格解释原则，在适用法律时，书面文字是法官解释法律文件的唯一依据，而就法律文本以及任何情况下法律语言使用的权威性和严肃性而言，它所使用的表达方式应该是把准确性作为基本准则和要求的。
正是这种准确性让法律具备了“说一不二”的权威性，也才使得法律对其所规范的内容和领域有了绝对的保障，才让法律的效力得以发挥。
因此法律语言用词造句必须十分准确。
法律语言尤其是立法语言中很少使用描绘性形容词，而且对表示时间、范围、程度等副词使用极为严格，为了避免不必要的歧义。
B，为了维护法律的尊严,一词一句都应力求无懈可击。
请看例句:No law or administrative or local rules and regulations shall contravene the constitution. (一切法律、行政法规和地方法规都不得同宪法相抵触)。
这则条款中的情态动词shall就使用得非常准确。
Shall在法律英语中表示当事人的义务或必须遵守的法规或程序，带有指令性和强制性，同时也体现法律文件的权威性和约束性。
Shall通常译为“应、应当”，而Shall的否定式shall not则译为“不得”。
C，I will pay back in a year.法律文本所要阐明的就是权利和义务，为了维护法律的尊严，不至于产生语义上的分歧而发生纠纷，一词一句都应力求无懈可击。
法律英语翻译(1)
法律英语翻译(1)
法律英语句子的特点
shall not constitute a waiver; shall not be deemed a consent; including but not limited to… nothing contained herein shall…
法律英语翻译(1)
法律英语词汇的特点
8. 大量使用累赘词以表达单一的 法律概念
法律英语翻译(1)
法律英语词汇的特点
解释：
Ex 1. He was awarded （判给）$500 damages（损 害赔偿）for the injury he suffered in the accident.
法律英语翻译(1)
法律英语词汇的特点
Ex. 2. 1) The testator died without issue（子女）. 2) Parties must wait for process（传票）to
provisions of the Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China；
法律英语翻译(1)
法律英语句子的特点
or (ii) to effectuate necessary adjustments in order to preserve each Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement on a basis no less favorable than the economic benefit it would have received if such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted, amended, repealed or so interpreted or implemented.
法律英语中英汉互译的翻译理论与具体实践
法律英语中英汉互译的翻译理论与具体实践在全球化的背景下，法律交流日益频繁，法律英语的英汉互译显得尤为重要。
法律语言具有高度的专业性、准确性和规范性，因此在翻译过程中需要遵循特定的翻译理论，并结合具体实践中的技巧和策略，以确保翻译的质量和准确性。
一、法律英语翻译的特点法律英语作为一种特殊用途英语，具有独特的语言特点。
首先，词汇方面，法律英语包含大量的专业术语、古体词和外来词。
例如，“stare decisis”（遵循先例）、“alibi”（不在犯罪现场的申辩）等。
其次，句法上，法律英语多使用长句、复杂句，以及被动语态和名词化结构，以体现其严谨性和逻辑性。
此外，法律文本通常具有固定的格式和篇章结构，如法律条款的编号、标题和小标题等。
二、翻译理论在法律英语翻译中的应用1、功能对等理论功能对等理论强调翻译的目的是在目标语中再现源语的功能，使目标语读者能够获得与源语读者相似的感受和理解。
在法律英语翻译中，这意味着不仅要准确传达词汇和句子的表面意义，还要传递法律条文背后的法律意图和法律效力。
例如，在翻译“actus reus”（犯罪行为）时，不能简单地直译为“行为错误”，而要根据法律语境和功能，译为“犯罪行为”，以确保目标语读者能够准确理解其法律含义。
2、目的论目的论认为翻译是一种有目的的行为，翻译的目的决定了翻译的策略和方法。
在法律英语翻译中，翻译的目的通常是为了使目标语读者能够准确理解法律条文，遵循法律规定。
因此，译者可以根据具体的翻译目的，对源语文本进行适当的调整和改写。
比如，为了使译文更符合目标语的法律体系和法律文化，可以对一些法律概念进行解释和说明。
三、法律英语英汉互译的具体实践技巧1、专业术语的翻译准确翻译专业术语是法律英语翻译的关键。
对于常见的专业术语，可以通过查阅专业词典、法律文献和相关资料来确定其准确的译名。
对于一些新出现的或特定领域的术语，可以采用直译、意译、音译或加注的方法进行翻译。
例如，“intellectual property”直译为“知识产权”，“due diligence”意译为“尽职调查”，“patent”音译为“专利”，对于一些复杂的术语，如“mortgagebacked security”（抵押支持证券），可以在翻译后加注进行解释。
法律英语的词汇特征
摘要本文尝试探索法律英语文本的词汇特征。
随着改革开放的以来中国对外政策的调整，中国与世界的沟通日益频繁，涉外案件也随之增多。
由于英语是世界上各国之间交流的重要语言工具之一，法律英语的运用也就更加频繁，尤其是在经济领域。
法律是用来规范法律主体之间的权利与义务的，其语言具有正式、保守、权威、准确等特征，是统治者统治国家的工具。
对于律师、法官等法律工作者来讲，法律英语的学习不可或缺，这也是他们最应熟悉的“工作语言”。
然而，法律英语又以其晦涩、难懂等特点而不被大众所接受。
甚至在英语语言国家法律也被称作一门“外语”。
作为科技英语的一种，法律不仅有着与科技文本共同的特征，还有一些为其所特有。
在众多法律英语的特点中，词汇特征最为突出。
本篇论文将从古语、外来词、术语、成对词在法律文本中的运用等方面结合实例展开论述，从而探索法律英语的词汇特征。
研究结果显示，对法律英语词汇特征的掌握对学习法律英语大有裨益。
并且有助于提高外国法律文献的翻译水平，使我国立法者准确借鉴，进而提高我国立法水平。
最后，作者希望本篇论文可以对研究法律词汇的演变有所启发。
关键词：法律英语，词汇特征，古语，术语ABSTRACTThe present thesis is an attempt to discover the lexical characteristics of law English. With the continuously intensifying communication between China and the word, the growth in quantity of foreign-related cases is an inevitable result. Consequently, law English plays an all the more important role notably in economic field. Due to the special function of law which is to formulate people‘s rights and obligations hence to facilitate the domination of ruling class, law English is endowed with the nature of formalness, exactness, precision and accuracy.Nevertheless, law English is ―infamous‖ for the obscure and obsolete expressions that even in English-speaking countries legal English is regarded as a ―foreign language‖. Among the many unique features of legislative English, a variety of EST (English of Science and Technology), lexical characteristics are the most outstanding ones. This article will be devoted to illustrate the origin and features of legal English lexis from the aspects of archaism, foreign expressions, terms and paired words, aiming at generalizing the universal principles and common phenomena in legislative texts.The results of this study demonstrate that a good comprehension of the unique features of law English can contribute a lot to the study of law English and the translation of foreign law documents. The author hopes this paper can throw light on the study of the evolution of English vocabulary.KEY WORDS: law English, lexical features, archaism, terminologyContentsIntroduction (4)Chapter One Archaism (5)Chapter Two Foreign Origin Words (8)2.1 Latin Words and Latinized English (8)2.2 Old French words (10)Chapter Three Terminology (12)3.1 semi-technical terms (12)3.2 pure technical terms (13)3.2.1 Legal Terms (13)3.2.2 Borrowed Terms (14)Chapter Four Paired Words (16)1.1 paired synonyms (16)1.2 paired antonyms (17)Conclusion (18)Bibliography (19)IntroductionLaw English refers to the language of law of England, America and some other countries whose official language is English, such as Canada, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand. Most of these countries belong to the Common Law system or English—American Law system, which mainly consist of case law and equity law.Distinguished from demotic English, legal English is falls into the category of English for specific purpose, scientific English, medical English, business English and financial English alike (Tom, H. &A. Waters, 2002:16).According to Martin Joos‘ classification (1957) of the range of formality, legal documents belong to the frozen level (the most solemn one) for that law is the embodiment of the ruler‘s sovereignty. To render the high formality and dignity, law composers often adopt words and phrase that are only applicable to law articles. As a consequence, law is notable for the merits of formalness, precision, conciseness and authoritativeness, but only in the specialist community. Common people are beset with those obscure expressions and antique words. Although, in recent years there has been continual process of simplification and clarification, the gap between legislative language and everyday lexicon is still very wide.In the wake of globalization and prosper of some super English—speaking countries, people get more access to law English especially in economic field. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the lexical features of law texts, not only for those legal professions (lawyers, judges, law translators, etc.) but also for every one as some common senses.This paper will elaborate the lexical characteristics of legal English in the following aspects: archaism, foreign words, terms, paired words. Notwithstanding, it is impossible to fully detail all the examples, the author still singles out some typical ones for the reader‘s references.Chapter One ArchaismA profusion of archaism exists in legal documents. Archaism refers to old English prevailed during the period from Norman conquest to 1100AD and the middle English used in the period from1100 to 1500AD.Over centuries, all kinds the old—fashioned, obscure, antique English words have been abandoned or annulled from daily life, especially from oral English system. However, archaic expressions continue to thrive in the legislative writings and judicial activities. Some primitive words are passed down relying on some ancient careers as navigation, missionary professions. Until now clergymen consistently quote the classical sentences in the King James Bible.Attribute to the convention left by the long history of the common law system, case law is the main resource for the law drafter to formulate laws and regulations. The principle ―Stare Decisis‖, or the doctrine of binding precedent, is more precisely known as ‗Stare rationibus decidendis‘ (keep to the decisions of past cases). Generally speaking, the doctrine operates to secure certainty in the law by following previous decisions, in case they are inconsistent with a higher court‘s decision or wrong in law. Spontaneously, judges would go through the files to see if there are some references when facing a new case.―Legal language often strives toward great formality; it naturally gravitates towards archaic language.‖(Tiersma 1999:95) Apart from formality, antique words also reflect the conservative of legal English. ―What has been tested and found adequate i s best not altered.‖(Cristal & David 1986:213) To avoid ambiguity that may generated by changing the original words recorded on the file paper, most of the archaism are kept unchanged and now has become the unique feature of legal texts. Further, law has b een the reflection of the dominants‘ will, and aims at maintain the majesty and supreme status. Therefore, archaism does remain in the legislative texts in light of the formality, conservation, correctness and perfectly contribute to the fulfillment of the mission of law.The majority of the archaic words are the combination of here, there, where with a preposition; typical ones are enumerated in the following table:More examples:Attachments hereof shall be made an integral part of this contract and effective as any other provisions of this contract.Neither party hereto shall assign this agreement or any of its rights and interests hereunder without the other party‘s prior written consent.When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the Executive Authority thereof show issue rights of election to fill such vacancies.A contract of marine insurance is a contract whereby the issuer undertakesto identify the assured.―Legal English h as retained several morphological forms which have died out in daily English‖ (郝雪靓2006). The representative one is the use of witness with the meaning of testify, witnesseth being the third person singular present form. For instance:In witness whereof, I have set my hand…This policy witnesseth that…Other archaism like aforementioned, aforesaid, thence, thenceforth, etc. are also commonly found in legal texts.To conclude, the employment of archaism helps to ensure the accuracy, formalness and authoritativeness of legal English while at the same time tougher to understand.Chapter Two Foreign Origin WordsAnother merit of legal English which can not be neglected is the mass introduction of foreign words, notably Latin and French, which render the language formal and solemn. English proper is the mixture of many civilizations. Anglo—Saxon Conquest, Norman Conquest, Roman Invasion have great influenced the politic, economy and culture of England especially the language system.It is universally acknowledged that the common law system was formed in the Norman Co nquest period. ―There was English law before the Norman Conquest but there was no distinct profession, no centralization of justice‖ (Mellinkoff 1963:46) The author will elaborate the use of Latin and French in legislative documents respectively.2.1 Latin Words and Latinized EnglishThe history of Latin words permeated into English can be retrospect to 597AD, when Christianity was brought into England and the Roman culture along with it. From then on, Latin began to prevail in England firstly by the priests.Another big event that influenced the spread of Latin is the Renaissance Movement. This movement unfolds a vigorous mass campaign for learning Latin and Roman culture. This monopolistic language in the 13th and 14th century was regarded as the ―noble language‖. It was exclusively used by the upper class for that, historically, England has been a country using different languages to distinguish levels of social class. Latin even became a tool for the dominant class to rein the whole country. Law composer s used it as the ―common language‖ to formulate laws and regulations. In western civilizations, legal idioms and proverbs of Latin elements prevailed for a time. For example:Rest my case, verse versa.Jus est ars boni et aequi (Law is the art of kind and justice).Salus populi suprema lex (T e benefits of people is the supreme law).Latin borrowings gained the unprecedented position in legislative language. Some Latin words has intermingled with English and if not further study their roots, you can hardly find their Latin features such as: declaration, register, convict, jury, omission, litigant, felony, offence, injury, compensate, negotiate, affirm, deprive, etc. While some still maintain the Latin appearance. The following examples are given by the author:Latin is also characterized by concise, popular, and precise in expression, such as: ―Nullm crimen ma jus est inobedientia‖ means ―No crime is greater thandisobedience.‖―Res inter alios acta alteri nocere no debet‖ means ―A transaction between two parties shouldn‘t operate to the disadvantage of the third party not in their debt.‖To conclude, Latinisms have the distinct advantage in articulating law composer‘s inte ntions with concise phrases for their conceptions defined no ambiguity and long history of practice. That‘s one of the main reasons why they are not replaced by plain English. Having a good command of Latin would greatly facilitate the study of legal English for that Latin has been an indispensable shaping factor in tradition.2.2 Old French wordsThe period of Henry Ⅱ(1154-1189) is deemed to be “one of the most critical periods in the history of common law”(Denis 1986:1) England initiates the formation of common law system. Edicts made by the king, customary law of German, decrees from Norman emperor constitute the resources of common law system.To a large extent, the evolution of case law relies on the record of judicial precedents and on the law reporting. The English case law reporting institution has went through the eras of Year Books (1727-1535), Private Reports (1535-1865), and present system of law reporting (1865 till now). In practical, law reporting institution lays the foundations of the establishment of ―Stare Decisis‖.Norman Conquest is the inception of the French entering into English language system. Since then, Britain had been controlled by France. Consequently, Norman-French became the official language used in religion, education, politic, and judicial fields. English people were keen on imitating the elegance French tone used by the upper class and spoke it in various formal occasions. Law, acting as the ruler‘s instrument to rein England, was naturally formulated in French.In the 14th century, French gained an undeniable position in legal sphere of England, and continue to be so to the end of the 15th century. Later, though this language was no longer the legislative language, large number of French origin words were reserved in the form of legal precedent.Similar to Latin, some French words lost their morphological features. For instance: insurance, attorney, plead, dependant, equitable, dossier, dispose, arrest, assault, contract, damages, heir, larceny, mortgage, reprieve, treason, trespass, etc. Some words are still looks as it did originally. The following are some examples given by David Mellinkoff in The Language of Law:The formalness inclined the legislative body to use French and passed down from centuries ago.In the18th century English parliament proposed that all the Latin and French be abandoned permanently in tort law. However, later it is virtually proved impossible on account that no concise English expressions can substitute for the Latin and French without changing the original meaning. Tiersma said, ―Once establi shed legal phrases in authoritative texts take on a life of their own; you meddle with them at your own risk‖(1999:8) Ultimately English law language was inherited as a special language system consists of 3 kinds of languages: English (Anglo-Saxon), Latin and French.Chapter Three TerminologyAccording to Feng Zhiwei‘s comprehension, terms generally reflect people‘s achievements in research, and are regarded as the crystal of expert‘s professional knowledge (1997:2). Although law technical terms are obscure and tough to understand for average people, it is essential for lawyers, judges, and other law staff to dealing with law suits, drafting new articles, and things alike. ―If a word or phrase is used exclusively by a particular trade or profession or if that profession uses it in a way that differs from its normal meaning and the form has a relatively well-defined sense, it should be considered a technical term‖ (Tiersma: 108).The most fundamental virtue of term is that ambiguity and misapprehension are effectively avoided. Terms guarantee the exactness and accuracy of law articles hence inclined the legislative body putting terms into use.Alcaraz and Porian (2002: 17) classified technical vocabulary into pure technical terms and semi-technical terms. Pure technical terms are exclusively applicable in professional fields, while semi-technical terms refer to everyday lexicon which has gained extra meaning in the legal variety.3.1 semi-technical termsHao xueliang (2006) demonstrates in her articl e, ―A great number of common words are employed in legal English, but with uncommon meanings, which is one of the important factors that help creating the gap between legal English and everyday speech‖. Prestigious English jurist Firth explained that each word would have diverse conceptions with the changing of language environment. Common words are deprived of the everyday meanings and adopted new ones of legislative importance. As an indication of the difference between the daily and legal notion a chart is given by the author below:On account of the above analysis, researchers should deliberate on the proper meaning rather than translating the terms literally.3.2 pure technical termsPure technical term is ―a technical word with a specific meaning‖ (Mellinkoff 1963: 16). This variety of term renders the legal English clear and precise. Chen Peixing (1995) of Guizhou Police Officer V ocational College conducted a survey, and found that merely 30% of the law English vocabulary is professional ones, of which 3/4 being legalized common words. As a consequence, very few genuine pure technical terms exit, while due to the requirement of accuracy, concise and formalness, they can not be substituted.3.2.1 Legal TermsPure technical terms can also be subdivided into borrowed terms and legal terms. Legal law terms refer to the English terms peculiarly falling into the legislative sphere. This type of terms are the standardized ones, with only one specific notion and highly precision. They exclusively belong to law realm and rarely found in others in that pure legal terms are created especially for legislative and judicial activities.Pure legal terms, though in small quantity, play a quite important identifying role in the realization of concision and precision of legal English. Typical ones are as follows:plaintiff: A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.defendant: Any person against whom a relief is claimed by a plaintiff, or a person against whom a criminal prosecution is broughtrecidivist: A person who continually returns to criminal behavior notwithstanding the imposition of punishment for crimes committed.bigamy: Entering into a second marriage while lawfully married to another personhomicide: A killing, lawful or unlawful, of a human being by another human being；unlawful killing with or without intent to kill or do grievous bodily harm.affray: An indictable offence at common law originally designed to provide protection against violent disturbance of the peace, whose necessary element is that persons are put in fear.parole: The release of a prisoner from custody after the completion of a minimum period of imprisonment determined by a court so that the prisoner may serve the rest of the sentence on conditional liberty.tort: A wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to liability.3.2.2 Borrowed TermsBorrowed terms refer to the specific terms in other technical fields as engineering, economic, medical, financial, etc. With the all-round rapid development of the whole world and the increasingly intensive international communication of many fields, unfortunately disputes are also in a growing tendency. Law, serving asthe sovereign power, extends to every part of the industry to settle the disputes.Followings are some examples given by the author for the reader‘s favor: acceptance (of economy): The signification by a drawee of assent to the order of a drawer, requiring the drawee to sign the bill and an expression that the drawe e‘s promise will be performed only by money payment.balance (of economy): A figure representing the difference between credits and debits in an account; the amount of money held in an account.alignment (of engineering): arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions.coverage (of insurance): the amount of protection given by the insurance.risk (of insurance): a possibility of harm or damage against which something is insured.maturity (of finance)The time at which a bill of exchange becomes due for payment.Borrowed terms in law are mainly encountered in specialized codes, which are enacted to specify the issues in these fields. For example UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration 1985 is for regulating international commercial arbitration.Chapter Four Paired WordsLaw refers to a set of rules enacted by the authorities or developed from the custom which is recognized by the community as binding to all members. From the very beginning, law has been recognized as the sovereignty to specify people‘s rights and obligations, hence extreme formalness and definition being the critical demands of legislative language. Spontaneously, a profusion of paired words exit in legal documents. Paired synonyms exit for the rigorousness, while paired antonyms for the representative of the right and obligation parties.4.1 paired synonymsSynonym means a word or expression that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another in the same language. One study found that binomial expressions (a technical linguistic term for two parallel words joined by a conjunction) were used five times as often in legal writing as in other prose styles. (Tiersma 1999:60) Paradoxically, one of the essential merits of legal texts is concise, thus why these lexical repetition or redundancy been adopted.On account of the unique historical background, the courthouse occupied a dominant position in the process of legislation. However, after the 13th century, the legislative power was held by the congress. To keep the privilege, the court use the power of legal interpretation to interpret the law clauses in the judicial process at will, broadening or narrowing the original legal intention. Consequently, the congress listed the synonym s, leaving no room for the court‘s distortion. Later with the development of legislative system, this tradition has been preserved. Here are some examples: Any such advantages as is mentioned in this ordinance are customary in any profession, trade, vocation or calling.The seller shall pay all the custom duties and tariffs for export of the equipment.Others like: power and authority; terms and conditions; alter and change; make and enter into; any and all; final and conclusive; when and as; by and between; saveand except; null and void; children and issue; last will and testament, etc. can frequently found in any law.The adoption of synonyms or nearly synonyms endows precise to the denotation leaving no chance for misunderstanding.4.2paired antonymsDetermined by the mission of specifying the rights and obligations, law norms possess large quantities of paired antonyms to represent the two opposite parties. Generally, one party‘s right is reflected as the counter party‘s duty.Examples are as followings: offerer and offeree; appellant and appellee; creditor and debtor; right and duty; principal and accessory; the breaching party and the nonbreaching party; the justice and the evil; the criminal and the victim; drawer and drawee; libeler and libellee; mortgagor and mortgagee; plegor and pledgee indorser and indorsee ; insurer and insured; accuser and accused; blackmailer and blackmailee; trustor and trustee; legator and legatee, etc.We can conclude from the above examples that in legal English mass synonyms are formed with suffixes as -er/or and –ee to refer the counter party. This regular pattern may favor the study of legal English.ConclusionThe characteristics, described above, generally have a significant effect on the study of legal English and subsequently on the comprehension, translation and reference of English common law. English lexicon differs to a great extent from demonic English in many aspects.The author analyzed the characteristics of legal English respectively with some typ ical cases for the readers‘ references. Determined by the specific function of legal English to signify the legislative intent, conservativeness, formality, accuracy, preciseness and authoritativeness are of essential. Antique expressions, foreign elements, technical terms and paired words succeed in rendering the unique features herein, nevertheless, at the same time bringing about obscurity.This paper is conductive to the learning of legal English and to the comprehension of foreign laws written in English, hence promoting international communication. Globalization is an undeniable tendency, which means people from different countries get more access to exchange the modern achievements with each other. English, as one of the official languages of the UN, is practically the international language applied by the world. Consequently, international regulations and laws of many countries (China included) have an English version.Legal English is rather complicate and hard to understand, the author hopes that this paper would be of beneficial to the learning, teaching, and translation of legal English. Due to the limitation of time, it is impossible for the author to reach the depth expected, but hoping to be helpful to further studies.BibliographyAdvanc ed Learner‘s English-Chinese Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press, 6th ed.Crystal, David & Davy, Derek.Investigating English Style University of British Columbia Press. New York: 1969.Crastal David, & Derek Davy. Investigating English Style.London Group Limited.London:1969.David Mellin, on legal language. Boston: 1970.Martin ，Elizabeth A. Oxford Dictionary of Law. New York: Oxford University Press.5th ed.Mellinkoff, David. The Language of the Law. Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1963.—.On legal language, Boston: 1970.Tiersma , PeterM. Linguistic Aspects of Legislative Expression.University of British Columbia Press. Vancouver: 1989.冯志伟，《现代术语学引论》。
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第五章法律英语词汇的特点5.1引言由于历史的原因，英语本身就是一种多变化、多来源的灵活语言。
在历史上,它从多个地缘相近的民族语言中吸取了大量的词汇要素。
法律英语受这方面的影响尤深。
在法律翻译作业中，法律英文在很大程度上与受过教育的普通人的英文是不同的。
所谓的法律术语、行话、古旧用词外来词，同义/近义词，不但给普通人、也给法律翻泽人员带来很大的理解上的困难。
法律英文词汇学上的特点可主要归纳为以下十类。
5.2经常使用的普通词并无普通词的意义有些词汇对律师或从事法律工作者与对普通读者具有截然不同的含义,我们称之为具普通词形态而无普通词意义的法律词汇。
例1He was awarded $ 500 damages for the injury hesuffered in the accident .在这个例句中award和damage是法律上的用法。
对于普通读者,award通常是给予某人的“奖励",damage是造成的“损坏”。
但对于律师而言，这两者，尤其是复数形式的damages,均属法律语域的专业词，前者为“法庭裁定”,后者为其所裁定的“赔偿金”。
因此，该句应译为:“他因事故而得到500美元赔偿金。
”这类需要一-定语境或上下文才能确定词义的词汇，通常都是普通英语词汇中的多义词。
又如issue这既是-个普通词，又是法律术语。
其法律上的概念主要通过语境来确定。
如何辨别这些具有特殊法律意义的普通词汇?当然，这并非一件易事,需要定的专门篇幅加以阐述。
但除了上述的“语境分析”以外，可作为补允的原则还有两条:1)熟悉所涉及的普通型词汇的专门意义;以及2)逻辑推理。
5.3频繁使用当代普通英语极少使用的古旧词汇当今普通英语的词汇主要来自古代及中世纪时期的英语，但今日大部分的英语词汇的意义与一千多年前、甚至几百年前已经大不相同，用法也大不一样。
但是，在如今的法律英语中，许多这类词汇的意义及其用法仍然-如既往、千年不变。
试看以下一段合约:例3Provided further that this Policy shall be subject to theConditions herein contained and to any Memoranda endorsed hereon and such Conditions and Memoranda are to be takenas part of the Policy and the observance and performance bythe Insured of the times and terms therein contained so far asthey relate to anything to be done by the Insured are of theessence of this contract and shall be conditions precedent toany liability on the part of the Insured under this Policy. (薛华业，1989:98)上例合约条款选白-份现代的保险合约，但其中herein, here-on,such以及thereon全是普通英文中废弃的典型的占旧副词，而其他旧式用法还有provided that, subject to等。
以下这些仍然是当代英文法律文献中常用的古旧副词:aforesaidforthwithhere words: hereafter，hereby, herein, hereinafter, hereinbefore, hereof, hereto, heretofore, hereunder, here-withlet (如在without let or hindrance这个短语中)said (作形容词使用时)pursuant tosuchthence, thenceforththere words: thereabout, thereafter, thereat, thereby,therefor, therefore, therein, thereon, thereto, theretofore,thereunto (相当于in the document/place referred to), thereunder, thereupon, therewithwhere words: whereas (相当于“given the fact that" )，whereat, whereby, whereofwitness (以签名或宣誓方式作证时用，如In witnesswhereof, I have set my hand)witreseth(意为提供某事的正式证据，在古英语的陈述句中，该词作为第三人称单数的动词)5.4 频繁使用拉丁词当代法律英语的基础是普通法。
普通法的基础是中世纪时罗马教会施行的罗马法,而罗马法是用拉丁文写成和实施的,故当今的法律英语中留下许多拉丁词是不足为奇的。
由于法律越来越成为当代人们生活的一部分,一些法律上常用的标准拉丁词已经在人们的日常生活中得到认可，于是这些词的词源渐渐为人们淡忘。
这类词主要有:affidavitaliasalibibona fideprovisoquorumhaheas corpusprima facieversuswrit of fieri facias但还有很大一部分拉丁词是人们日常生活中极少使用或很少有机会接触到的。
例如:ex parteex post factoguardian ad l:temin flagrante delictoin locum parentisin reminter aliainter partesnulla poena sine legeper stirpesres ipsa lcquiturin pari materia5.5大量使用大众词汇中比较陌生的法语词由于英国曾经很长一段时间是受法国人统治的,故英文法律词汇中属法语词源的词汇数量也相当庞大，而且这些已经构成了基本的英文法律词汇。
由于法语同汇形态和发音与英文词汇极其相似，故没有受过词源学方面专门训练的人士一般无法辨识这些词的来源。
但又由于这类法语词法律意义上的词义比较专一,所以法律专业人员对这此词似乎情有独钟，使用得甚至比道地的英文法律词汇更为频繁。
这些词主要有:actioncourtagreementcovenantappealcrimearrestdamagearsondebtassaultdeclarationattorneysdefendantuallerydermandbilldescentclaimcondition easement constables evidence contract execution counsel felonycountgoals (jails) grantpartner guarantee payment guardian plaintiffheir pleacings indictment pledgeinfantpolice judges possession judgment prisonsjurors pruperty justice purchase justices reprieve larceny robberylien senlence marriage servant misdemeanour slander moneysuitnoteobligationtreasonpardontrespasspartiesverdict还有一部分古旧的法文词尚木进入普通英文的词汇表，其使用范围只局限在法律专业人员之间的书面交流中。
这些专用的法语法律用词有:alien (意思相当于to transfer)chose in actiondemurrerestoppelestoppel in paisesquirefee simple and fee uail (保留法语语序)attormey general (保留法语语序)lachesmetes and boundsoyezquashroll (如在judgment roll这个短语中)save (相当于except)spec:alty (等于sealed contract)style (如在这个name and style短语中)voire dire5.6大量使用专业术语法律专业术语(terms of art) 概念上相当于科技术语，具有明确的、特定的法律上的含义。
它们可以非常准确地表达复杂的法律概念，其他词汇无可替代，律师用之得心应手，就像他们的速记用词。
这类词在法律英语中数量可观。
略举如下:agencydefendantalias summonsdemurreralibidry trustappcalfee simplebailfee tailcommon countsfictitious defendantmaster and servanthabeas corpusmonth- to month tenancyguarantornegotiable instrumentjudicial noticeplaintifflachesprincipal and suretylandlorc/1essorsurrendertenant/lesseetortletters patentvoir dire以上这些可称之为术语词的法律用词，概念非常确切，词义明确，不会一词多义。
如proximate cause, negligence, 以及foreseeability，都只有专门的法律上的意义。
这些词“词简意赅"，法律信息负载量很大:用一个非常简单的词汇能表达一一个相当复杂的概念，因此它们为法律从业人员在交流上提供了一条快捷方式。
在词源上，它们可以是拉丁词(如res ipsa loquitur),也可以是法语词(如indictment),也可以是普普通通、道道地地的英语词(如surrender)，但数量上以法语词居多。
5.7 经常使用法律行话术语可以是对内的，即对从事同一行业的人士，如律师对律师或法官对律师;但也可以是对外的，即对律师的客户和法律所服务的对象，即普通民众。
行话( argot)则不然，它是完全对内的，即同行的语言，虽然有时并非是故意要将行外人十排斥在外。
状辞、法律观点、法庭辩论词谈判词,属于典型的行内法律文书。