文本类型与法律文本

Abstract

This paper approaches text types and the typological characteristics of legal texts in the perspective of legal translation. The first part of the paper is a general survey of the status quo of the study on legal language and legal translation both in and outside China. The second part is a discussion and review of the two criteria(i.e. subject matter and function/intention) adopted in the categorization of text types and the resulted text types, pointing out the misunderstanding therein in general and that of the function of legal texts in particular. The third part comments on Snell-Hornby’s (1988) text typology which is in close accordance with the functions of the texts under discussion. Part Four, based upon the clarification achieved through the above discussion, first proposes a typology of legal texts according to their primary function and then discusses the typological features of the first type, i.e., texts which are primarily prescriptive. The last part proposes applying the typological analysis to legal translation which is both an interlingual and cross-legal-system operation per se. The typological characteristics of legal texts have become a part of the legal convention, so it is believed that the correct understanding of the typological features of legal texts is not only the basis on which the legal translator grasps the global intention and/or function of the legal text concerned but also the decisive factor to determine its translation criteria and the translation techniques to be employed in achieving the said criteria.

摘要

本文从法律翻译的角度探讨文本类型和法律文本的特点。文章第一部分首先论述了中外法律语言研究和法律翻译研究的现状；第二部分讨论了文本分类的两种依据（即以主题和功能为分类依据）以及相关学者据此划分的文本类型，然后指出了其中存在的错误认识，特别是对法律文本功能的错误认识；第三部分探讨了Snell-Hornby的分类模式；第四部分探讨了法律文本的功能定位和分类，并分析了英汉法律文本的类型特点；第五部分讨论了法律文本的类型特点对法律翻译这种跨语言、跨文化、跨法系的交际行为的启示。本文认为，对特定文本的类型特点的正确把握有助于译者正确把握原作的总体意图和功能。此外，文本类型研究在翻译标准和翻译策略的选择与确定中也起着重要甚至决定作用。文本类型的规约性是法律文化规约的组成部分，因此法律翻译工作者应当尊重法律文本的独立性和规约性，这就要求法律翻译工作者不仅刻苦钻研法律语言和法律文本的用词、用句特点，还要研究和尊重法律文本的篇章特点以及法律文本的总体功能和交际目的。