上海市行政法制研究所译审外事室  （总第25期）

    [译文规范]

    1. 关于“法规”翻译的统一

    目前的译法有：statutes――《实用汉英》、《常用汉英法律词典》、《汉英法律词典》；regulations――《实用汉英》；laws and regulations――《最新实用》、《汉英》、《现代汉英》、《综合汉英》、《新汉英法学词典》。

    首先必须明确，“法规”不是“法律和规章（定）”两者总称的略语，而是自成一个层次的法的规范。因此，译成laws and regulations，是错的；译成laws和statutes，也不对，这两词的意思不是“法规”，而是高于“法规”的“法律”。[①]

    “法规”泛指根据宪法和法律制定的规范性文件的总称，特指时法规有行政法规和地方性法规之分。建议把“法规”译作“rules”，“地方性法规”译作“local rules”。regulation在专业术语中为“从属性法律”或“政府规章”，亦作“条例”解释，故“行政法规”译作“administrative regulations”，“法规和规章”译作“rules and regulations”。^②

    2. “乱收费、乱罚款、乱摊派”翻译的统一

    在规范性文件的翻译中，经常遇到“乱收费、乱罚款、乱摊派”的翻译，常见的译文有：“the dishonest practices of imposing fees, fines and quotas”， “acts of random and illegal fee-collecting and illegal monetary appointment”, “the practice of randomly charging fees, randomly imposing fines and randomly apportioning quotas”, “indiscriminate charges, fines and levies”, “arbitrary charges, fund-raising quotas and fines” 等，现决定统一为：the “arbitrary collection of fees, imposition of illegal fines and indiscriminate quotas”。

    3. “城市总体规划”翻译的统一

    在有关城市规划的规范性文件的翻译中，经常遇到“城市总体规划”的翻译，常见的译文有：the “overall planning”, the “integrated planning”, the “synthetical planning”, the “comprehensive planning” 等，现根据中华人民共和国国家标准“城市规划基本术语标准”，将之统一为：“master plan” 或 “comprehensive planning”。

    [专家论坛]

    本栏目专门刊登专家的翻译心得、体会及研究成果，旨在为法规、规章以及规范性文件翻译的研究提供一个相互交流、探讨的园地。

    本栏目热忱欢迎各位专家的来稿，稿酬从优。

   

    中华人民共和国《民法通则》AAA英译本比较分析（续）

    （接总19期）

    陈忠诚

   

    第三章  法人

   

    原文：第四十五条

    企业法人由于下列原因之一终止：
（一）依法被撤销；
（二）解散；
（三）依法宣告破产；
（四）其他原因。

    

    译文：Article 45. An enterprise as legal person shall terminate for any of the following reasons:

    (1) if it is dissolved by law;

    (2) if it is disbanded;

    (3) if it is declared bankrupt in accordance with the law; or

    (4) for other reasons. (LAB)

   

    Article 45. A corporation shall terminate under any one of the following circumstances:

    (i) legal annulment;

    (ii) dissolution;

    (iii) legal declaration of bankruptcy;

    (iv) other reasons. (CCH)

   

    Article 45. An enterprise juristic person may be terminated for any of the following reasons:

(1)        Annulment* in accordance with the law;

(2)        dissolution;**

(3)        declaration of bankruptcy in accordance with the law;

(4)        other reasons. (CLR)

   

    述评：（１）LAB犯了一个在系列表达中的典型错误：在总述中已经概括出来的成份(for)又在分述（“（４）”）中重叠出现；而CCH与CLR则已经注意避免了这一错误――CCH译文作“(iv) other reasons”而没有错误地作“(iv) under other reasons”,CLR译文只作“(4)other reasons”而没有错误地作“(4)for other reasons”。

   

    　　　 （２）LAB之上文“ for any of the following reasons”，　但是下（１）if…;（２）if…;（３）…；都是“if clauses”根本就　不是“reasons”而是“conditions”，犯了牛头不对马嘴的错误。为了更正这一错误，LAB只能作如下译：

   

    　　　   Article 45. …terminate if:

    (1) it is dissolved by law;

    (2) it is disbanded;

    (3) it is declared bankrupt in accordance with the law; or

    (4) there is some other justifiable.

    （３）“circumstances”≠“reasons”这是人所众知的；但是CCH犯了把两者等同了起来的错误――总述中是“any of the following circumstances”，而分述中竟变为“(4)other reasons”。

    （４）按本条规定，只要有（一）至（四）所列原因之一之出现，毋须“企业法人”履行任何义务，它当然地、自然而然地终止了，犹人因癌症不治当然寿终正寝而不是终期癌症患者有死亡的义务一样。由此可见，LAB和CCH均作“shall terminate”虽幽默有余而精确不足――又译错了！

    （５）唯独CLR不用“shall”，虽幽默不足，却也就避免了“shall”滥用症的侵袭。但是CLR译文用了“may be”也没有如实反映企业法人因某一法律所规定的原因之一而当然终止。

    （6）必须严肃认真但又不无遗憾地指出：本条的立法技术是不及格的。因为本条的立法目的是明文规定企业法人所以终止的具体原因；但由于“（四）其他原因”之规定，使企业法人所以终止的原因数无穷大了。其消极效果是使企业法人在法律上不论因什么原因都要当然终止了。因此，翻译者的天职就是要遵循民事立法的宏观意图，在译文中弥补这一微观上的立法漏洞。

   

    （７）综上所述，改正如下，请指正：

    Article 45

    An enterprise-juristic person terminates because of:

    (1) its revocation;

    (2) its dissolution;

    (3) declaration of its bankruptcy; or

    (4) some other justifiable cause.

   

    很抱歉，笔者的上列译文中没有把原文的两个“依法”［见（一）和（三）］明文反映出来。但这是笔者在努力弥补立法者的不足：其一，“依法”乃不言而喻因而是冗文；其二，“解散”［（三）］不必“依法”，唯独“被撤消”［（一）］与“宣告破产”［（三）］要“依法”，宁非违反法制。

    原文：第四十六条 企业法人终止，应当向登记机关办理注销登记并公告。

    译文：Article 46. When an enterprise as legal person terminates, it shall cancel its registration with the registration authority and publicly announce the termination.（LAB）

          Article 46. Should a corporation terminate, it shall carry out procedures with the original registering body for cancellation of its registration and shall make a public announcement. (CCH)

          Article 46. When an enterprise juristic person is terminated, its registration should be cancelled with the registration agency and a public announcement made. (CLR)

    述评：（１）原文“向登记机关”是立法废话――难道能向非登记机关“办理注销登记并公告”么？！译者自不能以废话译废话。

    　　　（２）由于所有三种译文在不同程度上均未能充分达到法律文字力求精确与简练的要求，愿在这方面略尽绵薄，请指正：

    　　　    In the event of its termination , an enterprise-juristic person shall get itself deregistered and its termination announced.

    看来，亚、澳、美三大洲《中华人民共和国民法通则》的英译者还不会用“deregister”这个词，这才噜里噜嗦地出此下策――分别译作“cancel its registration”(LAB) , “cancellation of its registration”(CCH)和“its registration (should) be cancelled”(CLR)的吧。

    原文：第四十七条 企业法人解散，应当成立清算组织，进行清算。企业法人被撤销、被宣告破产的，应当由主管机关或者人民法院组织有关机关和有关人员成立清算组织，进行清算。

    译文：Article 47. When an enterprise as legal person is disbanded, it shall establish a liquidation organization and go into liquidation. When an enterprise as legal person is dissolved or is declared bankrupt, the competent authority or a people's court shall organize the organs and personnel concerned to establish a liquidation organization to liquidate the enterprise.（LAB）

    　　　　  Article 47. Upon dissolution of a corporation, a liquidation group shall be established to carry out liquidation. If a corporation has been annulled or declared bankrupt, the department in charge or People’s Court shall organize the relevant bodies or personnel to form a liquidation group to carry out liquidation. (CCH)

    　　　　　Article 47. When an enterprise juristic person is dissolved, a liquidating organization should be established to carry out the liquidation. If the enterprise juristic person is annulled or declared bankrupt, the competent authority or the people’s courts shall organize the agencies and personnel concerned to establish a liquidating organization to carry out the liquidation. (CLR)

    　　述评：（１）本条有两个“应当”，三种译本共有六个机会译对或译错；令人高兴的是，除了CLR上第一个“应当”的当，误译成“should”以外，其余五个“应当”全部译对了。由此可见，就“应当”而论，三大洲之法律英译的正误率为５：１，错误率为１／６，正确率为５／６。

    　　　　　（２）按汉语行文，“应当成立清算组织，进行清算”的义务人是要解散的企业法人。三种译文中倒有两种（CCH和CLR）使用了被动语态，故义务人是谁，就不得而知了。可见这一译法之不可取。唯LAB译文用的是主动态（…an enterprise…, …shall…），从而明确了义务人。规律是什么呢？曰：法律英译切忌滥用被动语态，模糊义务关系。

    　　　　　（３）对三译文的其他方面，通过下列建议译文反映：

    　　　　　　Article 47

                    While dissolving, an enterprise-juristic person shall start liquidation by setting up a special body therefore.

                    An enterprise-juristic person being revoked or declared bankrupt, the competent agency or people’s court shall start liquidation by organizing relevant agencies and persons into a special body therefore.

    　　原文：第四十八条 全民所有制企业法人以国家授予它经营管理的财产承担民事责任。集体所有制企业法人以企业所有的财产承担民事责任。中外合资经营企业法人、中外合作经营企业法人和外资企业法人以企业所有的财产承担民事责任，法律另有规定的除外。

    　　译文：Article 48. An enterprise owned by the whole people, as legal person, shall bear civil liability with the property that the state authorizes it to manage. An enterprise under collective ownership, as legal person, shall bear civil liability with the property it owns. A Chinese-foreign equity joint venture, Chinese-foreign contractual joint venture or foreign-capital enterprise as legal person shall bear civil liability with the property it owns, except as stipulated otherwise by law. (LAB)

    　　　　　Article 48. A corporation under the ownership of the whole people shall assume civil liability with the property provided to it by the State for the purpose of business operations. A corporation under collective ownership shall assume civil liability with the property of the enterprise. Sino-foreign joint equity corporations, Sino-foreign co-operative corporations and corporations with sole foreign investment shall all assume civil liability with the property of the respective corporation, except where otherwise stipulated by the law. (CCH)

              Article 48. Enterprise juristic persons owned by the whole people shall undertake their civil responsibilities using the state property given to them to operate and to manage. Enterprise juristic persons owned by collectives shall undertake their civil responsibilities with the property owned by the enterprise. Sino-foreign joint venture juristic persons Sino-foreign cooperative enterprise juristic persons and foreign enterprise juristic persons shall undertake their civil responsibilities with the property owned by such enterprises, unless otherwise provided by law. (CLR)

    　　述评：下列试译反映笔者对上列三种译文的观感，请过目并指正：

    　　　　　Article 48. A whole-people owned enterprise-juristic person bears civil liabilities to the extent of the property granted by the state for its business and administration. A collective-owned enterprise-juristic person bears civil liabilities to the extent of its own property. A Sino-foreign equity or contractual joint venture or a foreign-owned venture as enterprise-juristic person, unless otherwise regulated, bears civil liabilities to the extent of the venture property.

    　　原文：第四十九条 企业法人有下列情形之一的，除法人承担责任外，对法定代表人可以给予行政处分、罚款，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任：
（一）超出登记机关核准登记的经营范围从事非法经营的；
（二）向登记机关、税务机关隐瞒真实情况、弄虚作假的；
（三）抽逃资金、隐匿财产逃避债务的；
（四）解散、被撤销、被宣告破产后，擅自处理财产的；
（五）变更、终止时不及时申请办理登记和公告，使利害关系人遭受重大损失的；
（六）从事法律禁止的其他活动，损害国家利益或者社会公共利益的。　

    　　译文：Article 49. Under any of the following circumstances, an enterprise as legal person shall bear liability, its legal representative may additionally be given administrative sanctions and fined and, if the offence constitutes a crime, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with the law:

    (1) conducting illegal operations beyond the range approved and registered by the registration authority;

    (2) concealing facts from the registration and tax authorities and practicing fraud;

    (3) secretly withdrawing funds or hiding property to evade repayment of debts;

    (4) disposing of property without authorization after the enterprise is dissolved, disbanded or declared bankrupt;

    (5) failing to apply for registration and make a public announcement promptly when the enterprise undergoes a change or terminates, thus causing interested persons to suffer heavy losses;

    (6) engaging in other activities prohibited by law, damaging the interests of the state or the public interest.（LAB）

    　　　　　 Article 49. Should any one of the following circumstances apply to a corporation, it shall assume liability and, in addition, its legal representative may be subject to administrative sanction or a fine; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated and determined according to the law:

(i)                      carrying out illegal business activities beyond the scope of business approved and registered by the registration body;

(ii)                    concealing the true facts from the registration or tax authorities, or practicing fraud;

(iii)                   extracting funds or concealing assets for the purpose of evading debts;

(iv)                  disposing of property without authorisation following dissolution, annulment or declaration of bankruptcy;

(v)                    failing to apply immediately for the registration and public announcement of a change or of termination, causing an interested party to sustain substantial loss;

(vi)                  engaging in other activities prohibited by law, causing damage to State or common public interests. (CCH)

    Article 49. When one of the following situations exists with respect to an enterprise-juristic person, apart from responsibilities undertaken by the juristic person, an administrative sanction or a fine may be imposed on its legal representative; if a crime has been established, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with the law for:

    (1) engaging in illegal operations beyond the scope of operations approved with the registration agency;

    (2) concealing the actual circumstances from or deceiving the registration agency or the tax agency;

   

    (3) embezzling funds or hiding property to avoid debts;

   

    (4) disposing property without authority where the enterprise juristic person has been dissolved, annulled or declared bankrupt;

   

    (5) failing to  apply in time for the registration and public announcement of the change or termination of the enterprise juristic person, causing ham to a related person so that he suffers major losses;

   

    (6) engaging in other activities forbidden by law, thus harming the State’s interest or the public interest. (CLR)

   

    述评：（１）“追究刑事责任”不是investigate (CCH和CLR两译)甚至“investigate and determine”所能尽其意的；

    　　　　 （２）原文“有下列情况之一的”主体是“企业法人”而这一点译文不如原文明确；

    　　　　 （３）在具体上下文中，句首的“Under”短语显得累赘；

    　　　　 （４）结合其他具体问题并综上所述，试译如下，请比较指正：

    　　　　　Article 49

                          Apart from the liabilities of an enterprise-juristic person, its legal representative can, upon the merit of the case, be administratively sanctioned or fined, or criminally prosecuted, if the enterprise

    (1) operates illegally beyond the approved and registered scope of business;

   

    (2) misrepresents before a registry or a tax agency under false pretenses;

   

    (3) illicitly channels funds or hide property, to evade debts;

   

    (4) disposes of its property without authority upon its dissolution, revocation or the declaration of its bankruptcy;

   

    (5) fails to apply in good time for registration and announcement of its changes or termination, thereby causing great damages to the interested party or parties; or

   

    (6) engages in other activity or activities prohibited by law to the prejudice of state interest and public interest of society.

    原文：第三节 机关、事业单位和社会团体法人

    译文：Section 3: Official Organ, Institution and Social Organization as Legal Person（LAB）

       Section 3: Organizations, Institutions and Associations as Legal Persons (CCH)

         Section 3: Organizations, Institutional Units and Social Organizational Juristic Persons (CLR)

    述评：（１）从上列三译看，本节名称的原文是不明确的、摸棱两可的。因此，LAB与CCH是一种理解，而CLR则又是一种理解；其有两种不同的译文自乃理之当然了。

    （２）立法原文为避免歧义应修改为（在未正式修改前则按修改后的条文理解）：机关法人、事业单位法人和社会团体法人

    （３）建议按此译作：

    Government Agency, Non-profit Institution, or Societal Organization――as Juristic Person

    　　原文：第五十条 有独立经费的机关从成立之日起，具有法人资格。
具备法人条件的事业单位、社会团体，依法不需要办理法人登记的，从成立之日起，具有法人资格；依法需要办理法人登记的，经核准登记，取得法人资格。

    　　译文：Article 50. An independently funded official organ shall be qualified as a legal person on the day it is established.

    If according to law an institution or social organization having the qualifications of a legal person needs not go through the procedures for registering as a legal person, it shall be qualified as a legal person on the day it is established; if according to law it does need to go through the registration procedures, it shall be qualified as a legal person after being approved and registered.（LAB）

              Article 50. An organization with independent funds shall have the status of a legal person from its date of establishment.

                  An institution or association which fulfils the criteria of a legal person and which is not required by law to register as a legal person shall acquire the status of a legal person from the date of its establishment. An institution or association which is required by law to complete procedures for registration as a legal person shall acquire the status of a legal person following examination, approval and registration. (CCH)

              Article 50. Organizations with independent funding have the status of juristic persons from the day they are established.

                  Institutional units and social organizations which meet the conditions necessary to be a juristic person that are not required by law to register as juristic persons have the status of juristic persons from the day they are established; those required by law to register as juristic persons shall attain the status of juristic persons upon approval and registration. (CLR)

    述评：三译除CLR外又都犯了“shall”滥用症，而三译的通病则是有失简练，试译如下，欢迎比较、批评：

    　　　　    An independently funded government agency obtains its legal personality upon its establishment.

                Eligible for legal personality, a non-profit institution or a societal organization obtains its legal personality upon its establishment, where no registration is required, or when duly approved and registered, where the registration is required.

    原文：第四节 联 营

    译文： Section ４ Economic Association (LAB)

           Section 4: Joint Operations (CCH)

           Section 4: Joint Operations (CLR)

    述评：常听到“联营”英文怎么译这个问题，足见其不好译。上列三译中，“联营”有两种不同的译文；而且从英文译文来看，两种不同的译文“Economic Association”和“Joint Operations”指的显然不是同一事物。     关键在于“联营”的立法定义：“联营”英译之成败取决于其立法定义有没有和好不好了――但愿下列条文中有一个“联营”的好定义。“阿门”！

    原文：第五十一条 企业之间或者企业、事业单位之间联营，组成新的经济实体，独立承担民事责任、具备法人条件的，经主管机关核准登记，取得法人资格。

    译文：Article 51. If a new economic entity is formed by enterprises or an enterprise and an institution that engage in economic association and it independently bears civil liability and has the qualifications of a legal person, the new entity shall be qualified as a legal person after being approved and registered by the competent authority.　（LAB）

          Article 51. In the case of a joint operation between enterprises or between an enterprise and an institution, forming a new economic entity which independently assumes civil liability and which fulfils the criteria of a legal person, such entity shall acquire the status of a legal person following examination, approval and registration by the authorities in charge. (CCH)

          Article 51. The joint operation of enterprises or of an enterprise and an institutional unit constituting a new economic entity, undertaking civil responsibility independently and meeting the conditions necessary for a juristic person, shall attain the status of a juristic person upon the approval of and registration with the competent authority. (CLR)

    述评：由本条款和五十二条以观，“联营”有组成新的经济实体者，有不然者。但英语“economic association”既是“实体”（“association”难道是假的吗？难道不是实体吗？！）又是“经济的”（economic），作为本节“联营”的译名，就显得片面了――它不能兼容不“组织经济实体”的“联营”。如此看来，本节中的“联营”不论本条还是52条都能适用的译名就只能是CCH和CLR所译的“joint operations”了。本条的其他问题大多已在50条的述评中涉及，恕不赘述。

    原文：第五十二条 企业之间或者企业、事业单位之间联营，共同经营、不具备法人条件的，由联营各方按照出资比例或者协议的约定，以各自所有的或者经营管理的财产承担民事责任。依照法律的规定或者协议的约定负连带责任的，承担连带责任。

    译文：Article 52. If the enterprises or an enterprise and an institution that engage in economic association conduct joint operation but do not have the qualifications of a legal person, each party to the association shall, in proportion to its respective contribution to the investment or according to the agreement made, bear civil liability with the property each party owns or manages. If joint liability is specified by law or by agreement, the parties shall assume joint liability. (LAB)

          Article 52. Where enterprises or an enterprise and an institution join for business purposes without fulfilling the criteria of a legal person, each party to the joint operation shall, in accordance with its proportion of contributed funds or the provisions of an agreement, assume civil liability with its respective property or with the property for operation and management. Where joint liability is to be borne according to law or the terms of an agreement, the parties shall assume joint liability. (CCH)

    　　　 Article 52. When the joint operation or operation in common of enterprises or of an enterprise and an institutional unit does not meet the conditions necessary for the status of a juristic person, each party to such joint operation shall undertake civil responsibility from the property it owns or it operates or manages according to the ratio of its capital contribution as stipulated in the agreement. Where joint liability is provided by law or stipulated by the agreement, joint liability is undertaken. (CLR)

    述评：（１）三家译文又一次不约而同，把“连带责任”与“共同责任”混为一谈而终于误译为“joint liability”。亚、澳、美三大洲中华人民共和国法律汉译英洲际总水平之差，于此可见矣。据本人于四十年代初在东吴大学法学院法律系当低年级学生时所学到、现仍记得的，“连带责任”的英语是“joint and several liability”。当年的任课老师曹士彬教授等还多次指出：别把“共同责任”与“连带责任”、“joint liability”与“joint and several liability”混为一谈。故至今不敢忘怀――怕有违师教，且误大事也。

    　　　（２）试译如下，供比较讨论并批评指正：

              Where two or more enterprises or one enterprise and one non-profit institution or more operate jointly in the form of business alliance without legal personality, parties to the alliance bear their civil liabilities in proportion to each other’s share of contribution or in the proportion agreed on, and to the extent of each other’s property or the property under each other’s management and control. If the civil liability or liabilities are joint and several under law or under contract, the parties bear joint and several liability or liabilities.

    原文：第五十三条 企业之间或者企业、事业单位之间联营，按照合同的约定各自独立经营的，它的权利和义务由合同约定，各自承担民事责任。

    译文：Article 53. If the contract for economic association of enterprises of an enterprise and an institution specifies that each party shall conduct operations independently, it shall stipulate the rights and obligations of each party, and each party shall bear civil liability separately. (LAB)

    　　 Article 53. Where enterprises or an enterprise and an institution join for business purposes and operate independently in accordance with the provisions of a contract, their rights and duties are as stipulated by the contract and each shall assume civil liability. (CCH)

         Article 53. When the joint operation of enterprises or of an enterprise and an institutional unit stipulates by the contract that each operates independently, rights and obligations of operation shall be stipulated in the contract, and each party undertakes civil responsibility. (CLR)

    述评：以译代评如下，请指正：

             Operating under a business alliance independently as contracted, each of the said parties bears its own civil liabilities, its rights and obligations being specified by contract.

   

    第四章 民事法律行为和代理

    原文：第四章 民事法律行为和代理
第一节 民事法律行为

    译文：CHAPTER IV Civil Juristic Acts and Agency

    Section 1: Civil Juristic Acts (LAB)

   

    CHAPTER IV-CIVIL LEGAL ACTS AND AGENCY

    Section 1: Civil Legal Acts (CCH)

   

    CHAPER FOUR: CIVIL JURISTIC ACTS AND AGENCY

    Section 1: Civil Juristic Acts (CLR)

    　述评：我《民法通则》中的“法律行为”之内涵与英语“act-in(-the)-law”即“jurist act”这一民法概念相当，因此LAB与CLR作“civil juristic act”中的“civil”乃过分拘泥于原文的文字表层的赘译，应改正为“juristic acts”才是。至于CCH作“civil legal acts”，则因“legal”一词多义，不如“juristic”毫无歧义。下列引文取自英国《牛津法律手册》，可为此佐证：

    　　　  Juristic act (or act in the law). An expression of will or declaration of intention by a person having legal power to bring about a particular legal result, or produce a legally possible and permissible result. It is by juristic acts that legal persons create, modify, or extinguish rights and duties and affect legal relations between legal persons. Major examples of juristic acts are making promises or wills (unilateral juristic acts) and making agreements (bilateral juristic acts). They have to be distinguished from acts of the law where the law itself affects the rights and duties of a person, or persons, independently of their volitions.

    原文：第五十四条 民事法律行为是公民或者法人设立、变更、终止民事权利和民事义务的合法行为。

    译文：Article 54. A civil juristic act shall be the lawful act of a citizen or legal person to establish, change or terminate civil rights and obligations. （LAB）

          Article 54. Civil legal acts are the legitimate actions of a citizen or legal person in establishing, modifying or terminating civil rights and civil obligations. (CCH)

          Article 54. Civil juristic acts are the lawful acts of citizens or juristic persons to establish, change or terminate their civil rights and obligations. (CLR)

    述评：（1）LAB又滥用“shall”了，可见其积重之难返也。

          （2）其余翻译问题请结合下列译文探讨：

                Juristic acts are lawful acts of citizens or legal persons to create, modify or extinguish their rights and duties.

    原文：第五十五条 民事法律行为应当具备下列条件：

（一）       行为人具有相应的民事行为能力；

（二）       意思表示真实；

（三）       不违反法律或者社会公共利益。

   

    译文：Article 55. A civil juristic act shall meet the following requirements:

   

    (1) the actor has relevant capacity for civil conduct;

    (2) the intention expressed is genuine; and

    (3) the act does not violate the law or the public interest. （LAB）

   

    Article 55. A civil legal act shall fulfil the following criteria:

   

    (i) the actor shall possess the appropriate capacity for civil acts;

    (ii) the intention shall be shown to be genuine;

    (iii) it shall not violate the law or the public interest. (CCH)

    Article 55. Civil juristic acts should meet the following conditions:

    (1) the actor has proper capacity for civil activity;

    (2) the intent shall be accurately declared;

    (3) they must not violate the law or the public interest. (CLR)

   

    述评：（1）“意思表示”是传说的民法术语，既非所表示的意思，更非意思；而上列LAB却译之为前者（“intention expressed”），CCH与CLR且又译之为后者（“intention”和“intent”）。故上列三译都不对。

               （2）CCH在此处的“社会公共利益”英译（the public interest）与其在第四十九条中的英译（common public interests）不一，从而违反了法律翻译中的译名同一律。好在LAB与CLR都遵守了这一基本规则，不论在第四十九还是在本条中先后同，都译作“the public interest”。

    原文：第五十六条 民事法律行为可以采取书面形式、口头形式或者其他形式。法律规定用特定形式的，应当依照法律规定。

    译文：Article 56. A civil juristic act may be in written, oral or other form. If the law stipulates that a particular form be adopted, such stipulation shall be observed. (LAB)

        Article 56. A civil legal act may be in written, oral or other form. Where the law stipulates a particular form, this shall be complied with. (CCH)

        Article 56. Civil juristic acts may take written, oral or other forms. When particular forms are provided by law, they should take the form provided by the law. (CLR)

    述评：（1）本条第一句拖沓累赘，但其实质涵义还是明确的：“民事法律行为可采取任何形式”――共需13个字，而立法原却用了24个字。 因此英译时千万不能拘泥于如此拖沓的文字做表面文章，而应该以简练的英语译出其实质涵义；

        （2） 法律规定的“规定”英语不是“stipulate”或“stipulation”而是“provide”或“provision”――这是法律英语的常识。LAB与CCH所译都违反了这一常识，因此是错误的译文，必须更正。怎样更正呢？按CLR“provided (by law)”用“provision”或“provides”。

        （3）综上并综前所述，改译如下：

         A juristic act may take any form, unless a specific form is provided by law.

    原文：第五十七条 民事法律行为从成立时起具有法律约束力。行为人非依法律规定或者取得对方同意，不得擅自变更或者解除。

    译文：Article 57. A civil juristic act shall be legally binding once it is instituted. The actor shall not alter or rescind his act except in accordance with the law or with the other party's consent. （LAB）

        Article 57. A civil legal act is legally binding from the time it originates. An actor may not rescind or modify an act without reference to the law or without obtaining the consent of the other party. (CCH)

        Article 57. Civil juristic acts have legal binding force from the time they are established. Unless it is provided by law or the consent of the other party is obtained, the actor shall not change them without authorization or rescind them. (CLR)

    述评：（1）什么是“成立”？三译理解似有所不同。笔者之见，“成立”即“完成”，故亦作如是译。

           （2）CLR把“不得擅自变更或者解除”不是正确地理解为“不得擅自变更或者擅自解除”（如LAB和CCH那样），而是错误地理解为把“不得擅自变更”和“解除”这两项相提并论了――因此“without authorization”只修饰“change them”而与“rescind”无涉了。

        （3）提供第4个译文如下，供结合上列三译文进行讨论：

             A juristic act becomes legally binding when completed. No actor may modify or revoke it without the legal authority or the consent of the other party.

   

   

     [译苑争鸣]

    法规英语的翻译往往涉及到很多同义词的词义辨析，如何准确地运用，真可谓仁者见仁，智者见智，愿大家从权威对下列词义的阐释中，得到启迪。

    条例/法规/法则/规定/规章/章程等译名之相互骚扰^③

    现状  根据目前（1998年1月）国内仅有的三种汉英法律（学）词典（1995外文出版社版《汉英法律词典》/1998法律出版社《新汉英法学词典》/1998法律出版社《常用汉英法律词典》），上列六个法律专业用语之英语译名相互纠结，难分难解，犹乱麻一团：

    1.条例 code/ordinance(s)/provisions/regulation(s)/rule/substitute

    2.法规 enactment/laws/laws and regulations/rules/statute/legislation/

    establishment

    3.法则 etiquette/order/ordinance/prescript/regulation/rule/statute

    4．规定provision/regulation/rule/stipulation/prescription

    5. 规章 regulation/rule/rule and regulation

    6．章程 regulations/statute/rule

    分析  1.“条例”可以是“code”而法规却没有资格译成“code”。

    2．“规章”既是X（regulation）又是Y（rule）又是Y+X！

    3．“stipulation”是契约用语指契约的“规定”却被用来译法的范畴的“规定”――张冠李戴了。

    4．“章程”竟被尊为“statute”！

    5．层次高的“条例”被屈译为“substatute”而档次低的“章程”反而被荣译为“statute”。

    6．从来没有过只有一条“rule”的“规则”、“规定”、“规章”、“章程”和“条例”。但它们却被心安理得地译成只用单数的“rule”了。

    7．单数“regulation”是“调整”之类的涵义；“章程”、“规章”之类，却从未见有用单数而总是作复数“regulations”的。但见诸于汉英法律（学）词书者，如上所引，几乎全都是单数的“regulation”，令人愕然。

    8．从“现状1――6”来看，从汉语原名着眼，什么是什么一清二楚。但是从英语读者出发来看，则无法获悉什么是什么：

      （1）ordinance是什么？究竟是“条例”，还是“规则”？

      （2）provision又是什么？是“条例”，还是“规定”？

      （3）“rule”或“regulation”又指什么呢？举凡“条例”、“法规”、“规则”、“规定”、“规章”和“章程”无一不指。

       这不正好违反了翻译的初衷（什么是什么）使英语读者看了对不上号――不知道这“rule”、这“regulation”指的究竟是什么。译了不如不译！

    结论  多谢诸汉英法律词书集中反映了有关译名之极度混乱。区区的贡献仅在于把这一现状揭示出来，使有关的职能部门和机构译者对此有足够的重视。

    ^③ 参见陈忠诚编著《英汉汉英法律用语辨正词典》，法律出版社，2000年，第457页。