法律英語的奧秘與法律英語學(xué)習(xí)pt教學(xué)課件

1、法律英語的奧秘與法律英語學(xué)習(xí)1.法律英語的奧秘1.1法律英語的詞匯構(gòu)成繁雜另類，其中蘊含的概念體系層層相扣、密切相關(guān)1.2法律英語典型句型的運用1.3法律英語語篇組織模式的專業(yè)性強Lexical Features of Legal Language0. Introduction1. Frequent use of common words with uncommon meanings2. Frequent use of Old and Middle English words once common, now rare3. Frequent use of Latin words and phr

2、ases4. Use of French words not in the general vocabulary5. Use of terms of art6. Use of argot7. Frequent use of formal words 8. Use of doublets and triplets and synonyms 9. Use of absolutes 10. Deliberate use of words and expressions with flexible meanings 11. SummaryOutlineWORDS LEGAL MEANINGaction

3、 law suitalien轉(zhuǎn)讓 transferavoid廢止 cancelconsideration補償/對價/約因 benefit to promisor or detriment to promiseecounterpart副本 duplicate of a documentcovenant契約 sealed contractdemise遺贈/出租to leasedemur抗辯 /異議 to file a demurrerexecuted簽名使契據(jù)生效 signed and deliveredhand簽字 signatureinstrument文件 legal documentlett

4、ers許可證 document authorizing one to actmaster employer1. Use of common words with uncommon meaning Words that mean one thing to non-lawyers may mean something completely different to lawyers.WORDS LEGAL MEANING motion動議/提案 formal request for action by a courtparty person contracting or litigatingplea

5、d辯護(hù)/抗辯 file pleadingsPrayer訴訟請求 request of a complainantpresents本文件 this legal documentprovided限制性條款/附帶條件word of introduction to a provisopurchase置得/購置to acquire realty by means other than descentsaid mentioned beforesave exceptserve送達(dá) deliver legal papersspecialty蓋印合同 sealed contracttenement保有物/住宅(

6、一個人擁有的租借給他人的財產(chǎn)) estate in land2. Frequent use of Old and Middle English words once common, now rare The general English of today leans heavily on Old and Middle English. But the language of the law retains numerous Old and Middle English words and meanings which have long since passed out of general

7、 usage. Example 2 Provided further that this Policy shall be subject to the Conditions herein contained and to any Memoranda endorsed hereon and such Conditions and Memoranda are to be taken as part of the Policy and the observance and performance by the Insured of the times and terms therein contai

8、ned 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. aforesaidforthwith立刻here words: hereafter, hereby, herein, hereinafter, hereinbefore, hereof, hereto, h

9、eretofore, hereunder, herewith let (as in the phrase “without let or hindrance”無阻礙地,自由地,不受干涉地,通行無阻地,為所欲為地)said (used as an adjective)Such上述的thence從那時起, thenceforth從那時起/其后there words: thereabout, thereafter, thereat, thereby, therefor, therefore, therein, thereon, thereto, theretofore, thereupon, the

10、rewithwhere words: whereas (meaning given the fact that), whereat, wherebywitness (used in the sense of testimony by signature, oath, etc. as “In witness whereof, I have set my hand, .” 簽字蓋章,特此為證witnesseth鑒于(meaning to provide formal evidence of something, the Old English present indicative, third p

11、erson singular verb form.) 3. Frequent use of Latin words and phrases Many of the English words are taken directly from Latin or indirectly through French. Some of the Latin found in the standard law dictionaries have become an accepted part of the English language. For example:affidavit書面證詞/宣誓書alia

12、s別名, 化名Alibi不在犯罪現(xiàn)場的證明/不在犯罪現(xiàn)場一種辯護(hù)形式bona fide善意/真誠的provisoquorum法定人數(shù)habeas corpus人身保護(hù)令prima facieversusBut a large part of law Latin is not in active use:ex parte片面的ex post facto有追溯效力的地(an ex post facto law有追溯效力的法律)guardian ad litem專為某一訴訟指定in flagrante delicto在作案現(xiàn)場in locum parentis代替父母inter alia和其他的事物

13、(=among other things)inter partes (made between two parties; between/among parties )per stirpes (按家系繼承，也指一種從被繼承人那里接受遺產(chǎn)的方式 =by roots/ by (right of) representation; The term is commonly used in wills and trusts to describe the distribution when a beneficiary dies before the person whose estate is bein

14、g divided. Example: I leave $100,000 to my daughter, Eleanor, and if she shall predecease me, to her children, per stirpes. )res ipsa loquitur(英美侵權(quán)法中的)事實自證 in pari materia (=Of like kind; relating to /upon/on the same matter/subject) 同一事情in rem (=against a thing)律對物(指判決的對象是物或財產(chǎn))訴訟地(的)4. Use of Frenc

15、h words not in the general vocabulary A vast section of the language of the law stems from French sources. The following is a list of some French words basic to the law vocabulary (even apart from the land law):actionagreementappealarrestarsonassaultattorneysbattery billclaimConditionconstablescontr

16、actcounselcountcourtcovenantcrimedamagedebtdeclarationdefendantDemand v.傳訊出庭/ n. 正式請求/合法要求descent繼承devise遺贈easement在他人土地上的通行權(quán)(或類似的權(quán)力)evidenceexecutionfelonygoals (jails)grant財產(chǎn)讓渡通guarantee擔(dān)保物/抵押品guardianheirindictmentinfant未成年人judgesjudgmentjurorsjusticelarcenylien留置權(quán)marriagemisdemeanourmoneynoteobl

17、igationpardonpartiespartnerpaymentplaintiffpleadings訴狀pledge質(zhì)押(a loan that required a pledge of property)policepossessionprisonspropertypurchaseReprieve 緩刑(令)/緩期執(zhí)行robberysentenceservantslandersuitTort民事侵權(quán)行為treasonTrespass侵害(用明顯或隱蔽的武力或暴力對人、財產(chǎn)或他人的權(quán)利實施非法傷害，尤指錯誤地侵入另一個人的土地)verdict There is still a substa

18、ntial group of Old French and Anglo-Norman words which have not been taken into the general vocabulary. This is law French. E.g.:alien (in the sense of to transfer)chose in action無形動產(chǎn)(可依法獲得但尚未實際占有)/權(quán)利財產(chǎn)/經(jīng)訴訟取得但尚未實際占有的動產(chǎn)demurrer抗辯(一種表示反對的方法即：同意對方論據(jù)中的事實，但是否定對方基于這些事實的辯護(hù))estoppel禁止翻供/禁止反言(Promissory Esto

19、ppel不得自食其言)estoppel in pais行為禁反言 esquire先生fee simple and fee tail (retaining the French word order)繼承者有絕對處理權(quán)處理地產(chǎn)/限制繼承者的地產(chǎn)/祖?zhèn)魍恋豧ee absolute無條件繼承權(quán)qualified fee有條件繼承attorney general (retaining the French word order)檢查總長/首席檢察官/司法部長laches用作單(行使法律權(quán)利或履行法律義務(wù)的)疏忽,怠慢metes and bounds(房地產(chǎn)的)四至/界線/邊界oyez肅靜(連續(xù)叫三次以

20、示法庭的開庭)Quash=annul取消/廢止(尤指通過司法行為)roll (as in judgment roll)法院案卷/存卷/記錄/目錄 (存卷法官(Master of Roll)save (in the sense of except)specialty (in the sense of sealed contract)style (as in name and style)名稱voire dire一切照實陳述(見證人或陪審員在接受審核時的誓語)5. Use of terms of art A term of art is a technical word with a specif

21、ic meaning and irreplaceable. Not everything that has the sound of the law is a term of art. A term of art must be specific. There are numerous words which operate as a kind of shorthand among lawyers. Here are some law terms of art: agencyalias summons另外的傳票alibiappealbail common countsdefendantdemu

22、rrerdry trust =被動信托 The term dry trust refers to a trust wherein the trustee has no actual responsibilities and no active duties to perform. fee simplefee tailfictitious defendantguaranteehabeas corpus guarantorjudicial notice司法認(rèn)知 lacheslandlord/lessortenant/lessee letters patentmaster and servantmo

23、nth-to-month tenancynegotiable instrument票據(jù)plaintiffprincipal and surety主事人和擔(dān)保人Surrender 歸還（例如地產(chǎn)權(quán)）,尤指在期限未滿之前放棄（租賃）tortvoir dire Terms of art are useful legal words that, over time, have come to refer to recognizable legal concepts. They may be Latin terms, e.g. res ipsa loquitur事實自證 (meaning thing s

24、peaks for itself) or they may be ordinary English words with a specialized meaning, e.g. proximate cause 近因(保險用語)/remote cause遠(yuǎn)因, negligence, and foreseeability. Terms of art are useful simply because they provide a short way to refer to a long concept. 6. Use of argot Argot (=cant or jargon) is spe

25、cialized vocabulary that is common within a group, whether or not deliberately designed to exclude the non-member of the group. The language of the law, sometimes even a particular word, has a dual aspect. Lawyers use language that is intended to speak to lawyers and laymen, as in contracts, jury in

26、structions, notices, and even laws. Lawyers also use language that is intended to speak primarily to each other, as in pleadings, opinions, argument and in the day-to-day negotiation and discussion that is the lawyers life. In this aspect, a portion of the language of the law is ARGOT, a professiona

27、l language. E.g.:alleged有嫌疑的alter ego另一個我/ 個性中的另一面；知己argumentativeat issuebail exonerated開脫/免除 Blackacre 是一個虛構(gòu)的概念，代表財產(chǎn)權(quán)的一種標(biāo)的物：某一塊土地或某一棟房屋breaking and enteringcame on for hearingfour corners of the instrument: the term for studying an entire document to understand its meaning, without reference to an

28、ything outside of the document (extrinsic evidence), such as the circumstances surrounding its writing or the history of the party signing it. Unless examination cannot resolve an ambiguity in the documents language, it should be construed based upon what lies within its four corners. casecause of a

29、ctiondamagesdue care inferior court issue of fact關(guān)于事實的爭論點 issue of law關(guān)于引用法律的爭論點 pierce the corporate veilpurported傳說的；假設(shè)的 pursuant to stipulationrecordreversed and remanded發(fā)回重審superior courtwell settledwithout prejudice7. Frequent use of formal words The style of using formal words in legal languag

30、e has been described as solemn, mystical, and dignified, e.g. the polite expression of former days, approach the bench instead of come here, euphemisms like the deceased and the decedent and undomesticated Latin and French arrested in flagrante delicto instead of caught in the act, etc. More example

31、s: adjudgecame on for hearingdecreeprior to (instead of before)sat down for hearingstrangers to the bloodsubsequent (instead of after)toll the statute: To remove the effect of (the court did not toll the statute of repose after the statutory period had expired)whereas (meaning given the fact that)wi

32、thout prejudice 8. Deliberate use of words and expressions with flexible meanings It is generally agreed that precision is one of the major characteristics of the language of the law. Legal writers are advised to avoid any words or expressions which are likely to cause ambiguity or vagueness. That i

33、s why lawyers customarily choose their words more carefully than non-lawyers. But sometimes they deliberately choose words with flexible meanings. Here is a fair sample of law words and phrases which are often used because they are flexible or despite their flexibility: aboutabuse of discretionadequ

34、ate (as adequate cause / compensation /consideration/remedy, etc.)and/orapparentlyapproximatelyas soon as possibleavailableaveragecareclean and neat conditionclear and convincingcomparableconvenientdesiredoubtlessdue (as due care/process)excessiveexistingexpensesextraordinary (as extraordinary servi

35、ce)extreme crueltyfair divisionfewFixture 附屬物gross (as gross profit)habitualimproperin regard to inadequate intentionintoxicatedlargelatelymalicemeremore or lessnearnet profitobviouspossiblepromptlyproperreasonable (as reasonable care/man/speed/time, etc.)regularsatisfactionsatisfyserious (as seriou

36、s illness/misconduct, crime, circumstances, etc.) similarsound mindsufficientsuitabletemporarilythingstransactiontryunder the influence of understandundue (as undue influence/interference/restraint, etc.)unreasonableunsafeunsoundunusualusualvaluablevoluntaryworthlessIn translating words with flexibl

37、e meanings, translators do not have to worry about the vagueness that might arise. What they can do is to keep faithful to the original and leave the problem of vagueness for the judges, because Judges make law. 9. Use of doublets and triplets and synonyms在各種法律條文中,我們可以常見到以下的類似用法:rights and interests

38、權(quán)益,terms and conditions條款,complete and final understanding全部和最終的理解,customs fees and duties關(guān)稅,losses and damages損壞,null and void無效,sign and issue簽發(fā),這些詞表示固定的意義,使用和翻譯時不能隨意拆開。More examples of doublets and triplets： moneys, obligations and liabilitiesmake payment, performancein the funds and currencywith

39、holding, deduction扣除unless and until = untilconstitution or partnersamount due or owingincurred or arising out or in connection therewithincurred, created, assumedagree and declarecredit or facilitiesdeed or covenantguarantee, indemnity, assurance, pledgebill, notemortgage, chargeright, power or rem

40、edyvalid or enforceableinvalid or unenforceabledefect, or insufficiency or wantirregular or impropertaking or raising any pointindulgence or concessionterms or conditions by this act and deedall and singularafter or changecease and desistconfessed and acknowledgedcovenants and agreesdo and perform e

41、ach and everyfixtures or fittingsfree and completefull and completegood and effectualgood and sufficientgoods and chattelshad and receivedin connection withlast will and testament any matter, fact or thingnominate, constitute and appointloans or advances made or to be madecompromise, arrangement or

42、settlementby virtue of or in connection withpaid, discharged and satisfiedrelease, discharge or settlementprovisions or enactmentin full force and effectcombine or consolidate all or any of sbs accounts of any nature or description whatsoevercoming into your possession or controlunder or pursuant to

43、 in your sole and absolute discretion valid or effectivebe cumulative and in additionto do or cause to be doneagrees and consentsbe declared or adjudgedillegal, invalid or unenforceableillegality, invalidity or unenforceabilityremain in full force, validity and effectgood and validjudgment, award an

44、d/ or ordersigned, sealed and delivered made and entered intomeans and includestotally null and voidorder and directperform and dischargerepair and make goodsave and exceptsettle and compromisesuffer or permitterms and conditionstried and tested true and correctunless and untilwell and sufficientlya

45、ny matter, fact or thingsconvey, transfer and set over give, devise and bequeath rest, residue and remainder 重言詞/同義詞的使用absolutely uniqueascend upblend togethercondense downcontinue oncooperate togetherforward planningimportant essentialsmutually agreepast historytotally unanimous 10. Use of absolute

46、s In addition of the use of terms of art, there is a recurrent choice of absolutes like the following: allimpossibleirrevocablelast clear chancenevernoneoutright perpetuityunavoidable unbrokenuniformwhereverwhoever There are phrases designed to keep the restricted restricted:and no moreand no other

47、purposeshall not constitute a waivershall not be deemed a consent There are phrases intended to keep the broad broad: including but not limit to . or other similar or dissimilar causes .shall not be deemed to limitwithout prejudicenothing contained herein shall . 11. ConclusionThose are the major le

48、xical characteristics of the language of the law. Most lawyers use traditional law language because they believe that ordinary English is beneath a professionals dignity; as it should be - when ordinary English is bad English or when law language says it better. In fact, ordinary English is not alwa

49、ys bad English, and law language does not always say it better, or more precisely. Simple language can achieve the correct style and tone by being straightforward, clear, precise and complete (using no more words than are necessary). Although some people may insist that plain language is not appropr

50、iate for legal writing, there has been a movement among lawyers towards using plain English. In order to achieve the proper tone, the following factors must be taken into account: (1) your potential readers: clients, judges or general public; (2) the readers needs and knowledge of the subject matter

51、; (3) what you need to say in the circumstances. One of the essentials for producing - writing or translating - clear, concise, precise, and jargon-free legal documents is the choice of words. In The Elements of Legal Writing, M.Faulk and I.Mebler (1994) put forward the following principles: (1) Use

52、 only essential words from traditional legal phrases. (2) Avoid lawyerisms. (3) Use Latin and French terms only for firmly entrenched legal concepts.法律英語詞匯、法律體系、法律文化1. Criminal Law and Related Concepts犯罪構(gòu)成四要素：Actus Reus犯罪行為Mens Rea主觀過錯/犯罪意圖Concurrence兩者并存Causation 因果關(guān)系刑罰的目的Retribution 報應(yīng)目的Deterrence

53、 威懾目的Rehabilitation 改造目的Incapacitation 剝奪犯罪能力的目的以刑法與刑訴為例crime 與offence 是同義詞，但還有一定差別。尚未落定的罪名往往叫offence; 已經(jīng)落定的罪通常才叫crime。因此，offender 可譯成“違犯者”；而criminal譯成“罪犯”更為貼切。有人違犯交通法規(guī)或亂穿馬路，他可以是一個“offender”，但未必是一個“criminal”。Common Law（舊時）: Three degrees of crime: treason叛國罪; felony重刑罪/重罪; misdemeanour非重刑罪/輕罪; Anoth

54、er type of classification: misfeasance失當(dāng)行為; delinquency失職行為; violation犯規(guī)/違反行為; misdemeanour非重刑罪/輕罪; felony重刑罪extortionracketeeringbriberybuggerysodomydefamationlibelslanderingdefalcationMisdemeanour includes: adultery/fornicationaffray滋擾罪（聚眾斗毆）nuisance滋擾罪/妨害罪（作公眾討厭的事）battery（e.g. wife-battery）intimi

55、dationblackmailindecent exposuregross indecencyhooliganismincestloiteringmoney laundryperjurypersonation假冒身分procurement拉皮條sex-harassmentthefttrespassing embezzlementencroachmentindecent exposure粗狂行為罪gross indecency嚴(yán)重猥褻罪false accountingfraud gamblingDistinction：1) libel, slandering 都是誹謗行為, 但前者主要指書面誹謗

56、，后者則為口頭誹謗，其統(tǒng)稱為defamation。2) affray, nuisance同為滋擾罪，前者主要指聚眾打架斗毆之類的滋擾；后者則尤指作些公眾普遍討厭的事情，如在夜間大聲喧嘩擾眾之類的行為。3) defalcation, embezzlement, encroachment 三者中文譯文都是侵吞、侵占，但其內(nèi)涵有所不同：最前者所“侵吞、侵占”一定是公家或其所托管的金錢，因此一般譯成“挪用公款罪”， 后者主要指侵吞他人的不動產(chǎn)，如土地；而中間一詞可以侵吞任何錢/物，如美國一位在精子銀行做事的女職員未經(jīng)委托人同意，私自動用某名人精子為己授精生子，其所犯的控罪是embezzlement。4

57、) blackmail, extortion, racketeering 這一組的中文譯文均為敲詐勒索，但前者一般指不使用暴力、通過威脅，如泄露對對方有害的資料而索取錢財；中間一詞指通過暴力、地位、權(quán)利等各種手段索取金錢；后者則類似“fraud”, 以欺騙或帶威脅手段勒索錢財。Felony includesarsonconspiracygenocidehijackinginfanticidemanslaughtermutinymurderdrug / narcotic(s) trafficking raping gang-raping輪奸罪riotrobberysex assaultsmugg

58、lingtorturetreason在西方，殺人罪名稱五花八門: murder（謀殺）, manslaughter（誤殺）, homicide（殺人）, genocide（種族滅絕罪）, infanticide（殺嬰罪）。所有有人被殺案件均可稱之為“homicide”（例外：suicide）Dangerous drugs include: Marihuana, morphine, cocaine, amphetamine（fling）; opium; heroinCannabis; ecstacy; ketamine; Acid; LSD= Acid迷幻藥; acid tripDistinct

59、ion: drug trafficking & drug smuggling對犯有各種罪行的犯罪分子，各地是如何將他們繩之以法的呢？對已經(jīng)定罪的（the convicted）究竟有哪些處罰呢？ abortion 解作流產(chǎn)時并非法律詞匯，但作為法律詞匯時，其意為墮胎。這在許多實行普通法的國家是一項可以坐牢的罪行。同樣，adultery/fornication (通奸罪)，在許多神權(quán)國家和地區(qū),也是一種罪行，例如在臺灣，通奸仍然是一樁可被刑事檢控的罪名。而在其他一些國家，adultery 比起“sex assault”、“raping”已經(jīng)不算為罪，e.g.Bryant has said he c

60、ommitted adultery by having consensual sex with his accuser in his hotel room at the Lodge and Spa a Cordillera in Edwards, Colo. He faces four years to life imprisonment if convicted.（洛杉磯時報，2003：A18）Bryant被指控犯了性攻擊（sex assault）或強奸（raping）罪。倘若Bryant 被裁定犯了通奸罪，他可以無罪開釋；但若“性攻擊”或強奸罪名成立，他至少得坐監(jiān)四年，甚至有可能被終身監(jiān)禁