法律英语的奥秘与法律英语学习.ppt

1、法律英语的奥秘与法律英语学习,1.法律英语的奥秘,1.1法律英语的词汇构成繁杂另类，其中蕴含的概念体系层层相扣、密切相关 1.2法律英语典型句型的运用 1.3法律英语语篇组织模式的专业性强,Lexical Features of Legal Language,0. Introduction 1. Frequent use of common words with uncommon meanings 2. Frequent use of Old and Middle English words once common, now rare 3. Frequent use of Latin word

2、s and phrases 4. Use of French words not in the general vocabulary 5. Use of terms of art 6. Use of argot 7. 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. Summary,Outline,WORDS LEGA

3、L MEANING action law suit alien转让 transfer avoid废止 cancel consideration补偿/对价/约因 benefit to promisor or detriment to promisee counterpart副本 duplicate of a document covenant契约 sealed contract demise遗赠/出租to lease demur抗辩 /异议 to file a demurrer executed签名使契据生效 signed and delivered hand签字 signature instr

4、ument文件 legal document letters许可证 document authorizing one to act master employer,1. 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动议/提案 formal request for action by a court party perso

5、n contracting or litigating plead辩护/抗辩 file pleadings Prayer诉讼请求 request of a complainant presents本文件 this legal document provided限制性条款/附带条件word of introduction to a proviso purchase置得/购置to acquire realty by means other than descent said mentioned before save except serve送达 deliver legal papers spec

6、ialty盖印合同 sealed contract tenement保有物/住宅(一个人拥有的租借给他人的财产) estate in land,2. 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 w

7、hich have long since passed out of general 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 Ins

8、ured 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.,aforesaid forthwith立刻 here words: hereafter, hereby, herein,

9、hereinafter, hereinbefore, hereof, hereto, heretofore, hereunder, herewith let (as in the phrase “without let or hindrance”无阻碍地,自由地,不受干涉地,通行无阻地,为所欲为地) said (used as an adjective) Such上述的,thence从那时起, thenceforth从那时起/其后 there words: thereabout, thereafter, thereat, thereby, therefor, therefore, therei

10、n, thereon, thereto, theretofore, thereupon, therewith where words: whereas (meaning given the fact that), whereat, whereby witness (used in the sense of testimony by signature, oath, etc. as “In witness whereof, I have set my hand, .” 签字盖章,特此为证 witnesseth鉴于(meaning to provide formal evidence of som

11、ething, the Old English present indicative, third person 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

12、English language. For example: affidavit书面证词/宣誓书 alias别名, 化名 Alibi不在犯罪现场的证明/不在犯罪现场一种辩护形式 bona fide善意/真诚的 proviso quorum法定人数 habeas corpus人身保护令 prima facie versus,But 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专为某一诉讼

13、指定 in flagrante delicto在作案现场 in locum parentis代替父母 inter alia和其他的事物(=among other things) inter partes (made between two parties; between/among parties ) per stirpes (按家系继承，也指一种从被继承人那里接受遗产的方式 =by roots/ by (right of) representation; The term is commonly used in wills and trusts to describe the distri

14、bution when a beneficiary dies before the person whose estate is being divided. Example: I leave $100,000 to my daughter, Eleanor, and if she shall predecease me, to her children, per stirpes. ) res ipsa loquitur(英美侵权法中的)事实自证 in pari materia (=Of like kind; relating to /upon/on the same matter/subje

15、ct) 同一事情 in rem (=against a thing)律对物(指判决的对象是物或财产)诉讼地(的),4. Use of French 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): action agreement

16、 appeal arrest arson assault attorneys battery bill claim Condition constables contract,counsel count court covenant crime damage debt declaration defendant Demand v.传讯出庭/ n. 正式请求/合法要求 descent继承 devise遗赠 easement在他人土地上的通行权(或类似的权力),evidence execution felony goals (jails) grant财产让渡通 guarantee担保物/抵押品 g

17、uardian heir indictment infant未成年人 judges judgment jurors justice,larceny lien留置权 marriage misdemeanour money note obligation pardon parties partner payment plaintiff pleadings诉状,pledge质押(a loan that required a pledge of property) police possession prisons property purchase Reprieve 缓刑(令)/缓期执行 robbe

18、ry sentence servant slander suit Tort民事侵权行为 treason Trespass侵害(用明显或隐蔽的武力或暴力对人、财产或他人的权利实施非法伤害，尤指错误地侵入另一个人的土地) verdict,There is still a substantial 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 tran

19、sfer) chose in action无形动产(可依法获得但尚未实际占有)/权利财产/经诉讼取得但尚未实际占有的动产 demurrer抗辩(一种表示反对的方法即：同意对方论据中的事实，但是否定对方基于这些事实的辩护) estoppel禁止翻供/禁止反言(Promissory Estoppel不得自食其言) estoppel in pais行为禁反言 esquire先生 fee simple and fee tail (retaining the French word order)继承者有绝对处理权处理地产/限制继承者的地产/祖传土地 fee absolute无条件继承权 qualifie

20、d fee有条件继承,attorney general (retaining the French word order)检查总长/首席检察官/司法部长 laches用作单(行使法律权利或履行法律义务的)疏忽,怠慢 metes and bounds(房地产的)四至/界线/边界 oyez肃静(连续叫三次以示法庭的开庭) Quash=annul取消/废止(尤指通过司法行为) roll (as in judgment roll)法院案卷/存卷/记录/目录 (存卷法官(Master of Roll) save (in the sense of except) specialty (in the sen

21、se of sealed contract) style (as in name and style)名称 voire dire一切照实陈述(见证人或陪审员在接受审核时的誓语),5. Use of terms of art,A term of art is a technical word with a specific 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 numero

22、us words which operate as a kind of shorthand among lawyers. Here are some law terms of art: agency alias summons另外的传票 alibi appeal,bail common counts defendant demurrer dry trust =被动信托 The term dry trust refers to a trust wherein the trustee has no actual responsibilities and no active duties to pe

23、rform. fee simple fee tail fictitious defendant guarantee habeas corpus guarantor judicial notice司法认知 laches landlord/lessor tenant/lessee,letters patent master and servant month-to-month tenancy negotiable instrument票据 plaintiff principal and surety主事人和担保人 Surrender 归还（例如地产权）,尤指在期限未满之前放弃（租赁） tort v

24、oir 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事实自证 (meaning thing speaks for itself) or they may be ordinary English words with a specialized meaning, e.g. proximate cause 近因(保险用语)/remot

25、e cause远因, 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 specialized vocabulary that is common within a group, whether or not deliberately designed to exclude the non-member of th

26、e 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 instructions, notices, and even laws. Lawyers also use language that is intended to speak primarily to each other, as in

27、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 professional language. E.g.:,alleged有嫌疑的 alter ego另一个我/ 个性中的另一面；知己 argumentative at issue bail exonerated开脱/免除 Blackacre 是一个虚构的概念，

28、代表财产权的一种标的物：某一块土地或某一栋房屋 breaking and entering came on for hearing four corners of the instrument: the term for studying an entire document to understand its meaning, without reference to anything outside of the document (extrinsic evidence), such as the circumstances surrounding its writing or the h

29、istory 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.,case cause of action damages due care inferior court issue of fact关于事实的争论点 issue of law关于引用法律的争论点 pierce the corporate veil p

30、urported传说的；假设的 pursuant to stipulation record reversed and remanded发回重审 superior court well settled without prejudice,7. Frequent use of formal words,The style of using formal words in legal language has been described as solemn, mystical, and dignified, e.g. the polite expression of former days, a

31、pproach 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 examples:,adjudge came on for hearing decree prior to (instead of before) sat down for hearing strangers to

32、the blood subsequent (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) without prejudice,8. Deliberate use of words and expressions with flexible meanings,It is gene

33、rally 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 is why lawyers customarily choose their words more carefully than non-lawyers. But sometimes

34、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:,about abuse of discretion adequate (as adequate cause / compensation /consideration/remedy, etc.) and/or apparently appro

35、ximately as soon as possible available average care clean and neat condition clear and convincing,comparable convenient desire doubtless due (as due care/process) excessive existing expenses extraordinary (as extraordinary service) extreme cruelty fair division few Fixture 附属物 gross (as gross profit

36、) habitual improper in regard to inadequate,intention intoxicated large lately malice mere more or less near net profit obvious possible promptly proper reasonable (as reasonable care/man/speed/time, etc.) regular satisfaction,satisfy serious (as serious illness/misconduct, crime, circumstances, etc

37、.) similar sound mind sufficient suitable temporarily things transaction try under the influence of understand,undue (as undue influence/interference/restraint, etc.) unreasonable unsafe unsound unusual usual valuable voluntary worthless,In translating words with flexible meanings, translators do no

38、t 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 在各种法律条文中,我们可以常见到以下的类似用法: rights and interests权益,terms and conditions条款,c

39、omplete and final understanding全部和最终的理解,customs fees and duties关税,losses and damages损坏,null and void无效,sign and issue签发,这些词表示固定的意义,使用和翻译时不能随意拆开。 More examples of doublets and triplets：,moneys, obligations and liabilities make payment, performance in the funds and currency withholding, deduction扣除 un

40、less and until = until constitution or partners amount due or owing incurred or arising out or in connection therewith incurred, created, assumed agree and declare credit or facilities deed or covenant guarantee, indemnity, assurance, pledge bill, note,mortgage, charge right, power or remedy valid o

41、r enforceable invalid or unenforceable defect, or insufficiency or want irregular or improper taking or raising any point indulgence or concession terms or conditions by this act and deed all and singular after or change,cease and desist confessed and acknowledged covenants and agrees do and perform

42、 each and every fixtures or fittings free and complete full and complete good and effectual good and sufficient goods and chattels had and received in connection with last will and testament,any matter, fact or thing nominate, constitute and appoint loans or advances made or to be made compromise, a

43、rrangement or settlement by virtue of or in connection with paid, discharged and satisfied release, discharge or settlement provisions or enactment in full force and effect combine or consolidate all or any of sbs accounts of any nature or description whatsoever coming into your possession or contro

44、l under or pursuant to in your sole and absolute discretion,valid or effective be cumulative and in addition to do or cause to be done agrees and consents be declared or adjudged illegal, invalid or unenforceable illegality, invalidity or unenforceability remain in full force, validity and effect go

45、od and valid judgment, award and/ or order signed, sealed and delivered,made and entered into means and includes totally null and void order and direct perform and discharge repair and make good save and except settle and compromise suffer or permit terms and conditions tried and tested,true and cor

46、rect unless and until well and sufficiently any matter, fact or things convey, transfer and set over give, devise and bequeath rest, residue and remainder,重言词/同义词的使用 absolutely unique ascend up blend together condense down continue on cooperate together forward planning important essentials mutually

47、 agree past history totally unanimous,10. Use of absolutes,In addition of the use of terms of art, there is a recurrent choice of absolutes like the following: all impossible irrevocable last clear chance never none outright perpetuity unavoidable unbroken uniform wherever whoever,There are phrases

48、designed to keep the restricted restricted: and no more and no other purpose shall not constitute a waiver shall 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 limit without pre

49、judice nothing contained herein shall .,11. Conclusion Those are the major lexical 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 Engli

50、sh or when law language says it better. In fact, ordinary English is not always 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 n

51、ecessary). Although some people may insist that plain language is not appropriate 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

52、 or general public; (2) the readers needs and knowledge of the subject matter; (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 Writi

53、ng, M.Faulk and I.Mebler (1994) put forward the following principles: (1) Use only essential words from traditional legal phrases. (2) Avoid lawyerisms. (3) Use Latin and French terms only for firmly entrenched legal concepts.,法律英语词汇、法律体系、法律文化,1. Criminal Law and Related Concepts 犯罪构成四要素： Actus Reus

54、犯罪行为 Mens Rea主观过错/犯罪意图 Concurrence两者并存 Causation 因果关系 刑罚的目的 Retribution 报应目的 Deterrence 威慑目的 Rehabilitation 改造目的 Incapacitation 剥夺犯罪能力的目的,以刑法与刑诉为例,crime 与offence 是同义词，但还有一定差别。尚未落定的罪名往往叫offence; 已经落定的罪通常才叫crime。因此，offender 可译成“违犯者”；而criminal译成“罪犯”更为贴切。有人违犯交通法规或乱穿马路，他可以是一个“offender”，但未必是一个“criminal”。

55、Common Law（旧时）: Three degrees of crime: treason叛国罪; felony重刑罪/重罪; misdemeanour非重刑罪/轻罪; Another type of classification: misfeasance失当行为; delinquency失职行为; violation犯规/违反行为; misdemeanour非重刑罪/轻罪; felony重刑罪,extortion racketeering bribery buggery sodomy defamation libel slandering defalcation,Misdemeanour

56、 includes: adultery/fornication affray滋扰罪（聚众斗殴） nuisance滋扰罪/妨害罪（作公众讨厌的事） battery（e.g. wife-battery） intimidation blackmail,indecent exposure gross indecency hooliganism incest loitering money laundry perjury personation假冒身分 procurement拉皮条 sex-harassment theft trespassing,embezzlement encroachment in

57、decent exposure粗狂行为罪 gross indecency严重猥亵罪 false accounting fraud gambling,Distinction： 1) libel, slandering 都是诽谤行为, 但前者主要指书面诽谤，后者则为口头诽谤，其统称为defamation。 2) affray, nuisance同为滋扰罪，前者主要指聚众打架斗殴之类的滋扰；后者则尤指作些公众普遍讨厌的事情，如在夜间大声喧哗扰众之类的行为。,3) defalcation, embezzlement, encroachment 三者中文译文都是侵吞、侵占，但其内涵有所不同：最前者所“侵

58、吞、侵占”一定是公家或其所托管的金钱，因此一般译成“挪用公款罪”， 后者主要指侵吞他人的不动产，如土地；而中间一词可以侵吞任何钱/物，如美国一位在精子银行做事的女职员未经委托人同意，私自动用某名人精子为己授精生子，其所犯的控罪是embezzlement。 4) blackmail, extortion, racketeering 这一组的中文译文均为敲诈勒索，但前者一般指不使用暴力、通过威胁，如泄露对对方有害的资料而索取钱财；中间一词指通过暴力、地位、权利等各种手段索取金钱；后者则类似“fraud”, 以欺骗或带威胁手段勒索钱财。,Felony includes,arson conspirac

59、y genocide hijacking infanticide manslaughter mutiny murder,drug / narcotic(s) trafficking raping gang-raping轮奸罪 riot robbery sex assault smuggling torture treason,在西方，杀人罪名称五花八门: murder（谋杀）, manslaughter（误杀）, homicide（杀人）, genocide（种族灭绝罪）, infanticide（杀婴罪）。所有有人被杀案件均可称之为“homicide”（例外：suicide）,Dangerous drugs include: Marihuana, morphine, cocaine, amphetamine（fling）; opium; heroin Cannabis; ecstacy; ketamine; Acid; LSD= Acid迷幻药; acid trip Distinction: drug trafficking 已经起诉但尚未定罪的疑犯则关押在jail 里；已经定罪或判刑的囚犯则会送往prison 服刑。在美国，jail 由县或郡(county)的治安部门管理；而prison 则由州政府或