法律文件中的长句如何翻译（一）
分类: FECT金融英语
做翻译，最难处理的莫过于长句。这里所谓的“长句”，不单纯就句子的长度而言，而且是指语法结构比较复杂、从句和修饰语较多、包含的内容层次在一个以上的句子。鉴于法律文件的目的、性质和文体特征，其长句出现的频率远远高于其他文字作品，这就给法律翻译造成了额外负担。因此，可以这样说，正确理解和翻译长句，是法律翻译成败的要素之一。
翻译长句，首先要从语法分析入手理解句子的完整意思，而后在理解的基础上将其意思用通顺的汉语翻译出来。以“导论”中0.3节所给的长句为例，这个句子的主句（the Parties shall promptly consult and decide whether…）前面有一个很长的条件状语从句（if, after the signing of this Agreement, the Chinese government either at the State, provincial, municipal or local level adopts any new law, regulation, decree or rule, amends or repeals any provision of any law, regulation, decree or rule, or adopts any different interpretation or method of implementation of any law, regulation, decree or rule, which contravenes this Agreement or which materially and adversely affects a Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement, then upon written notice thereof from the affected party to the other Party）和时间状语（then upon written notice thereof from the affected party to the other Party），在条件状语从句中，又夹带着一个时间状语（after the signing of this agreement）和一个定语从句（which contravenes this Agreement or which materially and adversely affects a Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement）。主句本身也相当复杂，除了有主语加两个并立的谓语和宾语的基本句子结构外，两个谓语动词未完分别有方式状语（in accordance with the original provisions thereof as per the relevant provisions of the Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China）及目的状语（in order to preserve each Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement）和方式状语（on a basis no less favourable than the economic benefit it would have received if such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted, amended, repealed or so interpreted of so interpreted or implemented）修饰。就是在后一个方式状语中，也还有一个作定语的虚拟句（it would have received of such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted, amended, repealed or so interpreted or implemented）。纵观整个句子，内有主句又有从句，修饰语套修饰语，一个接一个叠加，一环扣一环相连，构成了复杂的修饰和被修饰关系。只有弄清楚句子里各个成分之间的相互关系，才有可能理解句子的完整意思。
由于这个句子内部存在着复杂关系，要准确、通顺地译出原句的完事意思并不是一件容易的事情。比较英语和汉语这两种语言的句子结构，不难发现，英语可以凭借关联词形成很长的句子，而汉语却没有诸如关系代词和关系副词之类的关联词，因而也就不可能产生结构复杂的长句。英语复合句，各个成分之间都有适当的关联词加以连接，以表明它们之间的逻辑关系，这就使得句子各个成分的设置有较大的灵活性。汉语句子一般是按时间顺序和中国人的逻辑思维顺序编排的，即使不使用关联词，也能构成完整的意思。翻译长句，要按汉语的表达方式处理英语句子里错综复杂的关系。处理方法大致可归纳为两种：一种是基本上按英语原句的结构顺序翻译，另一种是按汉语的时间顺序和逻辑顺序翻译。本章将着重分析第一种翻译方法。
翻译长句，首先要从语法分析入手理解句子的完整意思，而后在理解的基础上将其意思用通顺的汉语翻译出来。以“导论”中0.3节所给的长句为例，这个句子的主句（the Parties shall promptly consult and decide whether…）前面有一个很长的条件状语从句（if, after the signing of this Agreement, the Chinese government either at the State, provincial, municipal or local level adopts any new law, regulation, decree or rule, amends or repeals any provision of any law, regulation, decree or rule, or adopts any different interpretation or method of implementation of any law, regulation, decree or rule, which contravenes this Agreement or which materially and adversely affects a Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement, then upon written notice thereof from the affected party to the other Party）和时间状语（then upon written notice thereof from the affected party to the other Party），在条件状语从句中，又夹带着一个时间状语（after the signing of this agreement）和一个定语从句（which contravenes this Agreement or which materially and adversely affects a Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement）。主句本身也相当复杂，除了有主语加两个并立的谓语和宾语的基本句子结构外，两个谓语动词未完分别有方式状语（in accordance with the original provisions thereof as per the relevant provisions of the Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China）及目的状语（in order to preserve each Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement）和方式状语（on a basis no less favourable than the economic benefit it would have received if such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted, amended, repealed or so interpreted of so interpreted or implemented）修饰。就是在后一个方式状语中，也还有一个作定语的虚拟句（it would have received of such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted, amended, repealed or so interpreted or implemented）。纵观整个句子，内有主句又有从句，修饰语套修饰语，一个接一个叠加，一环扣一环相连，构成了复杂的修饰和被修饰关系。只有弄清楚句子里各个成分之间的相互关系，才有可能理解句子的完整意思。
由于这个句子内部存在着复杂关系，要准确、通顺地译出原句的完事意思并不是一件容易的事情。比较英语和汉语这两种语言的句子结构，不难发现，英语可以凭借关联词形成很长的句子，而汉语却没有诸如关系代词和关系副词之类的关联词，因而也就不可能产生结构复杂的长句。英语复合句，各个成分之间都有适当的关联词加以连接，以表明它们之间的逻辑关系，这就使得句子各个成分的设置有较大的灵活性。汉语句子一般是按时间顺序和中国人的逻辑思维顺序编排的，即使不使用关联词，也能构成完整的意思。翻译长句，要按汉语的表达方式处理英语句子里错综复杂的关系。处理方法大致可归纳为两种：一种是基本上按英语原句的结构顺序翻译，另一种是按汉语的时间顺序和逻辑顺序翻译。本章将着重分析第一种翻译方法。