长期以来,在法律英语中,存在着严重滥用shall一词的情况,无论外国法律,还是中国法律英译均是如此。对此,英语国家已经开始给予应有注意。美国简明英语行动和信息网出版的写作手册Writing User friendly Documents以及美国国家档案和记录管理局出版的写作手册Drafting Legal Documents中,专门对法律文件中shall等情态动词的用法作出说明: Use “must” for obligation, “may” for permission, and “should" for preference. Use “may not” to convey prohibitions. Avoid the ambiguous “shall." --Writing User- friendly Documents Shall - imposes an obligation to act, but may be confused with prediction of future action Will - predicts future action Must - imposes obligation, indicates a necessity to act Should - infers obligation, but not absolute necessity May - indicates discretion to act May not - indicates a prohibition 一Drafting Legal Documents 现在,关于情态动词的使用,我们终于“有法可依”。下面选取英语各种写作手册中的例子,然后结合汉英法律翻译实例,具体说明情态动词在法律英语中的用法。A是修改前的说法,B是修改后的说法。 例1 A: The Governor shall approve it. B: The Governor must approve it. [表示义务] B: The Governor will approve it. [表示未来行动] 例2 A: The fine for driving without a license shall be $ 10.00. B: The fine for driving without a license is $ 10. 00. 法律具有持续不断的效力。法律是针对法律适用时所说的话,不是起草或者生效时所说的话,因此,法律应当使用一般现在时。通过使用现在时,避免了复杂的动词形式。
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