公文翻译:译·注·评(翻译名师讲评系列)
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7 Immunity

原文

The basis for the view that immunity is enjoyed by Heads of State, Heads of Government and ministers for foreign affairs is the fact that their functions include representing the State in international relations, a function that, it should be borne in mind, is based on international law and performed automatically, without the need for any express authorization by the State that they represent. In essence, their function is to represent the State under its political and administrative model and its domestic law, which, in their respective States, sets the requirements for the post of Head of State, Head of Government or Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is a representational function which international law attributes to these offices, independently of a State's domestic law, the sole function of which is to establish a homogeneous hierarchical model for representation of the State within the international community as a whole, and which promotes and facilitates the maintenance of international relations. It is precisely this automatic representational nature, based on international law, which explains the status that is granted to these three State officials within the framework of international law as a whole and which is also recognized in the context of immunity from foreign criminal jurisdiction.

原译文

豁免

认为豁免[50]国家元首、政府首脑和外交部长享有的观点是以他们的职能包括在国际关系中代表国家这一事实为基础的。应该铭记[51]的一点是,这一职能以国际法为基础,行使该职能具有自动性质,无须他们所代表的国家表示[52]授权。从本质上说,他们的职能是在国家的政治和行政模式及国内法之下[53]代表国家,而各自国家的政治和行政模式及国内法规定了[54]国家元首、政府首脑或外交部长职务的要求。代表职能是国际法赋予这些办公室[55]的,独立于[56]国家的国内法。国内法的唯一职能是在整个国际社会为国家代表建立统一的按等级划分的模式[57],并且促进和便利维护国际关系。在国际法的基础上,正是这种自动代表的特征解释了[58]在国际法的框架内给予这三类国家[59]的官员的这种地位,这一点在外国刑事管辖豁免的框架内也得到承认。

点评

[50]中英文的一个差别是,被动语态在英语里的使用显然多于中文。因此,我们不便沿用英语出现的所有被动语态结构。此处也属这种情况。

[51]“铭记”一般不用在这种场合。

[52]express是形容词,意为definitely stated, not merely implied(即“明示”)。例如Students are not allowed to leave the grounds during school hours unless they have express permission from the principal's office.(没有校长办公室的明示许可,学生在学校授课时间内不得离校。)

[53]under的译法过于拘泥字面。此处的under意为subject to the authority, control, guidance, or instruction of,译成“根据”更加确切一些。其他例子如:

• The country is now under martial law. 该国目前由军法统治。

• Under the terms of the agreement, our company will receive 40% of the profits.根据协议条款,本公司将得到利润的40%。

• The boy is considered a minor under British law.根据英国法律,这个男孩被视为未成年人。

[54]译者对以下这句话的理解出现问题:

In essence, their function is to represent the State under its political and administrative model and its domestic law, which, in their respective States, sets the requirements for the post of Head of State, Head of Government or Minister for Foreign Affairs.

原文里的which从句只修饰前面的domestic law,而与political and administrative model无关。无论根据语法还是根据常识,我们都可做出这一判断。从语法角度来看,which后面的动词sets为单数形式,而如果从句是用来修饰前面两者,则动词一般用复数形式。根据常识,我们也知道,只有国内法才可规定职务要求。

[55]offices是指“职务”(即a position of authority, trust, or service, typically one of a public nature),译成“办公室”不仅文字不通,而且意思也不对。类似的例子如He assumed the office of mayor.(他就任市长。)

[56]independently of的译法紧贴字面,却未能清楚反映实际意思。该词组在这里意为not influenced or controlled in any way by other people, events, or things或without regard to或irrespective of,译成“不受……影响”要确切得多。其他例子如:

• Independently of what you may think, I have my own convictions. 不管你怎么想,我有自己的信念。

• They all submitted the same proposals, quite independent of each other.他们没有相互商量过,却都提交了相同的建议。

[57]the sole function of which中的which是指representational function;function在这里为“功用”之意,译成“职能”不妥;hierarchical虽有“等级”的意思,但在此处重点不在于“等级”,而是表示“结构”。

[58]对于It is precisely this automatic representational nature, based on international law, which explains the status...,原译文又是亦步亦趋,紧贴字面,但译文的意思很不清楚(“解释了……地位”)。其实explains在这里并不是“解释”(make something clear or easy to understand),而是“说明原因”(give the reason for or cause of)。

[59]“三类国家的官员”中的“三类”所处位置容易引起歧义,可以被理解为修饰“国家”。

参考译文

豁免

关于国家元首、政府首脑和外交部长享有豁免的观点的依据是他们的职能之一是在国际关系中代表国家。应该记得,这一职能是以国际法为基础的,行使该职能是自动的,无须他们所代表的国家明示授权。归根结底,这一职能就是根据国家的政治和行政模式及国内法代表国家。各国国内法规定了担任国家元首、政府首脑或外交部长职务的要求。代表职能是国际法赋予这种职务的,不受国内法影响,其目的不外乎在整个国际社会确立统一的国家代表结构模式,帮助和便利维护国际关系。正是由于这种依据国际法自动代表国家的特征,在国际法的框架内才会让担任这三种职务的国家官员享有这种地位,这一特征在外国刑事管辖豁免的框架内也得到承认。

短文 虚词的处理

英语里有一些词语本身在句中没有实际含义,主要作用是辅助造句。比如,fact经常起引导同位语从句的作用,全部信息要素均包含于同位语从句之中(当然,fact不引导同位语时是有实际意义的,比如It's a fact known to all.)。对于这类辅助词,我们没有必要硬译。

【例1】 The basis for the view that immunity is enjoyed by Heads of State, Heads of Government and ministers for foreign affairs is the fact that their functions include representing the State in international relations.

【原译】认为豁免被国家元首、政府首脑和外交部长享有的观点是以他们的职能包括在国际关系中代表国家这一事实为基础的。

the fact在句中不是具有实际含义的词语,其功用是引导一个从句,具有句法用途,但没有表意的功用。在这种情况下不一定非要译出不可。当然在本句里,由于句子不算太长,译出来似乎也无伤大雅。

【例2】 We appreciate the fact that the technology used by the monitoring system can be applied to the analysis of natural phenomena in order to prevent natural disasters caused by seismic or volcanic activity or tsunamis.

【原译】我们赞赏这一事实,即监测系统所使用的技术,可用于分析自然现象,以防止地震、火山爆发和海啸引起的自然灾害。

如果说the fact在前例里译出来无伤大雅,在本例里硬塞入“这一事实”实在是画蛇添足。省略是上策,这句话可译成“监测系统所使用的技术可用于分析自然现象,以防止地震、火山爆发和海啸引起的自然灾害。我们对此表示赞赏。”

【例3】 The Committee welcomes the fact that a high number of States parties have accepted this new procedure aiming at assisting States parties to fulfil their reporting obligations.

【原译】委员会欢迎这一事实,即许多缔约国已经接受旨在协助缔约国履行其报告义务的这一新程序。

与前例一样,硬译the fact毫无必要。译文可改成“新程序的目的是帮助缔约国履行其报告义务。很多缔约国已接受这一新程序。委员会对此表示欢迎。”

【例4】 Draft guideline 4.5.4 set out a logical and inescapable consequence of the very principle of the nullity of invalid reservations, namely that the fact that such reservations were devoid of any effect did not depend on the reactions of other States or international organizations.

【原译】准则草案4.5.4设置了无效保留无效原则的一个合乎逻辑和不可避免的后果,即这种保留缺乏任何效力的事实不依赖于其他国家或国际组织的反应。

译文里“设置了……后果”的说法有问题,但the fact一词的翻译似乎还算可以过关。对于这类细节问题,我们需要具体情况具体分析,是否保留“事实”两字,主要要看中文表达的需要。不过,我们也完全可以省略the fact。译文可修改如下:“准则草案4.5.4说明了无效保留之所以无效的原则的一个不可避免的逻辑后果,即这种保留的无效性不依赖其他国家或国际组织的反应。”

【例5】 The accusation made in the Kuwaiti letter to the effect that Iraq is interfering in the internal affairs of Kuwait is a pure fabrication.

【原译】科威特在信中提出指责,大意是伊拉克干涉科威特的内政,这纯属捏造。

与the fact一样,不少人一见到to the effect that,就要将其译成“大意是”。其实这也是毫无必要的。这句话可译成“科威特在信中指责伊拉克干涉科威特内政,这纯属捏造。”

【例6】 If a project incurs additional costs to UNOPS that it cannot recover from its clients, UNOPS has to write off any loss.

【原译】如一项目对项目厅产生额外费用,而项目厅又不能向客户回收,则项目厅就必须注销任何损失。

翻译any一词时,需注意在中文里使用“任何”是否合适。“任何”在以上译文里的使用就是完全多余的。在许多情况下,“任何”一词用在否定句里似乎没问题,而用在肯定句里常常很不自然。译文里省去“任何”两字就通顺得多。

【例7】 The selection process for chairing any of the subsidiary bodies needed to be formalized.

【原译】任何附属机构主席的甄选程序都必须正规化。

译文里硬要加上“任何”两字,也是毫无必要的,拟改成“附属机构主席的甄选程序必须正规化。”