法律翻译在中国近代的第一次完整实践——以1864年《万国公法》的翻译为中心

无论在中国,还是世界上其他国家,法律移植都是与法律翻译联系在一起的。后者是前者的前提,前者是后者的结果———当一个国家希望学习、借鉴、吸收其他国家的法律时,由于是不同的语言,就必须将他国的法律先翻译为本国的语言,然后才有可能作出判断、作出评价、作出采纳与否的选择。本文以1864年翻译出版的《万国公法》为具体个案,着重解读中国近代第一次完整的法律翻译实践过程及这一实践的成果与不足,分析其对中国近现代法律翻译与移植乃至本土化运动的影响,并揭示其如何促进了中国近代翻译学、语言学的进步。

The First Full Practice of Legal Translation in Modern China:A Study Based on the Chinese Translation(1864) of Wheaton's Elements of International Law

Legal transplants have always been linked with legal translation in China as well as in any other countries in the world. Legal translation is the premise of legal transplants,while legal transplants are the outcome of legal translation. Since the languages people speak often differ from one country to another,it is necessary for one country with the hope of learning,absorbing laws of foreign countries to translate foreign laws into one'own language before it assessing,making comments,and making the right choice finally. Taking the example of Chinese translation( 1864) of Wheaton's Elements of International Law,the author puts forward a preliminary opinion concerning the achievements and shortcomings of this first full legal translation practice in modern China as well as its future influence on legal translation,legal transplants,and localization of law in modern China.