“法律”一词使用、翻译的话语实践——集中于19世纪初期在中国的西方传教士

基于法律的独特语境,“法律”概念的使用和翻译不可避免地是复杂的。在近现代随着各个民族国家交往的深入展开,这样复杂地使用和翻译的背后隐藏着许多“重要故事”。我们可以认为,法律的存在其本身就意味着纠纷的存在,纠纷不仅可能是个人的,而且可能是广义社会的或说民族国家的,后者在特定时期可能是更为重要的。在纠纷中,随着人们的利益、观念、立场或者态度的不同,这种不同同样又是不可避免的,“法律”概念的一般含义因而也会裹挟在利益、观念、立场或者态度中表达自己的“差异”。因此,应当揭示使用、翻译背后的话语实践。

Discourse Practice on the Usage and Translation of the Word "law"——by Western Missionaries in China in the early Nineteen Century

In light of the particular legal context,how to use and translate the concept of “law” is inevitably complicated.Many “worthwhile concerns” over such usage and translation emerged from the further communication among nation countries in modern times.It is held that law and disputes coexist.Disputes may arise among individuals and among societies or nation countries with the latter type of disputes being attached of more importance in a particular period.The differences of interest,beliefs,stance and attitudes among individuals are unavoidable in such disputes,so are the different understandings of the concept of “law”.Therefore,the discourse practice on the usage and translation of the word “law” should be better explored.