我讲过法律合同，我给你盖楼

这年头是不是很少有搞文学翻译的。

以下内容来源于我以前在这个贴吧里发过的我本人7年前在一次大学讲课大赛获得一等奖的录像片段，我在写的下列内容后再次附上视频链接。
首先，需要了解和掌握合同法律英语的几个基本特点：
首先是知识背景——
西方法律体系和我们不同，主要有以下几种：
Common law (case law )判例法
Civil law 大陆法（成文法）
Islamic (Shari’ ah) law 伊斯兰（莎莉'啊）法
Communist (socialist) law共产主义（社会主义）法
Many countries have adopted a combination of these legal systems and in addition have retained some influences from various cultures throughout their histories.
很多西方国家的法律体系是：Common law (case law )判例法
Thecourts in common law countries apply and interpret statutes by following theprinciples developed in earlier decisions or by extrapolating new principlesfrom the old ones to apply in new factual situations.
So…inthe United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, earlier cases combined with thedetails in the contract signed by the two parties are the most importantlegislative evidence.
那么，问题来了：A question relating to the above for you:
What can we infer about the English language employed in contract-drafting under acommon law?

第一个特点是：Long sentences 句子长---句子有多长？后面可以看到例子。但是原因其实很好理解：
他们没有我们国家里的那么多的“中华人民共和国合同法第几章第几条之规定”，如果俩公司打官司，依据就是两个：1）以前同类官司；2）俩公司的合同。
所以，英文合同必须长，要有很多固定的没有歧义的文字（就是下面我说的第二个特点：法言法语），要有很多的限定成分，所以就得长——实际上，国际上的官司，如果英语有歧义，是要参考法语这样更加复杂语法体系语言的解释的。
第二个特点是：Legislativelanguage 法言法语---herein, hereafter, therein, thereafter这样的旧时代英语，和希腊语、拉丁语等引进语（也是超级古老的语言），为的就是一点：死了的语言，没有歧义。
下面我们来看法律英语句子有多长？
下面这个句子在法律英语里面，非常常见：
If the bill of lading contains particularsconcerning the general mature, leading marks, number of packages or pieces,weight or quantity of the goods which the carrier or other person issuing thebill of lading on his behalf knows or has reasonable grounds to suspect do notaccurately represent the goods actually taken over or, where a shipped bill oflading issued, loaded, or if he had no reasonable means of checking suchparticulars, the carrier or such other person must insert in the bill of ladinga reservation specifying these inaccuracies, grounds of suspicion of theabsence of reasonable means of checking. (103 words)
如果承运人或代其签发提单的其它人确知或者有合理的根据怀疑提单所载有关货物的品类、主要标志、包数或件数、重量或数量等项目没有准确地表示实际接管的货物,或在签发"已装船"提单的情况下,没有准确地表示实际装船的货物,或者他无适当的方法来核对这些项目,则承运人或该其他人必须在提单上做出保留,说明不符之处,怀疑根据,或无适当的核对方法。
接下来，给你们看一个更长的：

注意，这是“一”句话
In the event that the Purchaser defaults inthe payment of any installment of purchase price, taxes, insurance, interest,or the annual charge described elsewhere herein, or shall default in theperformance of any other obligations set forth in this Contract, the Seller may:at his option: (a) Declare immediately due and payable the entire unpaidbalance of purchase price, with accrued interest, taxes, and annual charge, anddemand full payment thereof, and enforce conveyance of the land by terminationof the contract or according to the terms hereof, in which case the Purchasershall also be liable to the Seller for reasonable attorney's fees for servicesrendered by any attorney on behalf of the Seller, or (b) sell said land andpremises or any part thereof at public auction, in such manner, at such timeand place, upon such terms and conditions, and upon such public notice as theSeller may deem best for the interest of all concerned, consisting ofadvertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or city inwhich the security property is located at least once a week for Three (3)successive weeks or for such period as applicable law may require and, in caseof default of any purchaser, to re-sell with such postponement of sale orresale and upon such public notice thereof as the Seller may determine, andupon compliance by the Purchaser with the terms of sale, and upon judicialapproval as may be required by law, convey said land and premises in fee simpleto and at the cost of the Purchaser, who shall not be liable to see to theapplication of the purchase money; and from the proceeds of the sale: First topay all proper costs and charges, including but not limited to court costs,advertising expenses, auctioneer's allowance, the expenses, if any required tocorrect any irregularity in the title, premium for Seller's bond, auditor'sfee, attorney's fee, and all other expenses of sale occurred in and about theprotection and execution of this contract, and all moneys advanced for taxes,assessments, insurance, and with interest thereon as provided herein, and alltaxes due upon said land and premises at time of sale, and to retain ascompensation a commission of five percent (5%) on the amount of said sale orsales; SECOND, to pay the whole amount then remaining unpaid of the principalof said contract, and interest thereon to date of payment, whether the sameshall be due or not, it being understood and agreed that upon such sale beforematurity of the contract the balance thereof shall be immediately due and payable;THIRD, to pay liens of record against the security property according to theirpriority of lien and to the extent that funds remaining in the hands of theSeller are available; and LAST, to pay the remainder of said proceeds, if any,to the vendor, his heirs, personals representatives, successors or assigns uponthe delivery and surrender to the vendee of possession of the land andpremises, less costs and excess of obtaining possession.

在这句话里：有——
516 words
6 clauses (从句)
19 adverbs （副词）
21 verbs (动词不包括变化形式)
35 adjectives （形容词）
93 prepositions and conjunctions (介词和连接词)
……

具体的法律英语的特点有很多，制式语言是一个特点，也就是说：其实很多法律英语是可以套装学习的，我以后给你举更多的例子，以下是我讲课的录像，有空可以耐心看看。我有完整版录像，没有上传。

比如表示双方关系的几个常见结构：
Subject to
not withstanding
without prejudice to
*clause 1 subject to clause 2, 表明clause 2 优先于clause 1;
*clause 1 notwithstanding clause 2, 表明clause 1 优先于clause 2;
*clause 1 without prejudice to clause 2, 表明clause 1 和 clause 2的地位相当，不存在那个条款优先考虑的情况;

你收到了吗？楼主？

真不错，受用了，哪些同样学习这个的看下子。

我他妈太专业了！