规范性法律文件使用的语言一般都有其特定的表达方式。其类别大致分为：

(1)表示义务性规范的语言。义务性规范是 “规定法律关系主体必须依法作出一定行为的法律规范”，其汉语的表达方式是“有⋯⋯的义务”、“必须”等 ；英语的表达方式是“It is the duty of⋯”、“owe a duty to⋯”、“shall”、“must”等。如“公司必须保护职工的合法权益，加强劳动保护．实现 安全生产”可译为“Companies must protect the lawful rights of their staff and workers．and strengthen labor protection so as to achieve safety in production”；“The seller owes a duty to the buyer to use due care in production，packing，and sale of his or her goods SO that foreseeable harm，⋯，will be avoided”可译为“为 使可预见的伤害⋯⋯得以避免，卖方在其生产、包装、销售中负有做到适当谨慎之义务”。

(2)表示禁止性规范的语言。禁止性规范是指禁止法律关系主体为某种行为的法律规范。汉语的表 达方式通常是“严禁”、“禁止”、“不得”、“不能”等，而英语的表达方式除“prohibit”外，还可以使用“shall not”、“may not”、“must not”、“not allowed”、“cannot”、“no one may／is⋯”等方式表示。如“禁止对任何民族 的歧视和压迫，禁止破坏民族团结和制造民族分裂的行为”可译为“Discrimination against and oppression of any nationality are prohibited；any act which undermines the unity or instigates division between or among any nationality is prohibited”；“A person cannot at the same time be both landlord and tenant of the same premises”可译为“任何人不得在同一项地产上同时既是出租人又是承租人”：“No security may be offered or sold to the public unless it is registered with the SEC”可译为“如未在证券交易(管理)委员会登记，任何证券不得上市或向大众出售”。

(3)表示授权性规范的语言。授权性规范指的是“规定法律关系主体依法有权 自己为某种行为以及 要求他人为或不为某种行为的法律规范”。其汉语的表达方式为“享有⋯⋯的权利”、“有权⋯⋯”等等．而 英语的表达方式是“have the right to⋯”、“enjoy the rights of⋯”、“be entitled to⋯”、“may”等。如“当事人 依法享有自愿订立合同的权利，任何单位和个人不得非法干预”可译为“，The parties shall have the right to be voluntary to enter into a contract in accordance with law．No unit or individual may illegally interfere”； “When one of the parties to the Contract fails to perform his or her obligations under the contract and the other party thereby sustains some injury，the injured party is entitled to be put，as nearly as possible，in the same position as if the contract had been performed”可译为“当一方未按约履行其义务并使对方由此受到 损害，该受损方享有获取(尽可能)接近于合同已履行之(有利)状况”。