“撤销”是法律文本中的一个高频词,在各个领域的法律文本中都有出现,它的译文也存在较大差异。“撤销”一词在《英汉法律分类词典》中的表达方式有很多,包括:abate, abolish, abolishment, annual, discharge, quash, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, cancel, recall, rescind, revoke, withdraw。而《英汉政治法律词典》中给出的是recession。此外,笔者通过对《中华人民共和国招标法》《中华人民共和国文物保护法》《中华人民共和国宪法》等20部法律文本的整理发现,“撤销”一词的译文有:revoke, cancel, annul, withdraw, quash, terminate。同时,根据全国人大、国务院等机构的官方网站提供的法律法规英译建立的法律英语平行语料库,笔者还发现了几个词典中并未提及的表达,分别是:disqualify, be deprived of, close。该语料库数据显示,revoke出现了46次,cancel出现了19次,annul出现了11次,withdraw出现了18次,quash出现了1次,terminate出现了6次,disqualify出现了17次,be deprived of出现了1次,close出现了3次。
请看以下例句:
例1:历史文化名城的布局、环境、历史风貌等遭到严重破坏的,由国务院撤销其历史文化名城称号。
译文:Where the layout, environment, historical features etc. of a famous city of historical and cultural value are seriously undermined, the State Council shall revoke its title of Famous City of Historical and Cultural Value.
例2:国务院证券监督管理机构或者国务院授权的部门对已做出的核准证券发行的决定,发现不符合法定条件或者法定程序,尚未发行证券的,应当予以撤销,停止发行。
译文:Where the securities regulatory authority under the State Council or the department authorized by the State Council finds that the decision it has made on granting approval to the issuance of securities is not in conformity with the statutory conditions or procedures, if the issuance in question has not been effected, it shall revoke the approval and call off the issuance.
revoke在Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English中的解释为“to officially state that a law, decision, or agreement is no longer effective”,由此可见,该词多用于法律、决定或合同等正式场合。上述例子表明,revoke一词的使用符合其语境,满足了法律英语翻译在“语言维”的适应性选择转换。对于在正式决议中出现的“撤销”,译者使用revoke一词可以将原文信息准确地传达给目的语读者,同时也能充分体现法律语言的正式与严肃。
例3:对违法收取检验费用情节严重的药品检验机构,撤销其检验资格。
译文:Any drug testing institution that collects testing fees in violation of law, if the circum-stances are serious, shall be disqualified for drug testing.
例4:对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员给予警告,撤销证券从业资格,并处以三万元以上十万元以下的罚款。
译文:The person directly in charge and the other persons directly responsible shall be given a warning, and they shall be disqualified for the securities business, and shall, in addition, be fined not less than30,000yuan but not more than100,000yuan.
上述例3和例4的法律文本都将“撤销”译为be disqualified for。disqualify一词在Long-man Dictionary of Contemporary English中的解释为:to stop someone from doing a job or taking part in an activity; to unfairly prevent someone from doing a job or taking part in an activity。由此可以看出disqualify与“工作”或是某项“活动”相关。在例3和例4法律文本的具体语境中,“撤销”的内容均与具体“活动、事件”相关,如:取消检验资格、取消证券从业资格等。考虑到实际的语境,在翻译此处的“撤销”一词时,译者需要注意文化维度的适应性转换。disqualify的词义与上述法律文本语境的契合能够帮助读者进一步融入语境,减少歧义。
