由于上述句子盘根错节,结构繁复,令读者很难摸得着文章的要点。其实,这个句子总共包含四层主要意思:
1) The court read only a part of the Bankers Blanket Bond.
2) The court read that part incorrectly.
3) And as a consequence,the court failed to focus on the proper issue in the case.
4) The dispositive issue in the case is whether the loss was covered under the Bond.
如果把以上各点分别用四个独立的简单句来表达,那么所要传递的信息就将清清楚楚,读者理解起来也会明明白白。试看以下改进的版本:
The district court addressed only the term "realized" as used in the Bankers Blanket Bond. Then the court considered whether the appellee“ realized ”a benefit and the Bank suffered a loss. At that point, the court incorrectly held the Insurer liable. The issue is whether that loss was covered under the Bond.
作为法律文献的翻译人员,虽然我们没有改写原文的权利,但我们有根据自己的理解、把原文表达得清清楚楚的责任。原文如果用了非常复杂的句式结构,译者未必需要“东施效颦”,把译文也弄得高深莫测,以追求所谓风格的一致。要知道,不少律师,出于职业的需要,在撰写法律文章时故弄玄虚,以慑服客户。这种行业作风被认为是不健康的,受到当今司法界的指责和正直律师的摒弃。在处理这种类型的文章时,作为法律文献的翻译人员,我们应 该有自己的作业原则和标准。
以下我们再来看一下法律条文写得不够清晰而造成的严重后果: