上述单词均有“调解”或“调停”以解决争议的含义。其中，mediation多指第三方参与进行调解的程序和过程（a process)，其目的是通过该程序以促进争议得以reconciliation， settlement 或 compromise[1]，如 The case was settled through mediation (该案经调解得以协议解决）。conciliation常指法庭审判前或劳资争议仲裁前让当事人通过友好的非对抗方式协议谈判解决争议，不强调第三人之作用，其也多表示一种过程，有时等于mediation[2] 。而reconciliation则是指调停争端，使双方重新恢复原有的协调关系[3]，尤指夫妻双方自愿恢复夫妻共同生活关系，故为“重修旧好”。settlement是指当事人通过谈判达成协议（agreement)以了结法律诉讼，其常指一种mediation的结果，多为庭外进行，故为“（庭外）协议调解”[4]。compromise 指双方当事人为解决争议，均作出适当的妥协让步协议，故为“妥协性和解协议”[5]。
[1]“Private，informal dispute resolution process in which a neutral third person，the mediator, helps disputing parties to reach an agreement. ” Cf. The Publisher’s Editorial Staff, Black’s Law Dictionary f abridged 6th edition, at p. 678, West Publishing Co. (1991).
[2]“The process by which a third party attempts to assist an employer and a trade union to achieve a collective agreement. ”Cf. Daphne Dukelow，The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 192，Thomson professional Publishing Canada (1991 ).
[3]“Settlement of a quarrel, etc. " Cf. Della Thompson, The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 9th edition, at p. 1146，Oxford University Press (1995).
[4]“An agreement reducing or resolving differences, esp. an agreement between litigants that concludes the litigations. ”Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. , Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 453, Merriam-Webster，Incorporated (1996).
[5]“An agreement between two or more persons to settle matters in dispute between them. " Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 281 , West Group (1999).
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