法律文件的句子結(jié)構(gòu)

盡管隨著時代的變遷，法律英語也呈現(xiàn)了一些簡化趨勢，但與日常英語相比，法律文件中依然會出現(xiàn)不少結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜、文詞冗長的句子，這與法律規(guī)定和合同條款的表述刻意追求精確、嚴(yán)密木無關(guān)系。擬定規(guī)定和條款，最主要的是確立主題事項，但有時候還必須顧及實施的依據(jù)、   前提、條件、假設(shè)、例外情況等，這就要借助相應(yīng)的狀語修飾語（短語和從句）續(xù)密地表達規(guī)定和條款的完整意思。由此形成的英語復(fù)合句不
可能不長。另外，法律文件最突出的特點是客觀公正，不帶主觀色彩，   因而句子中較少出現(xiàn)人稱主語，更多的是被動語態(tài)和名詞化結(jié)構(gòu)。下面擬對法律文件的這兩個句法特點作一些分析。

1）結(jié)構(gòu)復(fù)雜的長句

法律文件的句子，根據(jù)其內(nèi)容有長有短，但長句出現(xiàn)的頻率相對較高。長句的形成，是因為句子中有眾多起修飾作用的定語和狀語，如：
If, after the signing of this Agreement, the Chinese government either at the State, provincial, municipal or local level adopts any new law, regulation, decree or rule, amends or repeals any provision of any law, regulation, decree or rule, or adopts any different interpretation or method of implementation of any law, regulation，decree or rule, which contravenes
this Agreement or which materially and adversely affects a Party’s economic
benefit under this Agreement, then upon written notice thereof from the affected party to the other Party, the Party shall promptly consult and  decide whether（i）to continue to implement the Agreement in accordance with the original provisions thereof as per the relevant provisions of the Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China; or（ii）to effectuate necessary adjustments in order to preserve each Party’s economic benefit under this Agreement on a basis no less favorable than the economic benefit it would have received if such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted， amended，repealed or so Interpreted or implemented.
上面這個句子的主句前面有一個很長的條件狀語從句和時間狀語，   主句本身也有多個狀語，而且狀語從句中又有表示時間的狀語和定語從句，修飾語套修飾語，一個接一個疊加，一環(huán)扣一環(huán)相連，構(gòu)成了復(fù)雜的修飾和被修飾關(guān)系。要理解并翻譯這個長句的完整意思，必須首先弄清楚句子里各個成分的相互關(guān)系。

2）被動語態(tài)和名詞化結(jié)構(gòu)

與文學(xué)作品多用主動語態(tài)以增強表現(xiàn)力度和動感迥然不同，法律文   件旨在對人們的行為做出法律規(guī)定，規(guī)范各種經(jīng)濟活動在沒有具體人物   執(zhí)行某一動作，或表述重點在于動作本身而不在于動作執(zhí)行者的情況下，把動詞轉(zhuǎn)化為抽象化的名詞和使用被動語態(tài)恰恰適合法律英語莊重刻板的文體特點。下面的例子充分反映出法律文件的這一句法特征：
Unless otherwise provided for herein, failure or delay on the part of  any party to exercise any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver thereof, not shall any single or partial exercise of any right，power or privilege preclude further exercise thereof or exercise of any other right, power or privilege．A waiver by one of the parties at any time of a breach of any term or provision of this Agreement committed by the other party shall not be construed as a waiver by such party of any subsequent breach to be committed by the other party, nor shall it be construed as a waiver by such party of its rights under such provision or any of its other rights under this Agreement.
上面的這條合同條款中，有這樣一些源自動詞的抽象化名詞，如： failure, delay, waiver, exercise, breach；被動結(jié)構(gòu)則有 unless otherwise provided for herein, shall not be construed as 等。