4.3.1　“定義”條文的英譯

法規(guī)（廣義，下同）中有一種條文，專以出現(xiàn)于該法規(guī)的用語為其作出定義的對象；這里我們就稱之為“定義條文”。隨著我國法制日益健全，法規(guī)中的定義條文已經(jīng)比較多見了—— 或見于附則，或散見于法規(guī)條文之中，或見于某一條文。請看下列定義條文及其英譯。

（1）新穎性，是指……

創(chuàng)造性，是指……

實(shí)用性，是指……

“Novelty” means …

“Inventiveness” means …

“Usefulness” means …

（2）本辦法所稱的證券，是指……

The securities termed herein refer to：…

（3）歸僑是指回國定居的華僑。

“Returned overseas Chinese” denotes overseas Chinese who have returned to the country and taken it as their place of permanent residence.

（4）本條例所稱的新興技術(shù)及其產(chǎn)品的范圍包括：……

The new technologies and products based thereon referred to in these regulations include：…

（5）本規(guī)定所稱的“以上”，包括本數(shù)。

The expression “above” referred to in these provisions includes the figure itself.

以上定義條文英譯五則，基本上還算可以。但下列取自同樣資料來源的英譯實(shí)例，問題就比較多了。請看：

（6）放射性藥品是指……

“Radioactive drugs” refer to …

上例的敗筆在于動詞的數(shù)用了“refer”。須知作為定義的對象而且又是放在引號內(nèi)的主語“radioactive drugs”應(yīng)視為單數(shù)，動詞應(yīng)作“refers”才是。

（7）本規(guī)定所稱導(dǎo)游人員，是指……

The term “tourist guides”，as used in these provisions，refers to …

上例修飾主語的“as…”，其兩端都用上了逗號：這就使它成了可有可無的非限制性定語了。但按立法意圖，“本規(guī)定所稱”乃本條“導(dǎo)游人員”的要件，非有限制性定語不可。可見，下例（8）中“as…”兩端一律不用逗號隔開，從而成了限制性定語。

（8）本條例中下列用語的含義是：……

The terms as used in these Regulations are defined as follows：…

例（8）仍欠簡練，應(yīng)改進(jìn)如下：

The terms hereinunder used are defined as follows：…

（9）在本辦法中，下列詞語的含義是：……

［原譯］The meanings of the terms appearing in the procedures are expounded as follows：…

[改譯]The terms hereinunder are defined as follows：…

（10）本條例所稱的新興技術(shù)企業(yè)是指：……

“New tech enterprise” referred to in these regulations means：…

（11）本細(xì)則所稱公安機(jī)關(guān)、國家安全機(jī)關(guān)、檢察機(jī)關(guān)是指縣以上（含縣級）公安機(jī)關(guān)、國家安全機(jī)關(guān)、檢察機(jī)關(guān)。

[原譯］The public security organs，the state security organs，and the procuratorial organs，as mentioned in these rules，refer to the public security organs，the state security organs，and the procuratorial organs at or above the county level.

[改譯］The public security，the state security and the prosecution organs under these rules refer to those at or above the county level.