On Legal Translation From The Perspective Of Text Typology Theory

In recent years, as the law plays an increasingly significant role at home and abroad, legal translation in theory and practice is also enjoying flourishing development. However, the legal language is different from common language, so is the legal translation from the common translation. The legal translation is more specialized, complex and demanding. Meanwhile, the legal texts comprise various types of texts, ranging from’ legislation and contract to verdict and even legal papers. These texts share both similarities and individualities, which cannot be totally treated as the same. In view of this, the author of the present study selects the text typology theory as the theoretical basis with her own translation practice of U.S. Foreign-trade Zone Regulations as an example. Based on this, the author explores the translation strategies, techniques and difficulties for legal text translation, in an effort to offer useful reference and guidance for the translation of legal texts.The text typology theory was proposed by Reiss, who considered translation as a process of communication. Based on the main communicative function of texts, she proposes the theory of text typology, in which texts are of three types:informative text, expressive text and operative text. Reiss stresses that the text type decides the strategy and tactics of translation, during which the translator plays a vital role as the decision-maker. In addition, she proposes that translation process consists of phase of analysis and phase of reverbalization, offering a framework and model for translation in theory and practice. This is no doubt of great significance.The author begins with the introduction to the research background, significance and the general structure of the thesis. Then the process of the translation task is described, including preparation, translation and after-translation work. After that, a brief sketch of text typology theory is given along with the discussion of classification standards of legal texts and the importance of text typology theory to legal translation. Then the text typology theory is applied to the author’s translation practice of U.S. Foreign-trade Zone Regulations by the elaboration on text analysis, translation methods, translation techniques and translation difficulties as well as the solution. Last, a summary and reflection on the combination of text typology theory with the author’s translation practice is provided, with further requirements on legal translator proposed. It is hoped that the present research can throw some useful insight into the study and practice of legal translation.