Investigation and Critical Analysis of the Chinese Translations of 'Jury' and 'Juror' since the Late Qing Dynasty

摘要

Jury制度是共同法系等的一种重要司法制度。英语jury目前汉语一般译作"陪审团"、"陪审"。从jury的功能来看,汉语将其译作"陪审团"、"陪审"不仅没有较准确地译出该制度的本质特征,没有译出其真实含义,而且有误导之虞。Jury一般分为两类:决断罪否的jury和认裁诉否的jury,两类jury在民主司法制度、司法过程中都发挥非常重要的主决主裁作用,"陪审"之译可谓谬之千里,Jury有重译的必要。依jury之真实含义与功能,应译作"决认团"、"决认"。该制度术语群汉译的词干应是"决认"。依此类推,jury system、juror/juryperson/juryman、jurywoman、jury duty、jury box等应分别译作"决认制度"、"决认员"、"女决认员"、"决认责任"、"决认席"等。汉译"决认"有充分理由取代"陪审"。【英文摘要】The jury system is an important legal system within the common law system.At present,the English term "jury" is generally translated as "陪审团" and "陪审" in Chinese.The Chinese translations "陪审团" and "陪审" fail to accurately translate the essential features of this system,and the true implications of the term ,which are quite misleading.There are two types of juries:the jury determining criminal guilt or innocence and the jury deciding whether someone should be accused.Both types of juries play leading roles in the democratic legal system and legal procedure.Neither type of jury has anything to do with“陪”or“审”,therefore,the translation“陪审”is totally erroneous.Re-translation of the term“jury”is necessary.In accordance withits true implications and functions,“jury”can be translated as“决认团”and“决认”.The word stem of the Chinese translations of the term group in the jury system should be“决认”.By analogy,such term s as(a)“jury system”,(b)“juror/juryperson/juryman”,(c)“jurywoman”,(d)“jury duty”and(e)“jury box”should be translated respectively as(a)“决认制度”,(b)“决认员”,(c)“女决认员”,(d)“决认责任”and(e)“决认席”.The Chinese translation“决认”is fully justified to replace“陪审”.