The studies of this thesis mainly have two aspects: firstly, it introduces three principles of skopos theory, and gives some examples to show the application of the three principles. Secondly, it introduces the translation features of legal English texts from textual, syntactic and lexical aspects. Knowing the translation features of legal English texts can help translators translate highly accurate target texts, and help receivers get the expected target texts. All in all, this thesis explores translation principles and translation features that translator must follow during the process of translation from skopos theory, which gives translator guidance to improve the quality of target texts.

2. Literature Review源'自:751-'论/文'网"www.751com.cn

Wang Xiaodan held that equivalence theory put forward by Nida is the most applicable to translate legal English texts. The reason why equivalence theory can best apply to English legal texts into Chinese is that it pays more attention to the psychological response of source language readers. We know, in Nida’s equivalence theory, the most important thing is source text or the psychological response of source language readers. However, because of the distinctive social functions of law, we cannot ignore the response of target language readers. 

Through other people’s research, like Ke Liping, we can know that equivalence theory has specific techniques can be applied to syntactic and lexical levels, for instance, amplification, literal translation, conversion, etc. The lexical features of legal texts are serious, simple and so on. From these points, we can find that it is more applicable to literary translation, not legal English translation. Nida also didn’t say that his equivalence theory can apply to any fields. In skopos theory, source text or the psychological response of source language readers are relegated to a secondary position, instead, the translation purpose is the key. Of course, translator also takes the differences of language and culture into account. 

Some people don’t think any translation has its purpose, in fact, the idea is wrong. Sometimes, translator always consciously or unconsciously regards a specific translation receiver as an object, making target text in target language environment has a certain function, that is translation purpose. As the skopos theory says that translation behavior can be given a certain purpose, but it is not arbitrary. Translator must concern characteristics of translation behavior. That is to say, some contents of source text cannot translate into other meanings because of different purposes. 

From the above, we can find skopos theory provides us a new perspective to translate English legal texts.

3. The Translation Features of Legal English 

3.1 From the Textual Aspect

Legal English is a special language, it must have some itself features. In my opinion, after knowing its features better, we just can improve translation quality, and let our readers understand target texts better. So, it is necessary to analyze the types of legal texts and its features. We will not introduce the types of legal texts there. In this thesis, we mainly learn its features. Our law is formulated by the State or international organization, recognized by people, reflects the will of the ruling class or the common interests of the international community, which is the summation of operative norms that ensures implementation through the coercive power, including the constitution, the laws, administrative regulations, etc. So do other countries’ law. From these words, we can know legal Chinese in textual level, such as, harshness, accuracy, precision, clarity, conciseness, coherence, professional language. Some cases are as follows: