Functional equivalence theory, emphasizing on the response of receptors, includes not only equivalence of meaning and structure, but the reader's assumption about the text's authority and how the reader feels about the text. Hence it has become our target of research. This paper endeavors to explore the role that functional equivalence theory can play in legal translation and to provide guidance for translators by analyzing the linguistic characteristics of legal documents and providing abundant examples,.

This paper is composed of five parts. The first chapter is the introduction part, which introduces the significance of researches on legal translation and structure of this paper. The second chapter is about the linguistic features of legal English and related translation theories and principles. The third chapter emphasizes Nida’s functional equivalence theory and the role that it can play in legal translation. The fourth chapter is the main part of this paper, which elaborates the appliance of the functional equivalence theory in legal translation by practical and plentiful examples. And the last part is the conclusion of this paper.

2 The Previous Study of Legal English and Translation

For many, the translation of legal documents is considered one of the most rigorous sorts of translations. Translators have to master both the languages and knowledge in the field of laws in order to make the essence of legal documents reappears in another language. And also, they have to reproduce the style effectively.

Principles of translation are important guidance for translators. “Currently, the principles on legal translation mainly include principle of accuracy, principle of identity, principle of conciseness, principle of standardization and the principle of solemnity.” (Li Hui, 2007)来~自^751论+文.网www.751com.cn/

2.1 The Linguistic Features of Legal English

2.1.1 Lexical Features 

Generally, words in legal English have unique features and meanings. To translate legal documents accurately, one must first master the lexical features of legal English. According to Lu Min(2007:2), lexical features of legal English include: 

(1) Everyday Words that Carry Specific Meanings 

“Through synchronic changes and diachronic changes, gradually words containing legal meaning come into being from everyday words.” (Lu Min, 2007:2) For example, “damage” usually refers to “harmful effects on somebody or something”, however, in legal documents, “damages” means “the compensation sought for a loss”.