譯文中逗號之使用與否，在一定上下文中會影響乃節(jié)曲解原意。此乃普遍現(xiàn)象，而尤以法律文字之翻譯為然—— 蓋與權利義務之范圍有密切聯(lián)系故也。請看實例：

1、原文：企業(yè)和政府有關部門的領導干部、因工作過失給企業(yè)和國家造成較大損失的，由政府主管部門 或者有關上級機關給予行政處分。

原譯： Leading cadres of enterprises and governmental departments concerned, who have caused enterprises and state major losses due to work faults, shall be subject to disciplinary sanction by the competent department or higher authorities concerned of the government.

譯文中“who”從句前后的逗號各一個，必須刪去。因為要“由政府主管部門或者有關上級機關給予行政處分”的，不是泛指一大片“企業(yè)和政府有關部門的領導干部”而是特指具有“因……過失……造成較大損失去”這一特征的“…...領導干部”。故擬改譯，而其他順便改動者不必多加注意，著重要監(jiān)視其中逗號之刪除：

Leading cadres of enterprises and governmental departments concerned who have caused the enterprises and state quite big loss(es) owing to their negligence on work shall be disciplined by the competent government agency or its superior agency.

在非從句的非限制性定語詞組之濫用表現(xiàn)為多用了逗號的錯誤，則見于下例：

2. 原文：女職工月經(jīng)期間，所在單位不得安排其從事......

原譯：Women staff and workers, during their menstruation, shall not be arranged by their units to do work.....

原譯中“during their menstruation”前后的逗號必須刪除；否則，“所在單位”對不“在經(jīng)期內女職工”也“不得安排 ……”了。當然，此句還有其他問題。從全局考慮——

擬譯： No unit may assign lo any of its menstruating employees any work...

語云：過之猶不及；吾曰：不及猶過之。故逗號之多用固有礙于譯事，逗號之少用又何嘗無礙于法律之英譯？請看下例：

3. 原文：女職工有權向……當?shù)貏趧硬块T提出申訴。

受理申訴的部門應當……作出處理決定。

原譯： A woman employee has the right to appeal to...…the local labour department which should make a decision......

瞧，按原文，“which”與“department”之間必須使用逗號才是——

A woman employee may appeal to the local labor department, which should make a decision...

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