Abstract
This paper endeavors to analyze the guiding role functional equivalence can play in legal translation. By introducing the features of legal English, related translation theories and the principles of legal translation, it points out functional equivalence can be an important guidance to legal translation. Then it introduces the theory comprehensively and analyses how to apply the theory to legal translation by providing practical and plentiful examples in terms of vocabulary, long and complex sentences and passive voices. Finally this paper makes a conclusion on the qualifications that legal translators should possess as well as the principles and criterion of legal translation in order to help translators to refine their works.
Keywords   legal English   translation   functional equivalence theory
 
本文首先介绍了法律英语特征以及相关的翻译理论，随后通过介绍法律翻译的原则指出功能对等理论在指导法律翻译上的重要作用，并全面地论述了功能对等理论。本文具体论述了在不同情况下，包括在处理法律文本中的词汇与术语、长难句和被动语态时，如何运用功能对等理论指导翻译实践。最后本文对法律翻译对译者的要求以及其标准和原则做出了总结，以帮助译者更好地完成法律翻译工作。
关键词  法律英语   翻译   功能对等  

As China is further opening up to the world, its relations with foreign countries are becoming closer. The study of legal English, especially legal translation, will promote the success of our communications, cooperation and transactions with foreign countries. Legal English is characterized by its complicated linguistic structures, which often contain many modifiers in a single sentence. Therefore, legal translation between Chinese and English is a difficult task. “Legal translation is both a legal transfer and a language transfer process.”Therefore, it has to faithfully preserve the meaning of the source language, to avoid the ambiguity and to maintain the integrity of legal provisions. Due to its unique features, for years translators are searching for an appropriate theory to guide legal translation, however, consensus still cannot be reached.