法律英语|common law的翻译（二）

the common law has in itself a number of historical sources which were, prior to Conquest, embodied^{1 in local custom. The unique contribution of the Norman Conquest, was to unify2 these local customs into one system of law common to all men, for this reason termed the common law.}

Walker Walker, The English Legal system, London l976, The English Legal system, London l976, p.3

2.

The common law is so called because it was commonly applied^{3 throughout the kingdom of England.}

You and the Law, Reader's Digest Association, Inc.,

这样来看，英国的common law是以其不同于前英国各地各种各样不统一的习惯而使之统一为在全国各地一同适用为其特点的，故汉语译之为普通法显然不如一同法之符合原意就算译成常见法或许也要比普通法略胜一筹吧。

以普通法译common law的另一个紧急缺点，则在于其易滋歧义普通法可以被误解为另一法学定义特别法的对立定义。 由此得出的领会是：

甲。 法律翻译工作需要译者不但精通语言的，而且也是精通比较法学的；

乙。 约定俗成只不过翻译诸规律之一而千万不可以捧之为翻译的最高原则，更不可以容忍它成为在翻译中实事求是、尊重科学、服从真理、从善如流的绊脚石