Balancing Accuracy and Authority in Legal Terminology Translation Under the Functional Equivalence Theory

Abstract

Legal translation serves as a means of cross-cultural communication and plays an indispensable role in the interaction and integration of different legal systems. With the continuous elevation of China's opening-up level, the demand for mutual translation between Chinese and English legal texts has been expanding. Consequently, a series of issues regarding the accuracy, uniformity and standardization of legal terminology translation have gradually become a focal point of com-mon concern. Eugene Nida's Functional Equivalence Theory emphasizes that a target text should achieve equivalent effect with the source text in terms of informative function and communicative effect, rather than merely clinging to mechanical correspondence in linguistic forms. This theory provides an important approach to addressing problems such as legal system differences and cultural default in legal translation. However, legal texts possess mandatory binding force and high authority, which requires legal terminology translation to be not only conceptually precise but also formally standardized in expression. In practical translation, these two requirements are often difficult to be balanced simultaneously, leading to frequent tradeoffs. Based on the Functional Equivalence Theory and combined with typical examples of Chinese and English legal terms, this paper analyzes the specific manifestations and underlying causes of the imbalance between accuracy and authority, and finally proposes balancing methods that can take both into account. It aims to provide more practical references for legal translation practice and facilitate more standardized, efficient and precise cross-border legal communication.