【问】 许多辞典对legal的解释是lawful,而对lawful的释义是legal,英汉辞典则大都译为“合法的”。它们之间是否没有区别? 【答】 legal有一个词义是lawful所没有的,那就是“与法律有关的”、“法律上的”(concernedwith the law,connected with the law)。例如,a legal advicer(法律顾问),a legal document(法律文件),legal formalities(法律程序),the legal fare(诉讼费),legal profession(法律职业)。即使legal在作“合法的”解时,也是与lawful有区别的。 legal是指“经法律许可的”、“法律承认的”、“合乎法律的”。但是应注意,这里所说的“法律”,是专指国家的法律,而且是指有具体条文的法律: 1.Gambling is legal in the State of Nevada.(MD) 赌博在内华达州是合法的。 2. Is it legal to marry one’s cousin? (ELD) 跟表兄弟、表姐妹结婚是合法的吗? 3. The legal speed limit within the town is 30 miles per hour. 城市内的法定限速为每小时30英里。 lawful的概念外延则要宽得多,它不仅指“合乎国家法律的”,而且还指“合乎社会法律的、合乎道德标准的、合乎宗教教规的”。当lawful用在“合乎国家法律的”这一意义时,与le-gal有重叠现象,如legal rights与lawful rights(合法权利)。至于在表达这个意义时究竟应当选用哪个词,则完全决定于约定俗成的表达习惯,如说lawful marriage(不说legal marriage) (合法婚姻),lawful living(不说legal living)(合法谋生),lawful wife (合法妻子),lawful busi-ness(合法营业),lawful age(法定年龄),lawful act(合法行动)。 下面的例句有助于我们正确理解legal与lawful在词义上的细微差别: 1. To some people gambling is never lawful,although it may be legal in some places. 在某些人看来,赌博永远是不合法的,尽管在一些地方赌博是法律所允许的。 2. Divorce is lawful but subject to various legal requirements before taking final effect. 离婚是合法的,但是必须履行各种各样的法律程序之后才能最后生效。 请做下面的英语试题: 1. A legal combination of United States Airways,Incorporated,and the IntercontinentalAirlines Company was approved at a joint board of directors meeting. A. mare B. medley C. merger D. morsel 2. A corporation is a business organization that is formed to act as a single person and islegally endowed with particular rights and duties. A. by word B. by law C. laudably D. liberally 3. The judge ruled that the man's claim to his father's land was legitimate. A. meaningless B. denied C. infamous D. legal