做翻譯，最難處理的莫過於長句。這裏所謂的“長句”，不單純就句子的長度而言，而且是指語法結構比較複雜、從句和修飾語較多、包含的內容層次在一個以上的句子。鑑於法律文件的目的、性質和文體特徵，其長句出現的頻率遠遠高於其他文字作品，這就給法律翻譯造成了額外負擔。因此，可以這樣說，正確理解和翻譯長句，是法律翻譯成敗的要素之一。
翻譯長句，首先要從語法分析入手理解句子的完整意思，而後在理解的基礎上將其意思用通順的漢語翻譯出來。以“導論”中0.3節所給的長句爲例，這個句子的主句(the Parties shall promptly consult and decide whether…)前面有一個很長的條件狀語從句(if, after the signing of this Agreement, the Chinese government either at the State, provincial, municipal or local level adopts any new law, regulation, decree or rule, amends or repeals any provision of any law, regulation, decree or rule, or adopts any different interpretation or method of implementation of any law, regulation, decree or rule, which contravenes this Agreement or which materially and adversely affects a Party's economic benefit under this Agreement, then upon written notice thereof from the affected party to the other Party)和時間狀語(then upon written notice thereof from the affected party to the other Party)，在條件狀語從句中，又夾帶着一個時間狀語(after the signing of this agreement)和一個定語從句(which contravenes this Agreement or which materially and adversely affects a Party's economic benefit under this Agreement)。主句本身也相當複雜，除了有主語加兩個並立的謂語和賓語的基本句子結構外，兩個謂語動詞未完分別有方式狀語(in accordance with the original provisions thereof as per the relevant provisions of the Contract Law of the People's Republic of China)及目的狀語(in order to preserve each Party's economic benefit under this Agreement)和方式狀語(on a basis no less favourable than the economic benefit it would have received if such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted, amended, repealed or so interpreted of so interpreted or implemented)修飾。就是在後一個方式狀語中，也還有一個作定語的虛擬句(it would have received of such law, regulation, decree or rule had not been adopted, amended, repealed or so interpreted or implemented)。縱觀整個句子，內有主句又有從句，修飾語套修飾語，一個接一個疊加，一環扣一環相連，構成了複雜的修飾和被修飾關係。只有弄清楚句子裏各個成分之間的相互關係，纔有可能理解句子的完整意思。
由於這個句子內部存在着複雜關係，要準確、通順地譯出原句的完事意思並不是一件容易的事情。比較英語和漢語這兩種語言的句子結構，不難發現，英語可以憑藉關聯詞形成很長的句子，而漢語卻沒有諸如關係代詞和關係副詞之類的關聯詞，因而也就不可能產生結構複雜的長句。英語複合句，各個成分之間都有適當的關聯詞加以連接，以表明它們之間的邏輯關係，這就使得句子各個成分的設置有較大的靈活性。漢語句子一般是按時間順序和中國人的邏輯思維順序編排的，即使不使用關聯詞，也能構成完整的意思。翻譯長句，要按漢語的表達方式處理英語句子裏錯綜複雜的關係。處理方法大致可歸納爲兩種：一種是基本上按英語原句的結構順序翻譯，另一種是按漢語的時間順序和邏輯順序翻譯。本章將着重分析第一種翻譯方法。
按原句的結構順序翻譯
(a)Each of the Shareholders shall exercise all voting rights and other powers of control available to it in relation to the Company so as to procure (so far as it is able by the exercise of such rights and powers) that at all times during the term of this Agreement, the provisions concerning the structure and organisation of the Company, and the regulation of its affairs set out in this Agreement, are duly observed and given full force and effect, and all actions reserved and given full force and effect, and all actions required of the Shareholders under this Agreement are carried out in a timely manner, and in particular (but not in derogation of the generality of the foregoing), that any meeting of the Board and every general meeting of the Company has the necessary quorum throughout and is conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and shall execute and do and procure all other third parties, if necessary, to execute and do all such further acts, deeds, assurances and things as may be reasonably required so that full effect may be given to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
各股東應應其具有的與公司相關的所有表決權和其他控制權，以保證(就通過行使該等權利和權力可以保證而言)在本協議期限內任何時候，關於公司結構和組織的規定和本協議規定的公司事務的管理規則得到遵守並具有完全的效力，本協議項下要求股東採取的一切行動均已及時採取，告別是(但不得損害前述一般性原則)公司的任何董事會會議和每一次股東大會自始至終達到必需的法定人數，且根據本協議的規定召開，而且應簽署和執行，並在必要時保證所有其他第三方簽署和進行可能合理要求的一切進一步行動、契約、保證和事宜，以使本協議的條款和條件可以具有完全的效力。
這個句子中，主語有兩個並立的謂語+賓語的動賓詞組：shall exercise all voting rights and other powers of control和shall execute and do and procure all other third parties, if necessary, to execute and do all such further acts, deeds, assurances and things，而且緊隨其後又都是表示目的的狀語。翻譯也是按原句的這一基本結構進行的。
(b)If in any case Party A, after having become bound to transfer any Shares and Loans pursuant to the provisions of this Clause X to Party B or a third party, shall fail or refuse to do so, the Company Secretary or any other person appointed by the Board shall be deemed to have been irrevocably authorized by Party A, with full power to execute, complete and deliver, in the name and on behalf of Party A, transfers of the Board may then register the purchaser or its nominee as holder of the Shares and issue to the purchaser or its nominee (as the case may be) a certificate of the same, and thereupon, Party A shall be bound to deliver up the certificates for the Shares, and upon such delivery, shall be entitled to receive the purchase price therefore without interest.
如果甲方應有義務根據本條規定向乙方或第三方轉讓任何股份或貸款，而甲方卻未進行或拒絕進行轉讓，公司祕書或董事會委派的任何其他人應被視爲經甲方不可撤消的授權，有全權在購買人向公司支付購買價款後，以甲方的名義並代表甲方簽署、完成並向購買人交付股份和貸款轉讓證，而後董事會將購買人或其指定的人登記爲股份持有人，並向購買人或其指定的人(視情況而定)簽發股權證，據此，甲方有義務交付股權證，交付後則有權獲得不計利息的購買價款。
上面的譯文基本上也是按原句的順序編排的，只有其中的一個狀語against payment of the purchase price therefore to the Company 根據漢語時間狀語的習慣位置向前推移了一步。
英語和漢語是兩種不同的語言，但在句子結構上畢竟還有相同點，大體上都具有是“主、謂、賓”的基本框架。只要英語句子可以按其原有的成分排列順序轉換成結構大體相同的漢語句子，翻譯時就應當照辦，而不必另起爐竈，更不能隨意偏離翻譯的基本原則，把翻譯當作釋義(paraphrase)。
按漢語的時間先後和邏輯順序翻譯
如果一個英語句子無法照着原有順序翻譯，就不得不考慮將原句的結構拆開，根據原義用漢語重新整合，以時間先後，因果、假設等邏輯關係相繼譯成一句或幾句意思連貫、內容完整的.句子。
(a)The enduring significance of the Shanghai Communique is symbolized by the fact that two of the participants in the ceremony fifteen years ago –Ambassadors Han Xu and Winston Lord – are now charged with even greater responsibilities for promoting good relations between our two countries.
15年前，曾參加上海公報簽字儀式的兩位人士，韓敘大使和溫斯頓?洛德大使，現在都肩負着促進我們兩國友好關係的更爲重要的責任，這標誌着上海公報具有持久的意義。
上面的英語句子與譯文在“時間”安排上順序不一樣，英語由現在提及過去的事情(韓敘和溫斯頓?洛德都參加了15年前上海公報簽字儀式)，而漢語則先提過去的事情，由過去說到現在。同時，英語句子先說上海公報具有持久的意義，而後點明這表現爲韓敘和溫斯頓?洛德兩位大使現在都肩負着促進我們兩國友好關係的更爲重要的責任;漢語則剛好相反，敘述時由“因”而“果”。這句長句的譯文，正是按照漢語先過去後現在的時間順序及因果關係重新安排英語原句各個內容層次的。
(b)The progress to the statute book of the necessary legal infrastructure for electronic commerce has in many countries been delayed by a difficult and politically sensitive debate created by the concerns of law enforcement authorities that the widespread use of strong encryption may facilitate crime and terrorism to a degree that will de-stabilize civilized governments.
在許多國家，執法機關擔心嚴格加密的廣泛使用，會給犯罪分子和恐怖活動提供方便，從而破壞文明政府的穩定。這種擔心引起了一場難以解決的、政治上敏感的辯論。而這場辯論則延誤了必要的電子商務法律歸入法典的進程。
這句句子包含的信息量大，內容一層又一層，各個成分環環相扣，根本無法用一個漢語句子來翻譯。首先，主語又長又複雜(The progress to the statute book of the necessary legal infrastructure for electronic commerce)，而且因修辭關係出現換位現象(to the statute book與of the necessary legal infrastructure for electronic commerce前後倒置)。狀語(by a difficult and politically sensitive debate)後面有定語修飾語(created by the concerns of law enforcement authorities)，而定語又帶同位語從句(that the widespread use of strong encryption may facilitate crime and terrorism to a degree that will de-stabilize civilized governments)，同位語中又有狀語(to a degree that will de-stabilize civilized governments)。
根據以上分析，英語原句的內容可以分爲三層：一層是執法機關擔心嚴格加密的廣泛使用會產生怎樣的後果，一層是這種擔心引起了一場辯論，還有一層是說這場辨論所導致的結果——延誤了必要的電子商務法律歸入法典的進程。這是按漢語邏輯思維自然形成的因果關係的鏈接。而從英語句子結構來看，上述第一層和第三層的內容次序剛好相反，英語傾向於把信息的重心放在句首，先陳述一個事實(電子商務法律歸入法典的進程被延誤了)，而後說明該事實發生的原因(是因爲一場難以解決的、政治上敏感的辯論)，中間的一層意思則表明辯論的由來(執法機關的擔心)。這句英語句子的翻譯過程，實際上是按漢語所習慣的邏輯順序來表達原文的確切意思，而這正是翻譯所要達到的目的。
(c)Each Party hereby agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend the other Party from and against any and all claims, suits, losses, damages and disbursements (including legal and management costs) arising out of any alleged or actual breach of failure to comply with the terms and conditions hereof including but not limited to any infringement of the other Party's intellectual property or other rights occurring as a result of the offending Party's fault, omission or activities in connection with the Project.
各方謹此同意，困一方被指控違反、實際違反或未遵守本協議條款和條件包括但不限於由於違約方與項目有關的過錯、不作爲或活動導致對另一方和知識產權或其他權利的侵犯，而引起的任何和所有索賠、訴訟、損害和支出(包括律師費和管理費)，該違約方須向另一方做出賠償，使另一方免受損害，併爲其進行抗辯。
同前面的句子一樣，英語把信息的重心放在句首，先表明各方同意的事項(indemnify, hold harmless and defend the other Party)，然後規定因什麼原因引起的損失和損害纔會給予賠償(arising out of any alleged or actual breach or failure to comply with the terms and conditions)。作爲補充內容，句中夾入包括因其他原因(as a result of the offending Party's fault, omission or activities in connection with the Project)發生的侵權(infringement of the other Party's intellectual property or other rights)。譯文則是按漢語的邏輯思路，先表明因何原因，一方纔向另一方做出賠償。(順便提一下，理解這句英語句子時，要把句中隱含而漢有明示的成分考慮在內，譯文裏增添的“一方”和“該違約方”是爲了明確地譯出原文的意思所必需的。)
翻譯長句，對英語句子進行拆分和整合，必須是在全面、準確理解原義的基礎上進行。譯者要做到心中有數，統攬全句，把握細節，纔不至於在複雜的結構中迷失方向。下筆翻譯時，要緊扣原句的意思而不拘泥於原句的結構，把一層一層內容按漢語的時間先後和邏輯關係恰當地鏈接在一起，最終組合成既忠實又通順的譯文。
