【Abstract】It is a comment on the English version of the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China under the guidance of professor Li’s principles of legal translation. It first gives the introduction to the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China， then presents the stylistic and linguistic features of legal English， finally and most importantly makes an attempt to judge the merits and defects in the English version of the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China so as to better the legal document translation in China.
【Key words】comment； legal document C-E translation； features of legal English； legal translation principles
1. Introduction
On 29th December1993， the Company Law of the People's Republic of China was adopted at the Fifth Session of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress. This is the first company law in the real sense in the history of the New China. It consists of 11 chapters. Chapter Ⅰis general provisions. Chapter Ⅱ and Chapter Ⅲ provide the incorporation and organizational structure of limited liability companies and Joint stock limited companies. Chapter Ⅳ is about the issue and transfer of shares of joint stock limited companies. Chapter Ⅴ to Chapter Ⅷ deal with articles about bonds， financial affairs and accounting， merger and division， bankruptcy， dissolution and liquidation of companies. This law has played an important role in establishing a modern market mechanism and modern business system， and in promoting healthy development of the economy. Chapter Ⅸ includes provisions about branches of foreign companies. Chapter Ⅹ stipulates legal liability and chapter Ⅺ is supplementary provisions.
2. Features of legal English
Legal language， unlike other professional languages， reaches the highest level of standardization in a country. It has its own special features which require translators to be acquainted with its stylistic and linguistic features.
The style of legal texts is solemn and rigid. It must provide people with clear and accurate provisions to stipulate what rights they can enjoy and what obligations they shall take with. There should be no ambiguity in expressions as well as no redundant words in each sentence. To meet this requirement， the legal words have to be precise， terse and concise in terms of stylistic. In addition， the reasonable and standard formula is necessary for legal documents. In order to have an atmosphere of solemnity， the legal English sentences should avoid using descriptive modifiers and tend to use narrative and imperative sentences to indicate the objectivity and the binding force of rules and regulations. In other words， it means that the legal English has another one feature in its style，， which is impersonality in writing.
