“機車”譯名和定義的問題

關於譯名的問題，在上一篇文章中已經大致提到。

剛才查一些歐盟的資料，準備寫一篇關於"交通部暫緩開放機車長度限制(2.5米上限)有感"的時候，查到他們對於譯名和定義統一所作的努力(遠在1992年時)。歐盟之所以有此做法乃是因為立法上的考量。舉 “moped" 一字為例，在歐盟諸國境內(於1992年)就有十四種不同的官方定義…. 在 “COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/61/EEC of 30 June 1992 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles" 一章節中我們可以發現這一個特別惱人，但又不得不去碰的問題：

Whereas it is necessary to draw up precisely and uniformly the definitions applying to these vehicles (mopeds, motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles) and more particularly the definition of a moped since there are 15 different definitions of this type of vehicle in the 12 Member States; whereas such a large number of definitions, which in practice mean the same number of vehicle categories, raise major barriers to trade since products need to be tailored to their markets, and thus constitute a fragmentation of the moped market…

所以譯名的統一是必要的，否則在相關的立法上，會很難推動。這是基礎工程。很可惜的是，車界、法律界、學界…等等，似乎還沒注意到這個影響長遠的問題。