acknowledge

作动词讲时

to accept, admit or recognize something, or the truth or existence of something:

1 其后直接跟动词的ing形式She acknowledged having been at fault.

2 可以接从句 [+ that] She acknowledged that she had been at fault.

You must acknowledge the truth of her argument.

Historians generally acknowledge her as a genius in her field.

3 接宾语和to do 不定式 She is usually acknowledged to be one of our best artists.

They refused to acknowledge (= to recognize officially) the new government.

Please acknowledge receipt of (= say that you have received) this letter.

He didn't even acknowledge my presence (= show that he had seen me).

The government won't even acknowledge the existence of the problem.

acknowledge的基本意思是“承认”,这包含两种意思:一是承认某事属实,即把已经隐瞒或可以隐瞒的事情公开,如承认错误等; 二是承认权威或地位,即明确或正式承认某些原则具有约束力,某些要求具有合法性或接受某人为其统治者等。acknowledge还可以指“注意到”,多用于正式书信的开头表示“告知收到(信件、礼物等)”。acknowledge还可以表示以微笑或挥手等方式“ 跟…打招呼”。

acknowledge通常以人或国家、政府等作主语。

recognize

1 作动词讲时重点强调以前见过或听过，认出来

to know someone or something because you have seen, heard or experienced them before:

I hadn't seen her for 20 years, but I recognized her immediately.

"Do you recognize this song?"

Doctors are trained to recognize the symptoms of different diseases.

2 引申表示“承认”“确认”“辨认”,指某人注意到、认定某事物的真实性、重要性、责任感、能力、学识等或某人。公认讲的时候更具书面性，国家对某人〔事〕的认可并承认其具有合法性,强调实际上地、明确地承认,而非形式上或文学上的承认。

从两个法律意思上讲，recognise是认同，有接受的意思， acknowledge只有承认知道事件，但不一定认同事件。