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商务合同翻译案例
一、理论、方法与技巧
翻译方法的学习
,
英汉语言特点的对比
,
商务术语的理解等等。
英语合同的特点与翻译
在英语中,合同一般称为
Contract
。何谓
“
Contract
”年
?1999
中国《合同法》第二条对
Contract
定义为:
A contract in this Law
refers to an agreement establishing
,
modifying
and
terminating the civil
rights and obligations between subject of equal
footing
,
that
is
,
between
natural persons legal persons or other
organizations.
根据这一定义,
合同平等主体之间设立的确
定民事权利和义务的协议。
Steven
编著的
“
LawDictionary
中将”
contract
定义为
“
contract is a promise or a
set of promises
,
for breach
of which the law gives remedy
performance of the which the law in
some way recognize as a duty.
,
or the
根据这一定义,合同”是一种
承诺,
违反承诺可以得到法律救济,某种意义上法律将履行该承诺看成是一种救济。
Curzon
在其编纂的字典
L.L.B
“
A
Dictionary of Law
给
contract
” 的定义:
“
Contract is a legally
binding
agreement.
根”据这一定义,合
同就是有法律约束力的协议。总而言之,合同类法律文件用以
规定当事人的权利与义务,是预防与解决争议的依据。
一、用词特点与翻译要点
合同英语的用词极其考究,具有特定性。要求选词专业化
(
professional
)、正式(
formal
)、准确(
accurate
)。具体体现在下
列方面:
1
、
May, shall, must ,may not (
或
shall
not)
的使用
May, shall , must ,may not (
或
shall
not)
对学过英语的人再熟悉不
过,但在合同中用这些词时要极其谨慎。权利义务的约见定部分构成了合同的主
体。这几个词如选用不当,可能会引起纠纷。
may
< br>旨在约定当事人的权利(可以
做什么),
Shall
约定当事人的义务(应当做什么时候),
must
用
于强制性义务(必须做什么),
maynot (
或
shall
not)
用于禁止性义务(不
得做什么)。
May do
不能说成
can do
,
shall do,
不能说成
should
do
或
ought to do
,
may not
do
在美国一些法律文件可以用
shall not
,但绝不
能用
can not do
或
must
not
。
2
、
用语正式(
formal
)
合同英语有着严肃的风格,与其它英语作品有很大不同。
例如:
“因
为”的短语多用“
by virtue
of
”,远远多于“
due to
”一般不用“
because
of
”;“财务年度末”一般用“
at
the close of the fiscal year
”,而不
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用“
in the end of the fiscal
year
”;
“在
之前”一般用“
prior to
”,而不
用“
before
”;“关于”常用“
as regards
”,
“
concerning
”
或“
relating
to
”,而不会用“
about
”;“事实上”用“
in effect
”,而
不用“
in fact
”;
“开始”用“
commencement
”
,
而不用“
start
”或
“
begin
”;
“停止做”用“
cease to do
”,而不用“
stop to do
”;何时
开会并由某某主持”的表述为:
The meeting
shall
be convened and
presided
by sb.
其中“召开”不用“
hold
或
call
”,而用“
convene
”;
“主持”
不用“
chair
”或“
be in charge
of
”,而用“
preside
”;“其他事项”
用“
miscellaneous
”
,
而不用“
other
matters/events
”;“理解合同”用
“
construe a contract
”
或“
comprehend a contract
”,而不用
“
understand a contract
”;“认为”用“
deem
”,用“
consider
”少,不
用“
think
”或“
believe
”。
3
、
用词专业(
technical
)
合同用词不以大众是否理解和接受
为转移,它是合同语言准确表达的保
障。如合同出现的“瑕疵”、
“救济”、
“不可抗力”、
“管辖”、“损
毁”、
“灭失”等就可能让非行业人士费解,在英语以上表达分别为
defect
、
remedy
、
force
majuere
、
jurisdiction
、
damageand/or
loss
。另
外几乎每个合同都少不了
hereinafter referred to as , whereas,
in
witness whereof, for and
on behalf of , hereby, thereof
等虚词。这
也是合同英语的一大特色。
其它例子还有:
“赔偿”用“
indemnities
”,而不
用“
compensation
”;“不动产转让”用“
conveyance
”,而不用
“
transfer of real
estate
”;“房屋出租”用“
tenancy
”,而“财产出
租”用“
lease of property
” “停业”用“
wind up a business
”或“
cease
(
名词是
cessation)
a
business
”
,
而不用“
end/stop
a business
”
)
;“依
照合同相关规定”一般说“
pursuant to provisions contained
herein
”或
“
as provided
herein
”等,不说“
according to relevant
terms and
conditions in the
contract
”。
4
、同义词、近义词、相关词的并列使用
FOR value
RECEIVED
,
the undersigned
does hereby sell, transfer,
assign and
set over to ______ all his right, tile and
interest in and
to a certain contract
dated ______, 19____ by and between the
undersigned and ______
,
a copy of which is annexed
hereto.
在这里的同义词和近义词并列(
如
sell, transfer, assign and
set
over
,
right
和
tile and
interest
),在英文合同里十分普遍。这是出于
严谨和杜绝漏洞的考虑,有的也属于合同用语的固定模式。如:
This
agreement is made and entered into
by and between Party A and Party
B.
句中“
made and entered into
”和“
by and between
”两组分别属于同义
词和相关词并列。
For and in consideration of mutual
covenants and agreements
contained
herein, the parties hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
句中“
for and in
consideration of
”,
“
covenants and agreements
”
三组同
义司和近义词并列。
The parties have agreed to vary the
Management on the terms and
subject to
the conditions contained herein.
这里的“
on the terms
”
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和“
subject
to the
conditions
”是一个意思,都表示“依照本协议的条款
规定”。合同条款的固定模式是“
terms and conditions
”
。
scharged from
再例如:
“
Party A wishes to be
released and di
agreement as from the
effective date
”,一句中的“
release
”和
“
discharge
”意思几乎相同。
5
、
古英语与外来词的应用(
borrowing words
)
使用古英语最为突出的是较多使用
here
、
there
、
where
加后缀
in
、
by
、
after
、
from
等介词构成的词。在法律文件中用这些词,可以避免重复,避
免歧义,使行文准确、简洁。常用例词如下:
hereafter,
hereby,
herein,
hereof, hereto
hereunder, hereupon, herewith, hereinbefore,
hereinafter; thereafter, thereby,
therein, thereinafter,
thereinbefore,
thereon, thereof, thereunder, thereupon,
therewith;
。
whereas,
whereby, wherein, whereof, whereon, etc
合同中也会使用一些外来词汇,常见的有拉丁语和法语词汇。
如比例税
率:用
pro rate tax rate
要比
proportional tax rate
多;从事慈善性服
务的律师:
pro bono lawyer
,不怎么用
lawyer
engaged in
charitable
legal
assistance
;委托代理人:多用
agent ad litem
。
二、
句法特点与翻译要点
如果说商务合同的用词具有专业、准确、正式的特点,那么商
务合同的句法
则有结构严谨、句式较长的特点。句子的状语(
从句)和定语(从句)等附加成
分很多,且往往位置明显,对
主句意义进行解释、限制或补充,一则可以体现这
种文体庄严的风格、
严谨的结构和清晰的逻辑;
二则便于排除被曲解、
误解而出
现歧义引发争端的可能性,
维护双方的合法权益。
虽然商务合同英文中的句法特
点有很多,比如多用陈述句、
多用现在时、多用被动语态、
多用名词性结构等等,
但本节结合翻
译难点,重点探讨长句,尤其是条件从句的特点和翻译方法。
1.
长句及其翻译
与普通英语相比较而言,
商务合同英
语中的句子结构就其长度和使用从句的
连续性要复杂得多。分析合同长句的基本方法是:
首先,要找出全句的主语、谓
语和宾语
,
< br>即句子的主干结构;其次,要找出句子中所有的谓语结构、非谓语结
构、介词短语
和从句的引导词,然后再分析从句和短句的功能,即:是否是主语
从句、宾语从句、表语
从句或状语从句等,以及词、短语和从句之间的关系。最
后
,
分析句子中是否有固定搭配、插入语等其他成分。
1)
The Buyer may,
within 15 days after arrival of the goods at the
destination, lodge a claim against the
Seller for short-weight being
supported
by Inspection
Certificate
issued by a reputable
public
surveyor.
这是一个简单长句,其主干为
The
Buyer may
lodge a claim
。修饰谓语
动词的状语有三个,分别表示时间(
within
15 days after
arrival
of the goods
at the destination
)、方式(
being
supported by Inspection Certificate
issued by a reputable public
surveyor
)和原因(
for short-weight
)。诸多
状语尽管在原文中位置灵活,
然而在译文里,
须按照汉语的行文规
范适当进行调
整:方式状语一般应置于动词之前;
其他状语可以灵活处理,
如本句中的时间状
语可以提前至句首。
(
货物抵达目的港
15
天内,买方可以凭有信誉的公共检验员出示的检验证明
向卖方提出短重索
赔。
)
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2
)
If a Party
breaches any of the representations or warranties
given
by it in Articles
18.1
or
repeated
in 18.2, then in
addition
to any other
remedies
available to the other Party under this contract
or under
Applicable Laws,
it shall
indemnify
and keep
indemnified the
other Party
and the companyagainst
any
losses,
damages, costs,
expenses,
liabilities
and claims that such Party or the
Company may suffer as a result of such
breach.
本句的主干是
it shall indemnify and keep indemnified...
against...
the other Party and the
company
。
If
引导的是条件从句,条件句的宾语部分
跟随后置定语(
given by it
in Articles
18.1 or repeated
in 18.2
)。
in addition
to
引导的是增补成分,其核心词
remedies
也跟了后置定语(
available
to the
)。
That
引导的
other Party
under this contract or under Applicable Laws
则是后置定语修饰紧邻的五个名词。
基于以上分析,
再结合汉语的行文习惯
(条
件在前,结构在后以及定语在所修饰的核心词之前)
< br>,即可翻译成:如果一方违反
任何其根据第
18.1
条或
18.2
条所作的陈述及担保或重述
,
则另
一方除根据本合同或
相关法律寻求任何可能的救济之外
, <
/p>
违约方应当赔偿另一方或合营公司因此种违反而
招致的任何损失、
损害、费用、开支、责任或索赔。
3
)
The Seller
shall not be responsible for the delay of shipment
or non
delivery of the goods
due to Force
Majeure,
which might occur during the
process of manufacturing or in the
course of loading or transit.
上句中信息的重心在句首,
先表明卖方的免责事项,
接着再规定
由于什么原因引
起的不能交货或延迟交货才会免责,
后对不可抗力又做了限定。
按照汉语
的思维
习惯,往往先谈原因,再讲结论,因此采用颠倒顺序的译法更合理。
(凡在制造或装船运输过程中,因不可抗力致使卖方不能或推迟交货时,卖
方不负责任。)
2
、条件句及其翻译
商务合同主要约定合同各方应享有的权利和应履行的义务,
但由于这种权利
的行使和义务的履行均赋有各种条件,
所以条件句的大量使用成为商务合同的一
个特点。条件句多由下列连接词引导:
if,
in the event of,
in case
(of),
should,
provided (that),
subject
to,
unless
otherwise
等。比如:
If
the
third
party
accuses the Party B of
infringement,
Party B shall
take up the matter
(如果第三方指控乙方侵权,乙方应负责
)
1
)
In the event
of any loss caused by the delay in the delivery,
the
Representative can claim a
compensation from the Manufacturer with a
certificate and detailed list
registered by the administration
authorities of the
Representative
’
s
site.
(若因任何交货延误导致的代理方损失,
代理方可凭代理方所在地行政当局登记
的损失清单向制造方索赔,但须
出具证明。
)
2
)
Should all or
part of the contract be unable to be fulfilled
owing
to the fault of one party, the
breaching party shall bear the
responsibilities thus caused. Should it
be the fault of both parties, they shall bear
their respective responsibilities
according to actual situations.
(由于一方的过失,造成本合同不能履行或不能完全履行时,
由过失一方承
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担违约责任。
若属双方过失,
则根据实际情况,
由双方分别承担各
自应负的违
约责任。)
1
)
Either Side can
replace the representatives it has appointed
provided that it
submits a written
notice to the other Side.
(任何一方都可更换自己指派的代表,但须书面通知对方。
)
归纳上述各例,除了句(
Either
Side can replace
the representatives
it
has appointed
provided that it
submits a written
notice
to the other Side
)
以外,条件句均置于主句之前,
英译汉时译成“如果”或“若”即可。
而当条件
句置于主句之后时,
在翻译这些引导条件句的连词或短语时,
可按动态等值理论
视具体情况而定,切勿生搬硬套。该句中的
provided that
表示合同该条款需作进一
步
规定或在作规定时语气上的转折,因而应译为“但是”才使译文过渡自然,符合
汉语的表
达规范,达到功能对等的效果。
二、
译例文本
Purchase
Contract
This contract is made on the
___ day of ___ 20 _ _ , by and between 1_______
Ltd
(hereinafter2 referred to as the
Seller) and______ Company (hereinafter referred to
as
the Buyer). Through friendly
negotiation, both Parties have hereby agreed on
the
terms and conditions stipulated
hereunder:
1.
Contract Products: _________________
2.
Specification:
_________________
3.
Quantity: _________________
4.
Unit Price:
_________________
5.
Total Value:_________________
6.
Country of
Origin: _________________
7.
Shipping Marks: _________________
8.
Shipment:
_________________
To be shipped on or
before ____________subject to acceptable Letter of
Credit
(L/C) reaches Sellers before the
end of ____________, and partial shipments
allowed,
transshipment allowed.
9. Grace Period:
Should
4
last
shipment have to be extended for fulfilment of
this contract, the
Buyer shall give the
Seller a grace period of 30 days upon submitting
evidence by
the Seller.
10.
Insurance:
To be effected by the Buyer.
11. Packing:
In new Kraft
paper bags of ____________kg/bag or in wooden
cases of
____________kg/case, free of
charge.
12. Payment:
The
Buyer shall open a 100% confirmed, irrevocable,
divisible and negotiable
and partial
shipment permitted Letter of
Credit
5
in favor of the
Seller within 5 calendar
days from the
date of the agreement through the Issuing Bank.
The L/C shah be
drawn against draft at
sight upon first presentation of the following
documents:
(1) Full set of Seller's
Commercial Invoices;