-
英文合同中的重点提示
(一)
Contract
与
Agreement
的区别
在英语中,合同一般称为
Contract
,
协议一般称为
Agreement.
1.
何谓“contract”?
xx
年中国《合同法》第二条对
con
tract
定义为:
A
contact in this Law refers to an
agreement
establishing
,
modifying and terminating the civil
rights and obligations between subjects
of equal
footing
,
that is
,
between natural
persons
,
legal
persons or other organizations“。根据这一定义,
合同是
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“Law
Dictionary”中将
contract
定义为“contract is a promise,
or a set of
promises
,
for
breach of which the law gives
remedy
,
or the
performance of the which the law in some way
recognize as a duty.”根据这一定义,合同是一种承诺,违
p>
反承诺可以得到法律救助,某种意义上法律将履行该承诺看做
是一种
补偿。
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L.B Curzon
在其编撰的字典“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。
综合起来,有一个相同点,就是“Contract is an
agreement”,即可将合同说成是“An agreement which
binds the parties concerned”或者说合同说成是“An
agreement which is enforceable by
law”,也可以说:
Contracts are promises that
the law will enforce.
2.
何谓“Agreement”?
L.B “A consensus of mind,
or
evidence of such
consensus
,
in
spoke or written form
,
relating to
anything done or to be done
.”根据这一定义,协议是对已
经做或准备做的相关事宜,经过谈判、协商后取得一致意
见,
以口头或书面形式做出的约定。
Black “Law Dictionary”有两个定义。一个是:“A
concord of understanding and intention
between two or
more parties with
respect to the effect upon their
relative rights and
duties
,
of certain past or
future
facts or performance”根据这一定义,协议即双
方或多方京
某些过去或将来某些事实的相关权利、义务或相关权利、义务
的履行而达成的一致理解和愿望。
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另一个是:“The consent of two or more
persons
concurring respecting the
transmission of some
property
,
right
or benefits
,
with the view
of
contacting an
obligation
,
a
mutual obligation.”根据
这一定义,协议即两个或多个当事人,为
了约定单方责任或相
互责任,就财产权利、利益的转移取得的一致同意。
ct
(合同)和
Agre
ement
(协议)是不是可以互
换呢?
合同的成立必须具备几个主要因素。它们(要约和承诺构
成的)协议、约因、设立法律关系的愿望和缔约能力四大部分
组成。
L.B Curzon
编著的“A
Diction
of
Law”提到:
“Contract generally
involves”:
and absolute
and unqualified acceptance
(要约和绝对接受);
sus
ad idem
(意思表示一致,也叫
meeting
of minds
);
ion to create legal relations
(建立合同关
系的意愿);
eness of
consent
(同意的真实性);
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ctual capacity of the parties
(合同当事人
的缔约能力);
ty of
object
(标的物的合法性);
ility of
performance
(履行的可能性);
nty of
terms
(条款的确定性);
le
consideration
(等价有偿)。
Black 'Law Dictionary“
中解释道:
Although often
used as
synonyms with ”contract“,
agreement is
a
broader term
,
agreement might lack an
essential
element of a contact.”即“协议”和“合同”
经常用作同义词
,但“协议”这一术语含义更广,例如协议可
能缺乏合同的必备条款(
< br>essential clauses/provisions
)。
实际使用当中,协议可不受必备条款的限制,而称为合同
的文体肯定少不了必
备条款,有的合同将其单列,称为一般条
款(
General
provisions
)。
xx<
/p>
中国《合同法》第十二条规定了八项一般条款,分别
是:
or name and domicile of the p
arities
(当事
人的名称或姓名和住址);
ct
object
(标的);
ty
(数量);
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y
(质量);
or
remuneration
(价款或者报酬);
limit
,
place and
method of performance
(履行期限、地点和方式);
ity for breach of
contract
(违约责任);
s to settle disputes
(解决争议的方法)。
上述解释说
明,
contract
(合同)和
ag
reement
(协议)
的概念虽然接近,但使用范围不同,不
能互换使用。合同是协
议的重要组成部分,所有合同一定是协议,而协议不见得都是
p>
合同。可以说具备合同成立要求的具有强制执行力的协议才是
合同。
(二)结构特点合同类法律文件用以规定当事人的权利与<
/p>
义务,是预防与解决争议的依据。合同英语行文慎密而准确,
历史
悠久,深含法律文化底蕴。
中文的合同开头一般先罗列当事
人的名称、姓名、住所或
营业场所,然后是合同正文,结尾是当事人印章、授权代表签<
/p>
字、职务及签字日期。而英语合同一般以下面这类句式为开
头:<
/p>
This agreement/contract is
made and entered in to
this ____ day of
_____
(
month
),
_______
(
year
)
by
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and between
Party A
(hereinafter called “ Party
A ”)
and Party
B
(hereinafter called “ Party B
”)
然后是开始陈述:
WHEREAS…THEREFORE…
It is hereby agreed as
follows
:
或以:
WITNESSETH
,
WHEREAS…
NOW
THEREFORE
,
for and in
consideration of the
mutual covenants
and agreements contained
herein
,
the
parties hereby covenant and agree as
follows
:
接着是正文,最后是证明部分:
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF
,
the parties hereto
have
hereunto set their hands the day
and years first above
written.
随后还包括当事人和见证人的签字,签字日期一般在英文
合同最搬弄是非是找不
到的。
下面列出新加坡、美国、香港和日本的合同格式。
1.
新加坡
Agreement
THIS AGREEMENT is
made the 9th day of August
,
xx
between LUCKY INTERNATIONAL
LTD
,
a company
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incorporated in Singapore and having
its registered
office at Telek Blongar
Rise
,
Singapore
19569
(hereinafter called “The
Company”)
of the part and
JACK Wong
(
NRIC
No._________ /A
)
of 108
Orchar Road
,
Singapore 01688
(hereinafter
called “The Manager”)
of the other part.
WHEREAS
:
company is engaged in IT business and
requires a person with the necessary
qualifications
and experience to manage
its business.
2.
…
NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as
follows
:
company shall employ the Manager and the
Manager shall serve the Company as
manager of the
Company's IT business
for a period of two years
commencing on
1st day of September
2.
…
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF
,
the parties hereto
have set
their hand the day and year
first above written. THE
SCHEDULE ABOVE
REFERRED TO Duties of Manger
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manage
,
maintain
and promote the business of
the
Company.
2.
3.
SIGNED by Roger Tan For and on behalf
of LUCKY
INTERANTIONAL LTD
In the presence of
SIGNED
by TERESA WONG
In the presence of
新加坡的通用合同分五部分:
第一
部分:称为
parties
,主要介绍合同各方的姓名或名
p>
称,注册地
/
国及地址、邮编及各自在合同
的简称。开头框架
一般为:
THIS AGREEMENT
is made the ----__________ day
of _____
(
month
),
____
(
year
)
between A _______
(hereinafter called
“The Company”)
of the part and
B______
,(hereinafter called
“The Manager”)
of the
other
part.
句子开头
THIS AGREEMENT
或
CONTRACT
和当事人
的姓名和名称,都应大写。
当事人是自然人的,用“o
f”和其后的住址相连;是法人
或非法人单位的,用“having its
registered office
at”
和其后注册地址相连。
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第二部分:称为
recital.
以<
/p>
WHEREAS
开头,进入叙述部
分,用
陈述正式说明当事人订立合同的原因。
第三部分:称为
p>
habendum
,正文。具体约定当事人的权
利和义务。正文部分的结束段为:
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF
,
the
parties hereto have set their hand the
day and year
first above written.
这段作用相当于中文合同的“双方签字
盖章,特此为证”。
< br>
第四部分:称为
schedule
< br>或
addendum
,附录。是对前述
< br>合同部分条款的必要补充。不是所有合同都有这一项。
第五部分:称为
attestation
,证明部分。当事人
如果自
然人,用“SIGNED by __”
英文写作翻译;连接后填写见证
姓名的表达部分“In the presence
of ____”;当事人是法
人或非法人单位时,授权代表后接的是“SIGNED
for and on
behalf _____
of____”,然后才是
In the presence of
< br>_______.
与中文合同的显著不同是签章处除当事人外,多了一
个
In the presence of _______
供证人签字之处。另一不同
的是合同订立日期没有放在合同最后,而是出现在
开头段的当
事人介绍部分。
第五部分在新加坡还有另一种表达:
As Witness our Hands this _____day of
_____
,
in
the
year of our Lord Tow Thousand and One.
Signed
,
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sealed
,
and
delivered by the above named In the
presence of Signature Address
Occupation.
上述合同的格式很有代表性,其它英文格式与之相比大同<
/p>
大异,有的合同中不含附录。
2.
美国
APPOINTMENT AS CONTRACT FULL-TIME
SENIOR CUSTOMS
ADMINISTRATOR
AN AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES made the 1st
day of
September
,
xx between ______ of _____
(
address
)
(hereinafter
referred to as “the Company”)
as one
part and Mr._______ of _______
(
address
)(
herei
nafter
referred to as the
Contractor
)
of the other
part.
WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AND
DECLARED AS FOLLOWS
:
the Company shall …
agreement shall commence on
…
3.
4.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF
,
both parties set
their hands
on the date herein
mentioned
SIGNED BY Name
:
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