-
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
contr
act
,协议一般称为
agreement.
1.
何谓
?
1999
年中国
《合同法》
第二条对
contract
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
< br>编著的
中将
contract
定义为
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。
l.b curzon
在其编撰的字典
给
co
ntract
的定义:
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
is
an
agreement
,即可将合
同说成
是
或者说合同说成是
agreement
which
is
enforceable
by
law
,也可以说:
contract
s
are
promises
that the law will enforce.
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2.
何谓
<
/p>
?
l.b
,
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
dictionary<
/p>
有两个定义。
一个是:
< br>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。
另一个是:
transmission
of some property
,
right or
benefits
,
with the view of
contacting an
obligation
,
a mutual obligat
ion.
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
agreement
(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
diction
of
law
提到:
generally
involves
:
and absolute
and unqualified acceptance
(要约和绝对接受);
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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);
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
,
agreement is a
broader term
,
agreement
might lack
an essential element of a co
ntact.
即
协议
< br>
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(
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(
g
eneral provisions
)。
1999
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
parities
p>
(当事人的名称或姓名和住址)
;
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ct object
(标的);
ty
(数量);
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<
/p>
(合同)和
agreement
(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
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:
this
agreement/contract is made
and entered
in
to this ____
day of _____
(
month
),
_______
(
year
)
by
and
between
party
a
(
hereinafter
called
)
and party
b
(
hereinafter called
)
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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
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this agreement is made the 9th day of
august
,
2001 between lucky
international
ltd
,
a company incorporated
in singapore and having its
registered
office at telek blongar
rise
,
singapore
19569
(
hereinafter
called
)
of the
part and jack wong
(
nric
no._________ /a
)
of
108
orchar
road
,
singapore
01688
(
hereinafter
called
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
manage
,
maintain and promote
the business of the company.
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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
company
)
of
the
part
and
b______<
/p>
,
(
hereinafter
called
manager
)
of
the
other
part.
句子开头
this
agreement
或
contract
p>
和当事人的姓名和名称,都应大写。
当事人是自然人的,用
和其后的住址相连;是法人或非法人单位的,用
和其
后注册地址相连。
第二部分:称为
recital.
以
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
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
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day
and
year
first
above
writt
en.
这段作用相当于中文合同的
双方
签字盖章,
特此为证
。
第四部分:称为
schedule
或
addendum
,附录。是对前述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
p>
by
__
英文写
作翻译;连接后填写见证姓名的表达部分
;
当事人是法人或非法人单位时,授权代表后接的是
____
_ of____
,然后才是
in the presence
of _______.
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
,
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
,
2000 between
______
of
_____ <
/p>
(
address
)(
< br>hereinafter
referred
to
as
)
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as one part and mr._______ of _______
p>
(
address
)(
hereinafter 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
:
designation
:
for and on behalf of
:(
signature
)
contractor
:
designation
:
for and on
behalf of
:(
signature
)
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