淺談?dòng)⑽暮贤挠迷~特點(diǎn)及翻譯技巧
淺談?dòng)⑽暮贤挠迷~特點(diǎn)及翻譯技巧
隨著中外交流的深入,英文合同日益常見。文章簡(jiǎn)要分析了合同英語在選用詞匯方面的特點(diǎn),力求對(duì)商務(wù)英語的教學(xué)和學(xué)習(xí)有所裨益。
淺談?dòng)⑽暮贤挠迷~特點(diǎn)及翻譯技巧
合同英語的用詞極其考究,具有特定性。要求選詞專業(yè)化(professional)、正式(formal)、準(zhǔn)確(accurate)。具體體現(xiàn)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)對(duì)學(xué)過英語的人再熟悉不過,但在合同中用這些詞時(shí)要極其謹(jǐn)慎。權(quán)利義務(wù)的約見定部分構(gòu)成了合同的主體。這幾個(gè)詞如選用不當(dāng),可能會(huì)引起糾紛。
may 旨在約定當(dāng)事人的權(quán)利(可以做什么),Shall約定當(dāng)事人的義務(wù)(應(yīng)當(dāng)做什么時(shí)候), must 用于強(qiáng)制性義務(wù)(必須做什么),may not (或shall not)用于禁止性義務(wù)(不得做什么)。May do 不能說成can do shall do,不能說成should do 或ought to do,may not do 在美國(guó)一些法律文件可以用shall not,但絕不能用can not do或must not )
例如,在約定解決爭(zhēng)議的途徑時(shí)的,可以說:
The parties hereto shall, first of all, settle any dispute arising from or in connection with the contract by friendly negotiations. Should such negotiations fail, such dispute may be referred to the People's Court having jurisdiction on such dispute for settlement in the absence of any arbitration clause in the disputed contract or in default of agreement reached after such dispute occurs.
本句中的shall 和may表達(dá)準(zhǔn)確。出現(xiàn)爭(zhēng)議后應(yīng)當(dāng)先行協(xié)商,所以采用了義務(wù)性“約定”,如果協(xié)商解決不了,作為當(dāng)事人的權(quán)利,用選擇性約定may也很妥當(dāng)。如果may和 shall 調(diào)換位置會(huì)怎么樣?前半句的shall換用may后,意思變成了當(dāng)事人可以通過協(xié)商解決,意思上說得過去,但后半句的may換用shall 后,變成了應(yīng)當(dāng)訴訟解決,好象一出事,就要先見官,這就有些不友好了。
本句可譯:雙方首先應(yīng)通過友好協(xié)商,解決因合同而發(fā)生的或與合同有關(guān)的爭(zhēng)議。如果協(xié)商未果,合同中又無仲裁條款約定或爭(zhēng)議發(fā)生后未就仲裁達(dá)成協(xié)方的,可將爭(zhēng)議提交有管轄權(quán)的人民法院解決。
2、正式用語(formal term)
合同英語有著嚴(yán)肅的風(fēng)格,與其它英語作品有很大不同。
例如:
“因?yàn)?rdquo;的短語多用“by virtue of ",遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)多于“due to”一般不用“because of ”;
“財(cái)務(wù)年度末”一般用“at the close of the fiscal year”,而不用“in the end of the fiscal year”;
“在……之前”一般用“prior to”,而不用“before”;
“關(guān)于”常用“as regards”, “concerning”或“relating to”,而不會(huì)用“about”;
“事實(shí)上”用“in effect”,而不用“in fact”;
“開始”用“commencement”,而不用“start”或“begin”;
“停止做”用“cease to do”,而不用“stop to do”;
“何時(shí)開會(huì)并由某某主持”的表述為:The meeting shall be convened and presided by sb. 其中“召開”不用“hold 或call”,而用“convene”;“主持”不用“chair”或“be in charge of ”,而用“preside”;
“其他事項(xiàng)”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”;
“認(rèn)為”用“deem”,用“consider”少,不用“think”或“believe”;
“愿意做”用“intend to do”或“desrie to do”,而不用“want to do”, “wish to do”。
合同用詞不以大眾是否理解和接受為轉(zhuǎn)移,它是合同語言準(zhǔn)確表達(dá)的保障。如合同出現(xiàn)的“瑕疵”、“救濟(jì)”、“不可抗力”、“管轄”、“損毀”、“滅失”等就可能讓非行業(yè)人士費(fèi)解,在英語以上表達(dá)分別為defect、remedy、force majuere/Act of God、jurisdiction、damage and/or loss)。另外幾乎每個(gè)合同都少不了hereinafter referred to as , whereas, in witness whereof, for and on behalf of , hereby, thereof 等虛詞。這也是合同英語的一大特色。
其它例子還有:
“賠償”用“indemnities”,而不用“compensation”
“不動(dòng)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓”用“conveyance”,而不用“trnasfer of real estate”
“房屋出租”用“tenancy”,而“財(cái)產(chǎn)出租”用“lease of property”
“停業(yè)”用“wind up a business”或“cease (名詞是cessation) a business”,而不用“end/stop a business”
專利許可中的“特許權(quán)使用費(fèi)”只用“royalities”
還款或?qū)@暾?qǐng)的“寬限期”英文“grace”,
“當(dāng)事人在破產(chǎn)中的和解”用“composition”
以實(shí)物出資為“investment in kind” “依照合同相關(guān)規(guī)定”一般說“pursuant to provisions contained herein”或“as provided herein”等,不說“according to relevant terms and conditions in the contract”
“合同任何一方當(dāng)事人不得轉(zhuǎn)讓本合同”英文表述為“Neither party hereto may assign this contract”,其中“hereto”表示“to the contract”,選用“Neither party to the contract”較少。
3、同義詞、近義詞、相關(guān)詞的序列
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.
在這里的同義詞和近義詞并列(如sell, transfer, assign and set over,right和 tile and interest),在英文合同里十分普遍。這是出于嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)和杜絕漏洞的考慮,有的也屬于合同用語的固定模式。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”兩組分別屬于同義詞和相關(guān)詞并列。
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”三組同義司和近義詞并列。
The parties have agreed to vary the Management on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein. 這里的“on the terms”和“subject to the conditions”是一個(gè)意思都表示“依照本協(xié)議的條款規(guī)定”。合同條款的固定模式是“terms and conditions”
再例如:
“Party A wishes to be released and discharged from agreement as from the feective date”,一句中的“realease”和“discharge”意思幾乎相同。
并列的詞還有:
ships and vessels
support and maintenance
licenses and permits
charges, fees, costs and expenses
any and all
any duties, obligations or liabilities
the partners, their heirs, successors and assigns
control and management of the partnership
applicable laws, regulations, decrees, directives, and rules
4、拉丁詞
在國(guó)外合同中,拉丁詞仍然是很常見:
比例稅率:用pro rate tax rate要比proportional tax rate多
從事慈善性服務(wù)的律師:pro bono lawyer,不怎么用lawyer engaged in charitable legal assistance
委托代理人:多用agent ad litem
不可抗力:force majuere.