涉外商務合同英語用詞
商務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)對學過英語的人再熟悉不過,但在合同中用這些詞時要極其謹慎。權利義務的約見定部分構成了合同的主體。這幾個詞如選用不當,可能會引起糾紛。
may 旨在約定當事人的權利(可以做什么),Shall約定當事人的義務(應當做什么時候), must 用于強制性義務(必須做什么),may not (或shall not)用于禁止性義務(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,在約定解決爭議的途徑時的,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表達準確。出現(xiàn)爭議后應當先行協(xié)商,所以采用了義務性"約定",如果協(xié)商解決不了,作為當事人的權利,用選擇性約定may也很妥當。如果may和 shall 調(diào)換位置會怎么樣?前半句的shall換用may后,意思變成了當事人可以通過協(xié)商解決,意思上說得過去,但后半句的may換用shall 后,變成了應當訴訟解決,好象一出事,就要先見官,這就有些不友好了。
本句可譯:雙方首先應通過友好協(xié)商,解決因合同而發(fā)生的或與合同有關的爭議。如果協(xié)商未果,合同中又無仲裁條款約定或爭議發(fā)生后未就仲裁達成協(xié)方的,可將爭議提交有管轄權的人民法院解決。
2、正式用語(formal term)
合同英語有著嚴肅的風格,與其它英語作品有很大不同。例如:
"因為"的短語多用"by virtue of ",遠遠多于"due to"一般不用"because of ";
"財務年度末"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";
"關于"常用"as regards", "concerning"或"relating to",而不會用"about";
"事實上"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";
"何時開會并由某某主持"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"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".
3、用詞專業(yè)(Technical Terms)
合同用詞不以大眾是否理解和接受為轉(zhuǎn)移,它是合同語言準確表達的保障。如合同出現(xiàn)的"瑕疵"、"救濟"、"不可抗力"、"管轄"、"損毀"、"滅失"等就可能讓非行業(yè)人士費解,在英語以上表達分別為defect、remedy、force majuere/Act of God、jurisdiction、damage and/or loss)。另外幾乎每個合同都少不了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"
"不動產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓"用"conveyance",而不用"trnasfer of real estate"
"房屋出租"用"tenancy",而"財產(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"特許權使用費"只用"royalities"
還款或?qū)@暾埖?quot;寬限期"英文"grace",
"當事人在破產(chǎn)中的和解"用"composition"
以實物出資為"investment in kind"
"依照合同相關規(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。
4、同義詞、近義詞、相關詞的序列
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.
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