1、Foreign Economic Contract Documents in Writing and Translation对外经济合同英文写作和翻译 UNIT ONESOME LANGUAGE FEATURES IN CONTRACT DOCUMENTS对外经济合同中的英语语言特点 选词用词比普通函电难，句子结构独特； 使用正式的法律用词； 大量使用法律副词； 同义词连用； 应具备相应的专业知识和法律知识1. 选用正式的或法律条文的用词 Examples (1) The Appendix hereto shall, through the contract period, be deemed
2、 to be constructed as part of this Contract. 整个合同期间，本合同的附件应被理解为合同的一部分。 注：句中的 be deemed（被认为）和 constructed （理解）为正式用词。Be deemed 比 considered 正式，construed 比 understood 正式。 (2) The first Board meeting shall be convened within one month after the inssuance of the Companys business license. 第一次董事会应在公司营业执照签
3、发后一个月内召开。 注：句中convened 比 called held/ assembled正式。 (3) “Permanent Works” means the permanent works to be executed in accordance with the Contract. “永久工程”是指根据合同将实施的永久工程。 注：in accordance with 在合同等法律文件中常用，比 according to 要正式。 (4) The headings and marginal notes in these conditions shall not be deemed pa
4、rt thereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation or construction thereof or of the Contract. 本合同条件中的标题和旁注不应视为合同文本的一部分，在合同条件或合同本身的理解或解释中也不应考虑这些标题和旁注。 注：句中construction 意为explanation,但比explanation正式，此词在法律文件中常用。有的国际法律文本中，此词被译为“构成”，显然是错误的。 (5) If under Clause 31 the Employer employs other
5、Contractors on the Site, the Employer shall require them to have the same regard for safty and danger. 如果根据第31条规定，业主在现场还雇佣其他承包人时，业主应同样地要求这些承包人在安全和避免危险方面负同样的责任。 注：句中require 是正式用语，比ask正式。而且require表示上对下的要求，表示法律条款对合同当事人的要求。而ask一词没有这么明确，它含有request 和 require 之意，其中request表示下对上的要求，在译成中文时，为“请求”。可见在此句中只能用requ
6、ire最为恰当。 (6) The submission to and consent by the Engineer of such programs or the provision of such general descriptions or cash flow estimates shall not relieve the Contractor of any of his duties or responsibilities under the Contract. 向工程师提交并同意的上述进度计划或提供上述一般说明或现金流通量估算，并不解除合同规定的承包人的任何义务或责任。 注：句中
7、consent（同意）和 estimate（估算）都是正式用词。 (7) The Chairman may convene an interim meeting in accordance with a proposal made by one-third of the total number of directors. 董事长可根据董事会三分之一董事的提议，召集临时董事会。 句中convene（召集）和interim（临时）都是正式用词。 (8) The Employer hereby covenants to pay the Contractor in consideration of
8、the excution and completion of the Works and the remedying of defects therein the Contract Price. 业主特此立约保证向承包人支付合同总价，以作为本工程施工、竣工及修补工程中缺陷的报酬。 注：covenants是法律用语，意为签订有法律约束力的正式合约。2. 同义词连用 Another language feature is that an expression may contain two synonyms or more repeating each other in order to avoi
9、d possible misunderstanding. 进行法律文书的英文写作时，对一些关键性的词常常采用同义词连用。这主要是为了克服由于许多英语词具有一词多义的特点，而在句中可能发生意思不明，合同双方可能按自己的意图来理解。为确保所用词不被曲解，采用同义词连用，取两个或两个以上同义词的共义，以保证内容上的准确，维护法律文件的独解性尊严。Examples (1) The headings and marginal notes in these conditions shall not be deemed part thereof or be taken into consideration
10、in the interpretation or construction thereof or of the Contract. 本合同条件中的标题和旁注不应视为合同文本的一部分，在合同条件或合同本身的理解或解释中也不应考虑这些标题和旁注。 注：句中construction 意为explanation同义，意为“理解，解释”。 (2) This agreement is made and entered into by and between Party A and Party B. 本协议由甲方和乙方签订。 句中made 和entered into同义，意为签订协议。by和between同
11、义，意为由甲方和乙方签订。 (3) The Contractor shall, without limiting his or the Employers obligations and resposibilities under Clause 20, insure the Works, together with materials and plant for incorporation therein, to the full replacement cost. 在不限定第20条中规定的承包人和业主的义务和责任的条件下，承包人应以全部重置成本对工程，并对用于工程材料和工程配套设备进行保险。
12、 句中obligations和responsibilities 同义。 (4) Party A shall no longer be responsible for keeping secret and confidential such part as is already published. 甲方不再承担已经被公开部分的保密义务。 句中secret和confidential 同义。 (5) The amendments to or alterations of this Contract come into effect only after they are signed by the
13、 Parties hereto and approved by the original approving authorities. 本合同的修改只有经双方的签字并经原审批主管机关批准后才能生效。 句中amendments和alterations同义。 (6) The parties to this Contract shall fulfill or perform any of the obligations under this Contract. 本合同双方应履行合同规定的义务。 句中fulfill和perform 同义。 (7) Any such consent shall not
14、relieve the Contractor from any liability or obligation under the Contract. 本合同双方应履行合同规定的义务。 句中liability 和 obligation 同义。 (8) If the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms, provisions, conditions and stipulations of the said Contract, this obligation shall be null and void but other
15、wise shall be and remain in full force and effect. 如果承包人切实履行并遵守上述合同的所有条款、条件及规定，本保证书所承担的义务即告终止，否则这种义务保持完全有效。 句中连用了几组同义词，以表示强调法律条款的严密性。其中terms, provisions, conditions, stipulations皆为同义，意为合同的条款及规定。null和void为同义，意为无效。另外，be和remain同义；force 和effect 也是同义。3. 外语与相关的专业知识和国际法知识相结合 有的句子，从英语语言角度看是正确的，但是从法律和专业方面看也许
16、不正确，如果作为合同定下来，有时会给人以不礼貌感，有时还可能会给一方造成严重经济损失。 (1) The Engineer shall have authority to issue to the Contractor, from time to time, such supplementary Drawings and instructions as shall be necessary for the purpose of the proper and adequate execution and completion of the works and the remedying of an
17、y defects therein. 工程师有权随时向承包人发出为合理和恰当施工，竣工及修补工程中的缺陷所必须的补充图纸和指示。 “施工，竣工及修补工程中的缺陷”用了两个and (execution and completion of the works and the remedying of any defects )。根据一般国际承包工程的做法以及国际工程承包法规（FIDIC合同条款）的规定，工程分为两个阶段完成： 第一个阶段为：设计、施工和竣工。完成后承包人获得业主签发的移交证书(Taking-over Certificate)。 第二个阶段为修补工程中的缺陷。完成后承包人获得业主签发
18、的缺陷责任证书(Defects Liability Certificate)。届时，承包人和业主双方的合同义务都已解除。 若用execution，completion of the works and the remedying of any defects ，则意味着两个阶段合并为一个阶段，使承包人该移交的工程不能交出去，只能等到修补工程缺陷阶段结束，这就造成承包方人力、物力成本加大，也违背了FIDIC合同条款的规定。 (2) In the event that the stated time proves to be insufficient, the Employer may ask T
19、enders to extend the period of validity of their Tenders for a further named period. 如果发现注明的时间不能满足要求，业主可要求投标者将其投标书的有效期再延长一指定的时间。 业主在投标时和在签订合同后都称为业主。而承包人在投标时称投标者，如果其投标书被业主接受，即中标，并签订了合同，那么投标人就变成承包人。此时与业主的关系就成了上下级关系。而投标时，业主与投标人的关系并没有合同上的法律关系，或上下级关系，用require就有欺人之嫌。从本句来看双方恰好处在投标阶段，合同并未签订，双方是平等的，不存在上下级关系，
20、所以用ask最合适。Exercises in Class 课堂练习 1、The contract is made out in English and Chinese languages in quadruplicate, both texts being equally authentic, and each Party shall hold two copies of each text. 2、This contract is signed by the authorized representatives of both parties on Dec. 9, 1999. After si
21、gning the contract, both parties shall apply to their respective Government Authorities for ratification. The date of ratification last obtained shall be taken as the effective date of the Contract. Both parties shall exert their utmost efforts to obtain the ratification within 60 days and shall adv
22、ise the other party by telex and thereafter send a registered letter for confirmation. 3、The contract shall be valid for 10 years from the effective date of the contract, on the expiry of the validity term of contract, the contract shall automatically become null and void. 4、The outstanding (未了的)cla
23、ims and liabilities（债权和债务） existing between both parties on the expiry of the validity of the contract shall not be influenced by the expiration of this contract. The debtor shall be kept liable until the debtor fully pays up his debts to the creditor. KEY TO TRANSLATION 1、 The contract is made out
24、in English and Chinese languages in quadruplicate, both texts being equally authentic, and each Party shall hold two copies of each text. 本合同用英文和中文两种文字写成，一式四份。双方执英文本和中文本各一式两份，两种文字具有同等效力。 2、This contract is signed by the authorized representatives of both parties on Dec. 9, 1999. After signing the co
25、ntract, both parties shall apply to their respective Government Authorities for ratification. The date of ratification last obtained shall be taken as the effective date of the Contract. Both parties shall exert their utmost efforts to obtain the ratification within 60 days and shall advise the othe
26、r party by telex and thereafter send a registered letter for confirmation. 本合同由双方代表于1999年12 月9 日签订。合同签订后，由各方分别向本国政府当局申请批准，以最后一方的批准日期为本合同的生效日期，双方应力争在60天内获得批准，用电传通知对方，并用信件确认。 3、 The contract shall be valid for 10 years from the effective date of the contract, on the expiry of the validity term of cont
27、ract, the contract shall automatically become null and void. 本合同有效期从合同生效之日算起共10年，有效期满后，本合同自动失效。 4、 The outstanding (未了的)claims and liabilities（债权和债务） existing between both parties on the expiry of the validity of the contract shall not be influenced by the expiration of this contract. The debtor sha
28、ll be kept liable until the debtor fully pays up his debts to the creditor. 本合同期限届满时，双方发生的未了债权和债务不受合同期满的影响，债务人应向债权人继续偿付未了债务。 4. 商务合同英译中容易混淆的词语 shipping advice 与 shipping instructions shipping advice 是“装运通知”，是由出口商（卖主）发给进口商（买主）的。 然而 shipping instructions 则是“装运须知”，是进口商（买主）发给出口商（卖主）的。另外要注意区分 vendor（卖主）与
29、 vendee（买主），consignor （发货人）与 consignee（收货人）。上述这三对词语在英译时、极易发生笔误。abide by 与 comply with abide by 与 comply with 都有“遵守”的意思但是当主语是“人”时，英译“遵守”须用 abide by。当主语是非人称时，则用 comply with 。 例 ：双方都应遵守。/ 双方的一切活动都应遵守合同规定。 Both parties Shall abide by. / All the activities of both parties shall comply with the contractua
30、l stipulations.change A to B 与 change A into B 英译“把 A 改为 B”用change A to B，英译“把 A 折合成/兑换成 B”用change A into B，两者不可混淆。 例 ：交货期改为 8 月并将美元折合成人民币。 Both parties agree that change the time of shipment to August and change US dollar into Renminbi.ex 与 per 源自拉丁语的介词 ex 与 per 有各自不同的含义。英译由某轮船“运来”的货物时用 ex，由某轮船“运走”
31、的货物用 per，而由某轮船“ 承运”用 by。 例 ：由“维多利亚”货轮运走/运来/ 承运的最后一批货将于 10 月 1 日抵达伦敦。 The last batch per/ex/by S.S. “Victoria“ will arrive at London on October (S.S. = Steamship)in 与 after 当英译“多少天之后”的时间时，往往是指“多少天之后”的 确切的一天 ，所以必须用介词 in，而不能用 after，因为介词 after 指的是“多少天之后”的 不确切 的任何一天。 例 ：该货于 11 月 10 日由“东风”轮运出，140 天 后抵达鹿特丹
32、港。 The good shall be shipped per M.V. “Dong Feng“ on November 10 and are due to arrive at Rottedaml in 140 days. (M.V.= motor vessel)on/upon 与 after 当英译“到后，就”时，用介词 on/upon，而不用 after，因为 after 表示“之后”的 时间不明确 。 例 ：发票货值须 货到 支付。 The invoice value is to be paid on/upon arrival of the goods.by 与 before 当英译终
33、止时间时，比如“在某月某日之前”，如果 包括所写日期 时，就用介词 by；如果 不包括所写日期 ，即 指到所写日期的前一天为止 ，就要用介词 before。 例 ：卖方须在 6 月 15 日前将货交给买方。 The vendor shall deliver the goods to the vendee by June 15.(or: before June 16，说明含 6 月 15 日在内。如果不含 6 月 15 日, 就译为 by June 14 或者 before June 15。)经贸术语3关于合同的经贸术语 agreement and contract（协议与合同） agency
34、agreement 代理协议 agreement on general terms and conditions on business一般经营交易条件的协议 agreement on loan facilities up to a given amount商定借款协议 agreement fixing price共同定价协议 agreement on import licensing procedure 进口许可证手续协议 agreement on reinsurance 分保协议 agreement to resell 转售协议 bilateral agreement 双边协议 bilateral trade agreement 双边贸易协议 commercial agreement 商业协定 compensation trade agreement 补偿贸易协议 distributorship agreement 销售协议 exclusive distributorship agreement 独家销售协议 guarantee agreement 担保协议 international trade agreement 国际贸易协议 joint venture agreement 合营协议 licensing agreement 许可证协议
