第七讲：英语合同的写作与翻译.doc

Part I. 如何翻译双方签订的协议或合同
（Translation Guide: How to Translate an Agreement or a Contract between the Two Involved Parties）
I、General guide for signing an Agreement or a Contract between the Two Parties Involved
Part One: 商务合同、协议的英语翻译
商务合同和协议是双方当事人或单位就某一商业活动协商而签署的合同或达成的协议，是对当事双方都具有约束力的法律性公文。虽然这类公文的种类繁多，但格式较为统一，语言简介精练，内容拘谨缜密。必要时，不厌其烦地重复。在商务合同和协议翻译成英译时，须对其上述三项，特别是后两方面的特证特别留意，否则就会失之毫厘，谬以千里，给当事的一方或双方造成不可挽回的损失。
1．词汇特点
(1)使用公文惯用副词。
商务合同和协议属于法律公文，所以进行英文翻译时，需要使用英语惯用的公文语
词，以使译文结构严谨、逻辑严密、言简意赅。公文语副词是由副词here、there、where等
分别加上after, by, in, of, on, to, under, upon, with等副词构成的复合公文语副词。
如hereafter, thereafter, thereon, thereupon, hereinafter等。
Example1：本合同自买方和建造方签署之目生效。
This Contract shall come into force from the date of signing hereof by the Buyer and the
Builder．
(2)准确用词。
商务合同是一种特殊的应用文体，用词行文的一大特点就是准确与严谨。英译商务合同时，常常由于选词不当而导致词不达意或者意思模棱两可，甚至误译。
Both parties shall abide by the contractual stipulations．／All the activities of both parties shall comply with the contractual stipulations．
Example1：双方都应遵守合同规定。双方的一切活动都应遵守合同规定。
英语中abide by与comply with均意为“遵守”。当主语是人时，须用abide bv，当主语是物时，则用comply with。
Example 2：

Both parties agree to change the time of shipment to August and change US dollar into Hong Kong dollar
双方同意将交货期改为8月，并将美元折合成港币。
翻译时需要注意changeA to B与change A into B的差异。前者意指“把A改为B”，后者意为“把A折合成／兑换成B”。
(3)注意合同细目的翻译
为了避免英译合同中的细目，如金钱、时间、数量等出现差错，常常使用一些有限定作用的结构来界定细目所指定的确切范围。
Example1：如果上述货物对船舶和(或)船上其他货物造成任何损害，托运人应负全责。
The shipper shall be liable for all damage caused by such goods to the ship and／or cargo on board 商务合同、协议的英语翻译
商务合同和协议是双方当事人或单位就某一商业活动协商而签署的合同或达成的协议，是对当事双方都具有约束力的法律性公文。虽然这类公文的种类繁多，但格式较为统一，语言精练，内容缜密。在英译商务合同和协议时，须对其上述三项，特别是后两项特征特别留意，否则就会失之毫厘，谬以千里，给当事的一方或双方造成不可挽回的损失。
Example1：本合同自买方和建造方签署之目生效。
This Contract shall come into force from the date of signing hereof by the Buyer and the
Builder．
(2)准确用词。
商务合同是一种特殊的应用文体，用词行文的一大特点就是准确与严谨。英译商务合
同时，常常由于选词不当而导致词不达意或者意思模棱两可，甚至误译。
Example 1：双方都应遵守合同规定。／双方的一切活动都应遵守合同规定。
Both parties shall abide by the contractual stipulations．／All the activities of both parties shall comply with the contractual stipulations．
双方的一切活动都应遵守合同规定。
英语中abide by与comply with均意为“遵守”。当主语是人时，须用abide bv，当主
语是物时，则用comply with。
Example 2：双方同意将交货期改为8月，并将美元折合成港币。
Both parties agree to change the time of shipment to August and change US dollar into
Hong Kong dollar．
翻译时需要注意changeAtoB与changeAintoB的差异。前者意指“把A改为B”，
后者意为“把A折合成／兑换成B”。
(3)注意合同细目的翻译。
为了避免英译合同中的细目，如金钱、时间、数量等出现差错，常常使用一些有限定
作用的结构来界定细目所指定的确切范围。
Example1：

如果上述货物对船舶和(或)船上其他货物造成任何损害，托运人应负全责。
The shipper shall be liable for all damage caused by such goods to the ship and／or cargo onboard.

英语中的and/or意为“甲方和/或乙方”，这样就可以避免漏译其中的一部分了。
买卖双方同意按下述条款购买出售下列商品并签订本合同。
This Contract is made by and between the Buyer and the Seller, whereby the Buyer agrees to buy and the Seller agrees to sell the under mentioned commodity subject to the terms and conditions stipulated below．

[Example Two]：买卖双方同意按下述条款购买出售下列商品并签订本合同。
英语中by and between强调合同是由“双方”签订的。
2．句法特点
为了保证商务合同与协议翻译的准确，不引起误解，商务合同与协议的英文翻译语句一般较长，插入成分较多，句法结构也较为复杂，多使用条件状语从句、由it作形式主语的主语从句及定语从句等。
[Example Three]：
The Customer and NEXPRESS each agrees and undertakes that during the Term and thereafter it will keep confidential and will not use for its own purposes or without the prior written consent of the other party disclose to any third party any part or all information concerning the terms of this Agreement unless such information is in the public domain other than as a result of a breach of this clause．
用户及NEXPRESS均同意并承诺，在服务期问及之后，在没有对方书面同意之情况下，将对本协议条款之所有内容保密，不将其用于自己之用途，亦不向第三方透露任何或全部与本协议有关之内容。除非此等内容为公开情况，否则即被视为违反本条款。

这是一保密条款中的一部分，从中我们可以看到原文较长，插入成分较多，滴水不漏地表达了句中各个部分之间的关系。
[Example Four]：
在期满前一个月，如果双方未用书面提出异议，本协议将自动延长一年。
If no written objection is raised by either party one month before its expiry，this Agreement will be automatically extended for another year．

商务合同及协议中表示条件的常用的连接词有：if, in case that, in the event that, unless等。

II．商务合同和协议的汉英翻译
针对合同用言的特征,在英译时常常需要采取一些与目标语文体相吻合的翻译手段或方法。为了说明这一点，这里首先列举中华人民共和国合同法中有关订立合同的法规，逐步说明商务合同的汉英翻译方法。
（中华人民共和国合同法）第二章 合同的订立
　　第九条当事人订立合同，应当具有相应的民事权利能力和民事行为能力。
　　当事人依法可以委托代理人订立合同。
　　第十条当事人订立合同，有书面形式、口头形式和其他形式。
　　法律、行政法规规定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。当事人约定采用书面
形式的，应当采用书面形式。
　　第十一条书面形式是指合同书、信件和数据电文（包括电报、电传、传真、电子
数据交换和电子邮件）等可以有形地表现所载内容的形式。
　　第十二条合同的内容由当事人约定，一般包括以下条款：
　　（一）当事人的名称或者姓名和住所；
　　（二）标的；
　　（三）数量；
　　（四）质量；
　　（五）价款或者报酬；
　　（六）履行期限、地点和方式；
　　（七）违约责任；
　　（八）解决争议的方法。
　　当事人可以参照各类合同的示范文本订立合同。
　　第十三条当事人订立合同，采取要约、承诺方式。
　　第十四条要约是希望和他人订立合同的意思表示，该意思表示应当符合下列规定
　　（一）内容具体确定；
　　（二）表明经受要约人承诺，要约人即受该意思表示约束。
　　第十五条要约邀请是希望他人向自己发出要约的意思表示。寄送的价目表、拍卖
公告、招标公告、招股说明书、商业广告等为要约邀请。
　　商业广告的内容符合要约规定的，视为要约。
　　第十六条要约到达受要约人时生效。
　　采用数据电文形式订立合同，收件人指定特定系统接收数据电文的，该数据电文
进入该特定系统的时间，视为到达时间；未指定特定系统的，该数据电文进入收件人
的任何系统的首次时间，视为到达时间

Conclusion of Contracts
Article 9 In concluding a contract，the parties shall have appropriate civil capacity of right
1d civil capacity of conduct．The parties may conclude a contract through an agent in
accordance with the law．
Article 10 The parties may conclude a contract in written，oral or other forms．Where the laws or administrative regulations require a contract to be concluded in written form．the contract shall be in written form．If the parties agree to do so, the contract shall be concluded in written form.
Article 11 The written forms mean the forms which can show the described contents visibly，such as a written contractual agreement，letters，and data-telex (including telegram，telex，fax，EDI and e-mails)．
Article 12 The contents of a contract shall be agreed upon the parties．and shall contain the following clauses in general：
(1)Title or name and domicile of the parties：
(2)Contract object；
(3)Quantity；
(4)Quality；
(5)Price or remuneration；
(6)Time limit，place and method of performance；
(7)Liability for breach of contract；and
(8)Methods to settle disputes．
The parties may conclude a contract by reference to the model text of each kind of contract．
Article l3 The parties shall conclude a contract in the form of an offer and acceptance．
Article 14 An offer is a proposal hoping to enter into a contract with other parties．The proposal shall comply with the following stipulations：
(1) Its contents shall be detailed and definite；
(2) It indicates the proposal ofthe offer or to be bound in case of acceptance．
Article 15 An invitation for offer is a proposal for requesting other parties to make offers to the principal．Price forms mailed，public notices of auction and tender,share prospectuses and commercial advertisements．etc．are invitations for offer. Where the contents of a commercial advertisement comply with the terms ofthe offer，it may be regarded as an offer．
Article 16 An offer becomes effective when it reaches the Offeree．If a contract is concluded by means of data-telex，and a recipient appoints a specific system to receive the data-telex，the time when the data．telex enters the system shall be the time of arrival；if no specific system is appointed，the time when the data—telex first enters any of the recipient’s systems shall be regarded as the time of arrival．
[Vocabulary Aids]
行政法规 administrative regulations 有形地 visibly
数据电文 data-telex 电报 telegram
违约 breach of contract 电传 telex
标的 contract object 报酬 remuneration
电子数据交换 EDI 争议 dispute
参照 reference 拍卖 auction
招标 tender 指定 appoint
招股说明书 share prospectuses 要约 offer
书面解释 constructive conditions 赔偿金 compensatory damage
驳回 dismissed 负责条款 exculpatory clause
信托义务 fiduciary duty 没收 forfeiture
对价 consideration 民事权利能力 civil capacity of right
特许经营权 v. franchise 欺诈 fraud

II、住房协议（或称住房合同，或租赁合同）
住房协议（或称住房合同，或租赁合同）对于中国学生或青年出国深造或在国内从事涉外工作，都有一定的实用或参考价值。因为好多词和我们用汉语思维或做事的人难以想到的。如下面的一个住房协议案例：
[Example Five] A House-Leasing Contract （by Housing & Finance ）
A Perfect house-leasing contract is very useful for protecting your benefits, especially when you are living in a strange country and meet language barriers. The sample of house-leasing contract below would be very helpful when you start to make agreement with householders。In order to protect yourself, detailed information should be listed on the contract, such as location, rental, size, obligations, equipment.
No. __________ Date: __________
Lessor (hereinafter referred to as Party A):
Lessee (hereinafter referred to as Party B):
Party A and B have reached an agreement through friendly consultation to conclude the following contract.
Location of the premises
Party A will lease to Party B the premises and attached facilities owned by itself which is located at and in good condition for_______.
Size of the premises：
The registered size of the leased premises is square meters (Gross size):
Lease term:
The lease term will be from(month) (day)(year) to(month)(day)(year). Party A will clear the premises and provide it to Party B for use before (month)(day)(year).
Rental:
Amount: the rental will beper month，management fees invoice fees.Party B will pay the rental to Party A in the form of.
Payment of rental will be one installment everymonth(s). The first installment will be paid before(month)(day)(year).Each successive installment will be paid byday of each month. Party B will pay the rental before using the premises and attached facilities (In case Party B pays the rental in the form of remittance, the date of remitting will be the day of payment and the remittance fee will be borne by the remitter.) Party A will issue a written receipt after receiving the payment.
In case the rental is more than 7 working days overdue, Party B will pay 0.3 percent of monthly rental as overdue fine every day, if the rental be paid 10 days overdue, Party B will be deemed to have with drawn from the premises and breach the contract. In this situation, Party A has the right to take back the premises and take actions against party B’s breach.
Deposit
Guarantying the safety and good conditions of the premises and attached facilities and account of relevant fees are settled on schedule during the lease term, party B will pay to party A as a deposit before(month)(day)(year). Party A will issue a written receipt after receiving the deposit.
Unless otherwise provided for by this contract, Party A will return full amount of the deposit without interest on the day when this contract expires and party B clears the premises and has paid all due rental and other expenses.
In case party B breaches this contract, party A has right to deduct the default fine, compensation for damage or any other expenses from the deposit . In case the deposit is not sufficient to cover such items, Party B should pay the insufficiency within ten days after receiving the written notice of payment from Party A.
If Party B can’t normally use the apartment because of Party A , Party A should return the deposit to Party B at once. And, Party B has the right to ask for the compensation from Party A
Obligations of Party A
Party A will provide the premises and attached facilities (see the appendix of furniture list for detail) on schedule to Party B for using.
In case the premise and attached facilities are damaged by quality problems, natural damages or accidents, Party A will be responsible to repair and pay the relevant expenses. If Party A can ’t repair the damaged facilities in two weeks so that Party B can’t use the facilities normally, Party B has the right to terminate the contract and Party A must return the deposit.
Party A will guarantee the lease right of the premises. In case of occurrence of ownership transfer in whole or in part and other accidents affecting the right of lease by party B, party A shall guarantee that the new owner,and other associated ,third parties shall be bound by the terms of this contract.Otherwise, Party A will be responsible to compensate party B’s losses.
Obligations of Party B
Party B will pay the rental and the deposit on time.
Party B may add new facilities with Party A’s approval. When this contract expires, Party B may take away the added facilities without changing the good conditions of the premises for normal use.
Party B will not transfer the lease of the premises or sublet it without Party A’s approval and should take good care of the premises. Otherwise, Party B will be responsible to compensate any damages of the premises and attached facilities caused by its fault and negligence.
Party B will use the premises lawfully according to this contract without changing the nature of the premises and storing hazardous materials in it. Otherwise, Party B will be responsible for the damages caused by it
Party B will bear the cost of utilities such as telephone communications, water, electricity, cable television and gas on time during the lease term.
Termination and dissolution of the contract
Within one month before the contract expires, Party B will notify Party A if it intends to extend the lease. In this situation, two parties will discuss matters over the extension. Under the same terms Party B has the priority to lease the premises.
When the lease term expires, Party B will return the premises and attached facilities to Party A withinthreedays. Any belongings left in it without Party A’s previous understanding will be deemed to be abandoned by Party B. In this situation, Party A has the right to dispose of it and Party A will raise no objection.
This contract will be effective after being signed by both parties. Any party has no right to terminate this contract without another party’s agreement. Anything not covered in this contract will be discussed separately by both parties.
Breach of the contract
During the lease term, any party who fails to fulfill any article of this contract without the other party’s understanding will be deemed to breach the contract. Both parties agree that the default fine will be. In case the default fine is not sufficient to cover the loss suffered by the faultless party, the party in breach should pay additional compensation to the other party.
Both parties will solve the disputes arising from execution of the contract or in connection with the contract through friendly consultation. In case the agreement cannot be reached, any party may summit the dispute to the court that has the jurisdiction over the matter.

Miscellaneous
Any annex is the integral part of this contract. The annex and this contract are equally valid.
There are 3 originals of this contract. Each party and the agent will hold 1 original(s).

Other special terms will be listed bellows:
Brand /Quantity
Air-conditi