商务英语合同的语言特点.doc

商务英语合同的语言特点【摘要】商务英语合同既具有商务英语的特点,同时也具有法律英语的特点，它是一种特殊的应用文体，重在记实，措词行文的一大特点就是准确与严谨。商务合同具有显著的公文体特征，属于法律文本，有特殊的法律功能，因此商务合同的起草和翻译具有强烈的目的性，符合法律公文的特点，做到译文结构严谨、逻辑严密、言简意赅，没把握好这些特点，就很难达到预期的效果。本文通过对商务英语合同的语言特点及其起草翻译中应注意的若干问题的表述，从词汇、短语、句子、文体结构四个方面，浅谈一下商务英语合同的语言特点。 关键词：商务合同、语言特点、法律、正式、严谨随着中国加入WTO，我国与世界各国的联系日益密切,我国商务人士对商务合同的接触也越来越多。然而很多人对商务合同是一种法律文件认识不够深刻, 对其语言特征把握得不够好, 加之各国间存在文化差异, 因此在理解和撰写商务合同方面存在不少问题。为了促进我国与世界各国的商务交流, 以法律形式保护自身权益,我国商务人士很有必要学会撰写英语商务合同。一、 商务合同的概述(一) 商务合同的的概念商务合同指的是两人或几人之间、两方或多方当事人之间在进行商务交往时,为了确定各自的权利和义务而订立的各自遵守的条文。(二) 商务合同的结构商务合同通常是由前言、正文以及结尾三部分组成。前言主要是写明合同当事人的名称或姓名、国籍、主营业务或合同签订的日期、地点。正文是合同的主体，明确规定当事人各方的权利、义务、责任和风险等。商务合同的结尾，其主要内容包括合同生效、合同使用文字、补充条文及额外协议等。(三) 商务合同的分类常用的商务合同主要有：销售合同、技术转让合同、议购合同、中外合资合同、期货交易合同、加工合同等。二、 商务英语合同的语言特点(一) 商务英语合同的的词汇特点1. 使用的词语正式、庄重、准确。商务英语合同不同于一般的应用文，它是一种比较特殊的应用文体，它需要将合同双方的意愿清晰地表达出来，因此其用词选词方面需要仔细考究。商务英语合同又是具有法律性质的公文，为了维护法律的权威性和政策性，在写作选词时习惯采用正式严谨的词语，以显示其正规、庄严的特点。例如：The World International Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), desiring to establish a mutually supportive relationship between them, and with a view to establishing appropriate agreements for cooperation between them, agree as follows:与wish或want相比desire较正式；相比in order to, with a view to为正式用语。2. 法律用语、合同术语的使用在商务合同中非常广泛由于依法成立的商务合同是具有法律约束力的法律性文件，所以商务合同的拟定人通常习惯使用法律词语、合同术语，从而体现商务合同语言的准确、规范、威严的特征。例如：在合资经营企业合同中有这样一段话:In case one party desire to sell or assign(转让) all or part of his investment subscribed, the other party shall have the preemptive（优先购买的）right.（此句中的assign和preemptive都是法律用语）常见的英文合同术语：accord and satisfaction, consideration, contemplate, convenience, defect, encumbrance, envisage, ex prate, frustration, jurisdiction, principal, remedy, restitution, specific performance, surely, survive, tort, unilateral contract, variance, waive. 3. 大量的使用古英语词汇在商务合同中，迄今还大量使用中古英语词汇，最常见的形式是here、there、where加上介词而构成的复合副词。在这些词语中，here代表this，three代表that，where代表which并引出从句。经常在同一合同中有些名词会被多次提及，使用这些古英语词汇不但可以避免用词重复和文句过长而且还使合同语句简练、准确、有说服力。常见这类词：hereinafter, whereas, whereby等。例如：This contract is made by and between China National Native Produce & Animal By - Products Corporation, Guangdong Native Produce Branch( hereafter called the seller) and American Trading Co, Ltd( hereafter called the buyer ) whereby the Sellers agree to sell and the Buyers agree to buy the under - mentioned goods in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated below. 句中hereafter 把卖方的名称由 12 个单词减至一个 “seller”使合同语言显得简洁。Whereby不仅仅使意思表达更加的明确，更体现出英语合同语言措词的准确性以及合同的古文风格。使用这些古体词使得合同语言显得更加的规范和严谨。4. 成对的使用近义词、同义词。一词多义、多词一意。在英文商务合同中我们不难见到以下用法：perform and fulfill（履行） rights and interests（权益）, terms and conditions（条款）, complete and final understanding（全部和最终的理解）, customs fees and duties（关税）, loss of and damage to（关税）， null and void（无效）, sign and issue（签发）, furnish and provide（提供）,rules and regulations（规章）, as and when（当的时候），即成双成对的使用意义差别很小的近义词、同义词，这样让合同的语言显得周密、严谨，减少了流动和争议。例句：Each party to this Agreement shall perform and fulfill any of the obligation under this Agreement.本协议的各方均应履行协议规定的义务。（句中就是同义谓语动词的成对使用，perform 和fulfill 都是“履行”的意思，但是perform强调的是主观的努力，fulfill注重的是客观的结果。一般，成对近义词已当做习惯用语来用，这些词组都表示一些固定的含义，在合同写作和翻译时都不能随意拆分，这种结构的使用体现了英语合同语言的庄重和严谨。5. 较多的借用外来词（拉丁语、法语词汇）在商务合同中，拉丁语、法语词汇也时常出现。如：Bona fide activity（慈善活动）、inter alia（还有其他事项）mutatia mutadandis（根据情况在细节上作必要修改）stare decisis（遵循先例）都是来源于拉丁语，在商务合同中一般以斜体出现。法语在历史上对法律英语的形成和发展产生够较大的影响，很多法律词汇就是从法语中接过来的例如：bar（律师）, suit（起诉、控告）, complain（投诉）, jury（陪审团）, terms（条件、条款）, claim（权利）等都来自法语。 6. 情态动词的使用频率较高在商务英语合同中，情态动词shall, shall not, may not, may, must很常用，而且它们在商务合同中所表达的含义与其在其他非法律应用文中所表达的含义有所不同。Shall, may, must, may not/shall not主要是分别指明合同双方当事人的权利即可做什么，当事人的义务即该做什么，规定做的即必须做什么，还有禁止做的即不能做什么。例如：The insurance must be issued irrespective of percentage.The Employer shall make a prepayment of 20of the contact value to the Contractor within 10 days after signing the Contract. 7. 用语明确，不使用易产生歧义的词汇为了避免理解上的分歧所引起的争议、索赔或者诉讼事件，商务合同的用语必须非常清楚明确。例如：Shipment is to be effected bimonthly at 800 metric tons each.句中的bimonthly既可以理解为“两个月一次”又可以理解为“一个月两次”；那么应装数量可以理解为“每两个月装一次每次装600吨”也可以翻译为“半个月装一次每次装600吨”这样就使装船的时间和数量都产生了歧义。因此，像这种意义模糊的词语就不能出现在商务合同中，或者在句中加以限制就避免这一缺陷如改成：Shipment is to be effected bimonthly at 600 metric tons each within May,2001.（在2001年5月份之内装运两次每次600吨。） 8. 指代明确在商务合同中很少出现人称代词，而且即使出现了人称代词通常都是泛指。合同的起草人经常用the said 或 the same 加上一个名词来指代前文中提到的名词。例如：The seller shall not be held responsible for any delay in delivery or nondelivery of the goods due to Force Majeure. However , the seller shall advise the buyer immediately of such occurrence and within fourteen days thereafter ,shall send by airmail to the buyer a certificate issued by the competent government authorities of the place where the accident has occurred as evidence thereof .Under such circumstances the seller, however ,it still under the obligation to take all necessary measures to hasten the delivery of the goods .In case the accident lasts for more than 10 weeks ,the buyer shall have the right to cancel this contract . 上述合同条款中就没有使用一个指示代词或不定代词，而是重复所指名词，使得所指代的事物明确而清楚。If any disagreement arises, the said（上文中所提到的）treaty shall be applied.No one may engage in securities business without approval of the same authority. (二) 商务英语合同中的短语特点1. 使用专门的短语表达合同英语惯有的含义商务合同中经常使用一些约定俗成的专门短语来表达某些惯有的含义，最常见的这类短语有：whereas 鉴于in witness whereof 作为协议事项的证据now this presents witness 兹特立约为据for and on behalf of 代表某人per pro. = procurationem 代表代理2. 名词性短语居多 相比之下动词词组无论是在使用数量和结构的复杂性程度上都不及名词词组，因此在商务合同中出现本该出现动词短语的部分却转化成了名词短语，显得很轻巧。例如：The Contractor shall not knowingly do or omit to do anything which may adversely affect an orderly transfer of responsibility for provision of the Services.（句中的transfer responsibility转化成了transfer of responsibility，而provision Services转化成了provision of the Services）3. 动词短语转化成介词、形容词短语动词转化成介词短语是商务合同句式表达的一大亮点，例如：support 转化成 in support of；violate转化成为in violate of；default转化成 in default of；break 转化成in break of. All such minutes ,records ,and reports shall be on file at the FIB offices.该句中“存档”用的是“on file”而不是用的动词短语“be file”。常见的商务合同中动词转化成形容词短语的句子有：inclusive转化为be inclusive of；exclude长转化为be exclusive of.如：Your salary inclusive of any overtime payment from the date of commencement of your contract will be USD AMOUNT IN FIGURE (USD Amount in Words) and will be paid in arrears at the end of the month.The foregoing states the sole and exclusive liability of the parties hereto for infringement of patents, copyrights, mask works, trade secrets trademarks, and other proprietary rights, whether direct or contributory,4. 常用短语来替代一些从句有时英文商务合同中为了让句子更简单，会使用一些短语来替代某些定语、状语、主语从句。例如：All right and all design elements resulting from the Services shall vest in and be the absolute property of Party A.该句中的分词短语resulting from the Services就起到了使句子结构紧密，表达简单的效果，并且替代了定语从句“which result from the Services”。All property of the Contractor while at the Premises shall be at the risk of Contractor and the Department shall accept no liability for any loss or damage however occurring thereto or caused thereby except where any such loss or damage was caused or contributed to by any act, neglect or default of any Servant of thereby Crown at the Premises acting in the course of his employment.句中的“however occurring thereto or caused thereby”就替代了状语从句“however it will be occur thereto or be caused thereby”。(三) 商务英语合同的句子特点1. 长句的使用很常见（主从复合句、综合复杂句）合同是具有法律效力的公文，因此在撰写合同时希望提供的信息完整、严密，不让读者曲解，误读。对某些具有法律性的概念成立的条件限定很多，继而对中心词的限制也较多，所以在商务合同中长句较多，短句偏少。例如：Questions concerning matters governed by this convention which are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in conformity with the general principles on which it is based or , in the absence of such principles , in conformity with the law applicable by virus of the rules of private international law .(主从复合句)Where a foreigner or enterprise applies for trademark registration in China, the matter shall be handled in acceptance with any agreement concluded between the country to which the applicant belongs and the Peoples Republic of China, or on the basic of the principle of reciprocity. ( 综合复杂句)2. 句子结构完整在商务合同那中一般采用主语、谓语都具备的完全完整句，通常不使用省略句，以免造成因省略或句子缺省而出现歧义、意义歪曲。例如：The WTO Secretariat shall transmit to the International Bureau, free of charge, a copy of the laws and regulations received by the WTO Secretariat from WTO Members under Article 63.2 of the TRIPS Agreement in the language or languages and in the form or forms in which they were received, and the International Bureau shall place such copies in its collection. 3. 多个句式表达一个法律含义商务合同中广泛存在一个法律含义多个句式表达的现象。例如：除if之外与“假如、如果”相关的还有if and whenever, in the event that/in the event of, where, should ,in case/in case of, on condition that/on the conditions that, insofar as/in so far as等。关于“有权做”的表达有may do, shall/will have the right to do, shall have the right (but not obligation ) to do, be entitled to sth., be entitled to do, reserve the right to do, be (duly) authorized to do, have the authority to do, do sth. at ones option, be at liberty to do, sth rests with sb. to do 等。在英语商务合同中表“应当做”也举不胜举如：shall do, have the legal obligation to do, be obliged to do, be under the obligation for/to do, shall be liable to do, be responsible to do, be required to do, be ones account/responsibility等。 4. 语序特别，频繁的使用倒装语序商务合同中的倒装主要体现在否定提前和省略if的句子中。例句：Nothing in Article 12.3 shall prevent Party A or any of its affiliation from continuing to carry on any of their present businesses（否定提前）.Should Company at its sole option elect to further investigate the validity of Contractor s proposal ,Company shall advise Contractor in writing accordingly（省略if的句子）. 5. 现在时代代替将来时，因此将来时使用较少虽然合同的条款很多都是规定将来的事项，但是在习惯上已使用现在是为原则。例如：Licensee may terminate this Contract 60 days after a written notice thereof is sent to Licensor upon the happening of one of the following events:a. Licensor becomes insolvent or a liquidator of Licensor is appointed;b. The patent described in Article 2 is not issued within 30 days from signing this Contract;c. Licensor fails to perform its obligations under this Contact. 6. 习惯用被动语态，而较少使用主动语态使用被动语态的目的就是为了突出合同条文的客观性、原则性和效力性。试比较下列两个句子：A. The rules and regulations of the work-site shall be observed by workers.B. Workers shall observe the rules and regulations of the work-site.比较发现，这两句的意思虽然一样，但是看其表达方式却又差异，B句较A句要更自然、有力，所以在商务合同中用B句比较好。7. 插入语的使用使意思表达得更清楚更完整在商务英语合同中，较多的使用插入语，对句子内容作必要的补充说明，或者在不影响句子意思的情况下对某些成分加以强调。例如：The buyer must, whenever he is entitled to determine the time for shipping the goods an /or the port of destination, give the sufficient notice thereof.The seller must, subject to the provisions of B6, pay, where applicable, the cost resulting from A3 a ) ,all cost relating to the goods.（句中划线部分都为插入成分）8. 多见直接表达，少用间接表达在合同中规定权利、义务和其他事项时，经常采用直接表达方式这样才显得更直接，简洁。看下列连个句子：A. All persons, except those who are 60 years old or order, may be employed by this enterprise (间接表达)B. All persons who are less than 60 years old may be employed by this enterprise。（直接表达）9. 基本句式为陈述句合同是用来确定双方当事人的法律关系，规定双方当事人权利和义务的法律性质的公文，因此为了突出其法律特性，在草拟时习惯采用陈述句。All members shall give the United Nations every assistance to any action it takes in accordance with the present Chapter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.10. 对句的使用英语商务合同中句子中还有一大特点就是有时为了体现部分成分的结构对等，显示句子结构的的层次感和对等感，特别是在长句中体现句子良好的节奏感，就会使用类似于中文的一些诗句一样的对句。例如：Due to its nature, EQUIPMENT shall be held in MANUFACTURER premises at ABC Co., Ltd, 3, Xinghua Yizhi Road, Xiqing Economic Development Zone, Tianjin , 300381 P. R China as to be further used in the manufacturer of PRODUCTS. The parties herein agree that, with no cost to PURCHASER, MANUFACTURER shall hold the EQUIPMENT free from risks, losses and encumbrances and, shall also keep equipment in good operating condition, as to be further returned to PURCHASER when requested. 句中结构对等的短语（划线部分）使句子层次鲜明、节奏感强。 (四) 商务英语合同的文体结构特点1. 用分条款以避免释义含糊重要的商务合同，一般在开头就