合同英语的用词和结构特点.doc

合同英语的用词和结构特点合同英语的用词特点合同英语的用词极其考究，具有特定性。要求选词专业化（professional）、正式（formal）、准确（accurate）。具体体现在下列方面：1 May, shall, must ,may not (或shall not) 的使用 ，May, shall , must ,may not (或shall not)对学过英语的人再熟悉不过，但在合同中用这些词时要极其谨慎。权利义务的约见定部分构成了合同的主体。这几个词如选用不当，可能会引起纠纷。may 旨在约定当事人的权利（可以做什么），Shall约定当事人的义务（应当做什么时候）， must 用于强制性义务（必须做什么），may not (或shall not)用于禁止性义务（不得做什么）。May do 不能说成can do， shall do, 不能说成should do 或ought to do， may not do 在美国一些法律文件可以用shall not，但绝不能用can not do或must not ) 例如，在约定解决争议的途径时的，可以说The parties hereto shall, first of all, settle any dispute arising from or in connection with the contract by friendly negotiationsShould such negotiations fail, such dispute may be referred to the Peoples 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表达准确。出现争议后应当先行协商，所以采用了义务性“约定”，如果协商解决不了，作为当事人的权利，用选择性约定may也很妥当。如果may和shall调换位置会怎么样？ 前半句的shall换用may后，意思变成了当事人可以通过协商解决，意思上说得过去，但后半句的may换用shall 后，变成了应当诉讼解决，好象一出事，就要先见官，这就有些不友好了。 本句可译：双方首先应通过友好协商，解决因合同而发生的或与合同有关的争议。如果协商未果，合同中又无仲裁条款约定或争议发生后未就仲裁达成协方的，可将争议提交有管辖权的人民法院解决。2 正式用语（formal term） 合同英语有着严肃的风格，与其它英语作品有很大不同。 例如： “因为”的短语多用“by virtue of ，远远多于“due to”一般不用“because of ”； “财务年度末”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”；“关于”常用“as regards”， “concerning”或“relating to”，而不会用“about”； “事实上”用“in effect”，而不用“in fact”； “开始”用“commencement”,而不用“start”或“begin”； “停止做”用“cease to do”，而不用“stop to do”； “何时开会并由某某主持”的表述为：The meeting shall be convened and presided by sb.其中“召开”不用“hold 或call”，而用“convene”； “主持”不用“chair”或“be in charge of ”，而用“preside”； “其他事项”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”; “认为”用“deem”，用“consider”少，不用“think”或“believe”； “愿意做”用“intend to do”或“desire to do”，而不用“want to do”, “wish to do”。3、用词专业（technical terms） 合同用词不以大众是否理解和接受为转移，它是合同语言准确表达的保障。如合同出现的“瑕疵”、 “救济”、 “不可抗力”、 “管辖”、“损毁”、 “灭失”等就可能让非行业人士费解，在英语以上表达分别为defect、remedy、force majuere/Act of God、jurisdiction、damage and/or loss)。另外几乎每个合同都少不了hereinafter referred to as , whereas, in witness whereof, for and on behalf of , hereby, thereof 等虚词。这也是合同英语的一大特色。 其它例子还有： “赔偿”用“indemnities”，而不用“compensation” “不动产转让”用“conveyance”，而不用“transfer of real estate” “房屋出租”用“tenancy”，而“财产出租”用“lease of property” “停业”用“wind up a business”或“cease (名词是cessation) a business”,而不用“end/stop a business” 专利许可中的“特许权使用费”只用“royalities” 还款或专利申请的“宽限期”英文“grace”, “当事人在破产中的和解”用“composition” 以实物出资为“investment in kind” “依照合同相关规定”一般说“pursuant to provisions contained herein”或“as provided herein”等，不说“according to relevant terms and conditions in the contract” “合同任何一方当事人不得转让本合同”英文表述为“Neither party hereto may assign this contract”，其中“hereto”表示“to the contract”，选用“Neither party to the contract”较少。 3 同义词、近义词、相关词的序列 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. 在这里的同义词和近义词并列（如sell, transfer, assign and set over，right和 tile and interest），在英文合同里十分普遍。这是出于严谨和杜绝漏洞的考虑，有的也属于合同用语的固定模式。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”两组分别属于同义词和相关词并列。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”三组同义司和近义词并列。 The parties have agreed to vary the Management on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein. 这里的“on the terms”和“subject to the conditions”是一个意思都表示“依照本协议的条款规定”。合同条款的固定模式是“terms and conditions” 再例如： “Party A wishes to be released and discharged from agreement as from the effective date”，一句中的“release”和“discharge”意思几乎相同。 并列的词还有合同英语的结构特点合同类法律文件用以规定当事人的权利与义务，是预防与解决争议的依据。合同英语行文慎密而准确，历史悠久，深含法律文化底蕴。 中文的合同开头一般先罗列当事人的名称、姓名、住所或营业场所，然后是合同正文，结尾是当事人印章、授权代表签字、职务及签字日期。而英语合同一般以下面这类句式为开头：This agreement/contract is made and entered in to this _ day of _(month), _ (year) by and between Party A (hereinafter called Party A )and Party B(hereinafter called Party B ) 然后是开始陈述：WHEREASTHEREFORE It is hereby agreed as follows: 或以：WITNESSETH, WHEREAS NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereby covenant and agree as follows: 接着是正文，最后是证明部分： IN WITNESS WHEREOF，the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands the day and years first above written. 随后还包括当事人和见证人的签字。签字日期一般在英文合同最搬弄是非是找不到的。 下面列出新加坡、美国、香港和日本的合同格式。 A. 新加坡AgreementTHIS AGREEMENT is made the 9th day of August, 2001 between LUCKY INTERNATIONAL LTD, a company incorporated in Singapore and having its registered office at Telek Blongar Rise, Singapore 19569 (hereinfater called The Company) of the part and JACK Wong (NRIC No._ /A) of 108 Orchar Road, Singapore 01688 (hereinafter called The Mangager) of the other part. WHEREAS: 1. The company is engaged in IT business and requires a person with the necessary qualifications and experience to manage its business. 2. . NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows: 1. The company shall employ the Manager and the Manager shall serve the Company as manager of the Companys IT business for a period of two years commencing on 1st day of September 2. . IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year first above written. THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO Duties of Manger 1. To manage, maintain and promote the business of the Company.2. 3. SIGNED by Roger Tan For and on behalf of LUCKY INTERANTIONAL LTD In the presence of SIGNED by TERESA WONG In the presence of 新加坡的通用合同分五部分： 第一部分：称为parties, 主要介绍合同各方的姓名或名称，注册地国及地址、邮编及各自在合同的简称。开头框架一般为： THIS AGREEMENT is made the -_ day of _ （month）,_ (year) between A _ (hereinafter called The Company) of the part and B_, (hereinafter called The Manager) of the other part. 句子开头THIS AGREEMENT或CONTRACT和当事人的姓名和名称，都应大写。当事人是自然人的，用“of”和其后的住址相连；是法人或非法人单位的，用“having its registered office at”和其后注册地址相连。 第二部分：称为recital。以WHEREAS开头，进入叙述部分，用陈述正式说明当事人订立合同的原因。 第三部分：称为habendum，正文。具体约定当事人的权利和义务。正文部分的结束段为：IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hand the day and year first above written. 这段作用相当于中文合同的“双方签字盖章，特此为证”。 第四部分：称为schedule或addendum，附录。是对前述合同部分条款的必要补充。不是所有合同都有这一项。 第五部分：称为attestation，证明部分。当事人如果自然人，用“SIGNED by _” 英文写作翻译；连接后填写见证姓名的表达部分“In the presence of _”；当事人是法人或非法人单位时，授权代表后接的是“SIGNED for and on behalf _ of_”，然后才是In the presence of _。与中文合同的显著不同是签章处除当事人外，多了一个In the presence of _供证人签字之处。另一不同的是合同订立日期没有放在合同最后，而是出现在开头段的当事人介绍部分。 第五部分在新加坡还有另一种表达As Witness our Hands this _day of _，in the year of our Lord Tow Thousand and One. Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above named In the presence of Signature Address Occupation上述合同的格式很有代表性，其它英文格式与之相比大同大异，有的合同中不含附录。 B. 美国APPOINTMENT AS CONTRACT FULL-TIME SENIOR CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATORAN AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES made the 1st day of September, 2000 between _ of _ (address)(hereinafter referred to as the Company) as one part and Mr._ of _(address) (hereinafter referred to as the Contractor) of the other part. WHEREBY IT IS AGREED AND DECLARED AS FOLLOWS: 1. THAT the Company shall 2. This agreement shall commence on . 3. 4. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, both parties set their hands on the date herein mentionedSIGNED BY Name : Designation : For and on behalf of : (signature) Contractor : Designation : For and on behalf of : (signature) 本合同分为四个大部分（缺附录，schedule）。与上一合同基本相同，但第一段没有谓语，不是个完整的句子。个别用词与前一合同有差别。最后落款处还多了了“职务”，即designation(有的合同还惯用position).C. 香港CONTRACT CONTACT NO. SIGNING DATE/PLACE THE BUYER: Name Legal Address ContactTHE SELLER: Name Legal Address Contact This contract is made by and between the Buyer and the Seller.Whereby the Buyer agrees o buy and the Seller agrees to sell the under-mentioned commodity according to the terms and conditions. 1. NAME OF COMMODITY AND SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT2. PRICE 3. PAYMENT译4. PACKING 5. IN WITHNESS WHEREOF, this contract has been executed effective as of the date first above written. THE BUYER THE SELLER _ _ By:_ By:_ Date:-_ Date:-_ THE END USER _By: _ Date: -_-_ 比起前两个合同，该买卖合同的不同之处于在于，合同开头出现了合同编号和签署日期，当事人名称或姓名采用简单列举式。证明部分用完成时被动态，最后落款处SIGNED BY项目，但增加了最终用户一项。D 日本SERVICE AGREEMENTThis agreement is made and entered into on March 1st ,2001, by and between_ LTD (hereinafter referred to as PARTY A), and _CO., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as PARTY B)WITNESSTH: WHEREAS, PARTY B has requested by PARTY A to dispatch its personal for the purpose of _ to PARTY b; and WHEREAS, (PARTY A is willing to dispatch its personnel t PARTY B in response to such PARTY Bs request) NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and cov