商务英语合同的语言特点.docx

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1、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的特点做到译文构造严谨、逻辑严、言简意赅没把握好这些特点就很难到达预的效果。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假设干问题的表述从词汇、短语、句子、文体构造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、严谨随着中国参加WTO我国与世界各国的联络日益亲,我国商务人士对商务合同的接触也越来越多。然而

2、很多人对商务合同是一种法律认识不够深化, 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展商务交往时,为了确定各自的权利和义务而订立的各自遵守的条文。(二) 商务合同的构造商务合同通常是由、正文以及结尾三部分组成。主要是写明合同当事人的名称或、国籍、主营业务或合同签订的日、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

3、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、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明晰地表达出来因此其用词选词方面需要仔细讲究。商务英语合同又是具有法律性质的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 Organ

4、ization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), desiring to establish a mutually sportive 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

5、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、合同术语从而表达商务合同语言的准确、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优先购置的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, c

6、onsideration, conlate, 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t

7、histhree代表thatwhere代表whi并引出从句。经常在同一合同中有些名词会被屡次提及使用这些古英语词汇不但可以防止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 ina National Native Produce Animal By - Products Corporation, Guangdong Native Produce Bran( hereafter called the seller) and Americ

8、an 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表达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

9、体词使得合同语言显得更加的和严谨。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, plete 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

10、规章, as and when当的时候即成双成对的使用意义差异很小的近义词、同义词这样让合同的语言显得周、严谨减少了流动和争议。例句：Ea 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

11、拆分这种构造的使用表达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开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, plain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

12、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当事人的义务即该做规定做的即必须做还有制止做的即不能做。例如：The insurance must be issued irrespective of percentage.The Employer shall make a prepayment of 20of the contact value to the Cont

13、ractor 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防止理解上的分歧所引起的争议、索赔或者诉讼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 ea.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如今商务合同中或者在句中加

14、以限制就防止这一缺陷如改成：Shipment is to be effected bimonthly at 600 metric tons ea 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

15、 Force Majeure. However , the seller shall advise the buyer immediately of su occurrence and within fourteen days thereafter ,shall send by airmail to the buyer a certificate issued by the petent government authorities of the place where the accident has occurred as evidence thereof .Under su circum

16、stances 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 ar

17、ises, 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pe

18、r pro. = procurationem 代表代理2. 名词性短语居多 相比之下动词词组无是在使用数量和构造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 whi may adversely affect an orderly transfer of responsibility for provision of the Services.句中的transfer responsibility转化成了transfe

19、r of responsibility而provision Services转化成了provision of the Services3. 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：sport 转化成 in sport of；violate转化成为in violate of；default转化成 in default of；break 转化成in break of. All su 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

20、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 mencement of your contract will be USD AMOUNT IN FIGURE (USD Amount in s) and will be paid in arrears at the end of the month.The foregoing stat

21、es 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 f

22、rom 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就起到了使句子构造严表达简单的效果并且替代了定语从句“whi 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 a

23、ny loss or damage however occurring thereto or caused thereby except where any su 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“

24、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因此在撰写合同时希望提供的信息完好、严不让读者曲解误读。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 whi are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in confo

25、rmity with the general principles on whi it is based or , in the absence of su 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 acc

26、eptance with any agreement concluded between the country to whi the applicant belongs and the Peoples Republic of China, or on the basic of the principle of reciprocity. ( 综合复杂句)2. 句子构造完好在商务合同那中一般采用主语、谓语都具备的完全完好句通常不使用略句以免造成因略或句子缺而出现歧义、意义歪曲。例如：The WTO Secretariat shall tranit to the International Bur

27、eau, free of arge, 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 whi they were received, and the International Bureau shall place su copies in its collection. 3. 多

28、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“假设、假设相关的还有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。“有权做的表达有may do, shall/will have the right to do, shall have the right (but not obligation

29、) 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 obliga

30、tion 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表达在否认提早和略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否认提早.Should

31、 pany at its sole option elect to further investigate the validity of Contractor s proposal ,pany shall advise Contractor in writing accordingly略if的句子. 5. 如今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如今是为原那么。例如：Licensee may terminate this Contract 60 days after a written notice thereof is sent to Li

32、censor on the happening of one of the following events:a. Licensor bees 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

33、使用被动语态的目的就是为了突出合同条文的客观性、原那么性和效力性。试比较以下两个句子：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好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

34、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 go

35、ods.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。看以下连个句子：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. 根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利和义

36、务的法律性质的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 apter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state whi 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

37、了表达部分成分的构造对等显示句子构造的的层次感和对等感特别是在长句中表达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 ina as to be further used in the manufacturer of PRODUCTS. The partie

38、s herein agree that, with no cost to PURASER, 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 PURASER when requested. 句中构造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构造特点1. 用分条款以防止释义模糊重要的商

39、务合同一般在开头就会使用定义条款把合同中的重要名词的含义加以界定、解释是语言更加准确。例如：apter 1 DefinitionsUnless the items or context of this Contract otherwise provides, the following terms have the meaning set out below:“Special Equipment means all tenical equipment whi is necessary and special for manufacturing Cooperative Produced Prod

40、ucts,2. 合同的内容详细清楚为了防止合同文本过长而又要保证内容表述详尽、完好通常采用附录来补充、详述某些细节工程。Actual names and specifications of PRODUCTS are shown in Appendix one.Details of the information offered by Party By to Party A are show in Appendix two.三、 完毕语 在国际商务交际中订立合同是为了保证合同双方当事人成功合作, 而到达这种目的的前提条件是合同必须公正。商务英语合同是国际商务活动重要的法律,因此合同的草拟人必须理

41、解与合同有关的法律、法规、和的规定以及国际惯例中的各项规那么。商务英语合同的用语要, 措词须严谨、准确, 内容应简洁、 易懂, 构造要明晰。商务英语合同有其鲜明和独有的特征, 只有学习并深化理解这些特征, 才能熟悉和掌握商务英语合同的写作和翻译。参考文献1徐章宏法律英语写作 M 1 北京 红梅2007 2-102吴敏国际经贸英语合同写作 M 2 广州 吴明忠 2002 3-63葛亚军英文合同 M 1 天津 蔡颢 2021 43-1364杨文慧现代商务英语写作集萃 M 1 广州 叶侨键 2005 134-1535汤静芳商务英语翻译 M 1 北京 章霞 2007 75-886王总湖商务英语写作 M

42、 2 北京 王煜 2007 59-致谢三年的大学光阴稍纵即逝我的读书生活将在这个季节画上一个句。三年的求学生涯在师长、亲友的大力支持下走得辛苦却也收获满囊在文即将付梓之际思绪万千心情久久不能平静在这里我要向所有关心、帮助我的老师、同学和朋友致以衷心的感谢。是对我大学三年的总结因此投入了极大的热情和很高的积极性更幸得指导老师苏玲老师的帮助使得设计能顺利完成圆满完毕了三年的大学生活。感谢学校指导的培养。感谢这三年来所有教育过我的老师没有您们精心教学指导就没有我的如今。感谢同学们的热心帮助你们的出现让更加能顺利、生活更加丰富多彩。感谢我的父母以及所有亲人的大力支持给了我继续学习深造的时机。最后再次衷心地感谢所有关心、支持、帮助过我的老师、同学和亲人。我会在将来的生活道路中不断努力不辜负你们的望谢谢您们！