商务合同的翻译练习一参考译文一、商务合同的基本概念、分类与结构1. 概念2. 分类3. 结构二、合同英语的词汇特点及翻译策略1. 用词专业，具有法律意味：（1）根据不同的专业来确定词义例1：a. The premium rates vary with differed interests insured. ______________b. If the buyer fails to pay any account when due, the buyer shall be liable to pay the seller overdue interest on such unpaid amount. _________________c. The articles of our immediate interest are your Agricultural Washing Machines. _______析：a. 出自保险业，意思“被保险的货物”；b. 源于国际贸易，意思是“一方由于未能支付到期的应付款项而向另一方支付的过期利息”；c. 属于营销业，应译为“对什么产品、品牌感兴趣”。
例2：Party B shall train Party A’s technical personnel so as to enable them to master Party B’s design, mould design, performance test and technology in machining, erection and inspection of the contracted product, so that Party A can use the technical documents and know-how supplied by Party B to produce the same product and mould in Party A’s factory.乙方须负责对甲方技术员进行培训，以便甲方受训人员掌握合同产品的设计、模具设计、性能测试、加工工艺、装配工艺和质量检验技术，进而使甲方能利用乙方提供的技术资料和专门知识在甲方的厂内制造出相同的产品和模具。
析：此例中，原文的mould design, performance test, technology in machining, erection, inspection都可以称得上是术语，不可随便翻译，这些都应选择符合语境的技术术语译文。
（2）注意合同本身的术语（合同用语）：Rights and obligations 权利和义务Arbitration 仲裁Termination 终止Force majeure 不可抗力Jurisdiction 管辖Undersigned 签署人In default of 因没有Both parties to the contract 合同双方Breaching party 违约方Observant party/non-breaching party 守约方Liability for breach of the contract 违约责任Constitute 构成Damages 赔偿金在翻译中，要对这些词语在一般文体中和在法律文体中的意义进行区分。
例词一般文体法律文体Counterpart 极相似的人或物，对手，对方有同等效力的副本Limitation 限制时效Prejudice 偏见损害Royalty 皇室、王权特许权使用费，版税Negligence 疏忽过失Assign 分配，指派转让（合同）等2. 用词正式（1）专门的套语和习语商务合同的英语翻译应注意使用译语中专门的套语和习语，要求地道正式，避免使用口语词汇。
如：正式普通中文In effect in fact 事实上Cease to do stop to do 停止Prior to before 在…之前Commencement start, begin 开始Miscellaneous other matters/events 其他事项Deem think 认为By virtue of because of 因为as regards, concerning about 关于pursuant to/in accordance with according to 根据，按照as from from 自…日起as of on 于…日as per/in accordance with according to 按照，根据construe explain 解释revise, rectify correct 纠正，改正terminate end 结束，终止obligation, liability duty 责任，义务(2) 古语词汇Here/there/where + 介词= 介词+ this/that/which/what例如：Section 10 hereof: Section 10 of this contract/agreement 本协议/合同第10条Article 6 thereof: Article 6 of that agreement/contract ……协议/合同第6条Parties hereto: parties to the contract 本协议/合同当事人Set my hand and official seal hereunto: set my hand and official seal unto (=to) the document, 在文件上签章Terms and conditions provided herein: terms and conditions provided in this contract, 本协议/合同规定之条款Hereinafter: 以下，下文中Hereby: by means of this, by reason of this, 特此，由此，兹Whereby: by which, by the agreement, by the following terms and conditions, etc. 凭此协议，凭此条款等The investors hereby form a joint venture… 投资方特此设立合资公司All amounts due hereunder are payable in full to Party B without deduction.本协议所规定之所有到期款额应向乙方足额交付，不得抵扣。
（hereunder: under this contract）The Leased Premises are deemed to be fit for occupation when the building therein is substantially completed.当在那里的建筑物实质完成时，该租赁房屋才被认为适合占有居住。
（Therein: in that, in that particular context, in that respect, 在那里，在那点上，在那方面）其他：For and on behalf of 代表Hitherto 迄今Aforementioned 上述的Aforesaid 上述的Forthwith 立刻，立即，毫不拖延In witness whereof 特此为证3. 用词准确a. 情态动词May:表示合同上的权利（right），权限（power）或特权（privilege）的场合中使用。
（可）Shall：一般用来表示法律上可以强制执行的义务（obligation）。
如未履行，即视为违约，并构成某种赔偿责任。
Shall在译文中常表示为“应该，必须”等，也有不译的时候。
（应）May not (或shall not):用于禁止性义务，即“不得做什么”。
绝不可用cannot或must not。
Will:一般使用在没有法律强制的情况下，也用做表示承担义务的声明，但语气和强制力比shall弱。
Should: 在合同中通常只用来表示语气较弱的假设，多译成“万一，如果，若”等。
例1：The parties hereto shall, first of all, settle any dispute arising from or in connection with the contract by friendly negotiations. Should such negotiationsfail, such dispute may be referred to the People’s Court having ju risdiction on such dispute for settlement.双方应首先通过友好协商解决因合同而发生的或与合同有关的争议。
如协商未果，可将争议提交有管辖权的人民法院解决。
例2：The quality and prices of the commodities to be exchanged between the exporter and the importer in the two countries shall be acceptable to both sides.货物的质量和价格必须使进出口双方都能接受。
例3：The formation of this contract, its validity, interpretation, execution and settlement of the disputes shall be governed by related laws of the People’s Republic of China.本合同的订立、效力、解释、履行和争议的解决均受中华人民共和国法律的管辖。
（shall 未译出）例4：The board meeting shall be convened and presided by the Chairman. Should the chairman be absent, the vice-Chairman shall, in principle, convene and preside over the board meeting.董事会会议应由董事长召集、主持；如董事长缺席，原则上应由副董事长召集、主持。
b. 其他商务合同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。