英文合同的用词特点!
时间: 2008年04月15日来源:本站原创作者: 润驰浏览次数:
作为正式法律文件，英语合同在用词方面极其考究，要求选词专业（professional）,正式（formal）,准确（accuracy）。具体体现如下：
1．专业性术语（Technical Terms/ Terminology）
法律专业性术语是在合同等法律文件中才用到的词汇，它并不以一般受众为对象，而针对专业人士，力求使语言表达准确无误。中文合同中常见的诸如“瑕疵”（defect）、“救济”（remedy）、“不可抗力”（force Majeure）、“管辖”(jurisdiction)等专业用词就已经让非专业人士大惑不解了，英文合同的专业用词自然就更玄妙无比了。具体的实例如下：
Without prejudice to the parties' rights under Clause 18. 1, the in d emnities provided for in Clausel6. 1 and/or 16. 2 and/or 16. 3 shall be the sole compensation for the damages caused by such delays.不妨害18.1款双方的权利，16.1,16.2及16.3款规定的赔偿应为上述延误引起损害的唯一赔偿金。indemnities较compensation专业，此处用compensation解释了indemnities；
Any such assignment, transfer or conveyance shall be without other consideration than the mutual covenants and considerations of this agreement.任何转让除根据本协议相互契约和对价外不得考虑其他。Transfer，assignment和conveyance都有转让的含义，其中assignment和conveyance（多用于不动产）尤为专业。
We advi se you of our intention to terminate our tenancy on or before ________________ (Date) and to deliver to you full possession of the premises。我方不迟于某日期通知你方终止租约并交还房屋全部所有。tenancy指房屋租赁的租约，而premises指租赁的房屋及其附属物都是专业用语。
Licensee agrees to pay to Licensor a minimum royalty of___________ Dollars ($______) as a minimum guarantee against royalties to be paid to Licensor during the first contract term, said minimum royalty to be paid on or before the last day of the initial term hereto. 受许可方同意支付许可方最低使用费*美元作为该许可合同第一期使用费的最低保证金，该最低使用费不迟于本合同的入门期最后一天支付给许可方。Royalties 在许可合同中专指特许权使用费。
Price of the Contract shall be calculated on Royalty in accordance with the content and scope stipulated in Article 2 to the Contract and shall be paid in___________.按照第二条规定的内容和范围。本合同采用提成方式计算价格，计价的货币为＿＿＿。与上例不同的是，这里的royalty指的是许可合同计价方式的一种即提成计价(royalty price),相对于统包价格（lumpsum price）
Default in observing or performing any of the covenants or agreements of debtor set forth in any collateral document of security given to secure indebtedness hereunder, and the continuation of such default beyond any period of grace specified in any such document.
借款人未能履行契约或附带的担保文件列明的协议，以及该违约的持续超过上述文件规定的宽限期。在借款合同中grace专指宽限期，而不是普通英语的其他意思。
Furthermore, the parties agree that the following si tuations shall be considered as exceptional circumstances which justify the earlier termination by the other party: bankruptcy, moratorium, receivership, liquidation or any kind of composition between the debtor and the creditors, or any circumstances which are likely to affect substantially one
party's ability to carry out his obligations under this contract。此外，双方同意以下条件应认为是对方合理提前终止合同的例外情形：破产、延付令、破产在管、清算或其他债权人和债务人任何形式的和解，或任何可能对一方履行合同项下义务能力造成实质影响的情形。此处的composition显然不是普通英语中“作文”的意思，而是指破产和解。
In additi on, upon request of the Board and if the Liquidating Trustee determines that it would be imprudent to dispose of any non-cash assets of the Company, such assets may be distributed in kind to the Members in lieu of cash, proportionately to their right to receive cash distributions hereunder.另外，应董事会请求且如果清算托管人确定处理本公司非现金财产非明智之举，该财产可按各成员根据合同项下收取现金份额的权利以实物形式替代现金进行分配。In kind 此处与in cash 相对，通常用于合资、合伙协议中表示“以实物出资”，本句中是以实物分配清算。In lieu of 表示替代相当于基础英语中的instead of。
The Buyer shall establish the covering letter o f credit before the date specified in Clause Three of this Sales Confirmation, failing which the Seller reserves the right to rescind without further notice, or to accept whole or any part of this Sales Confirmation not fulfilled by the Buyer, or to lodge a claim for losses sustained, if any.买方须于销售确认书第三条所规定的日期之前开出本批交易的信用证。否则，售方有权不经通知取消本确认书，或接受买方对本销售确认书未履行的全部或一部分，或对因此遭受的损失提出索赔。Reserve为专用词汇，我们常见的“版权所有”英语表达就是All rights reserved。Rescind（取消合同/协议）和lodge（提出索赔，与claim(s)连用）也都是专业用语。
In case one party desire s to sell or assign all or part of his investment subscribed, the other party shall have the preemptive right. 如一方欲出售或转让其所投资的部分或全部，另一方应有优先购买权。Assign（其名词形式assignment）和Preemptive属专业用语。
2. 正式用语（Formal Terms）
英文合同，习惯采用书面的形式，合同往往使用正式的书面用语，较少使用口头用语，以显示合同正规、严肃。具体实例如下：
At the request of Party B, Party A agrees to send technicians to assist Party B to install the equipment.应乙方要求，甲方同意派遣技术人员帮助乙方安装设备。assist 较help 正式；
The personnel shall not to part ake in any political activities in Iraq.所有人员不得参加伊拉克国内的任何政治活动。partake in 较take part in 正式；
The Employer shall render correct technical guidance to the personnel.雇主应该对有关人员给予正确技术指导。render 较give 正式；
Party A shall repatriate the patient t o China and bear the cost of his passage to Guangzhou.甲方应将病人遣返中国并负责其返回广州的旅费。repatriate 较send back 正式；
This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China.本合同受中国法律管辖，并按中国法律解释。construe 较explain, interpret 正式；in accordance with 较according to正式。
The Employer may object to and require the Contractor to replace forthwith any of its authorized representatives who is incompetent.雇主认为承包人委派的授权代表不合格时，可以反对并要求立即撤换。require较ask正式；而且，require表示上对下的