英语商务合同的文体特征和翻译技巧成人高等学历教育毕业论文英语商务合同的文体特征和翻译技巧办学单位: 外国语学院班级: 08级外贸英语(专升本)学生: 李东磊(501026)指导教师:蔡苏露提交日期: 2010 年11 月4 日封面推荐用230克浅兰色皮纹纸Business English Contracts Literary Style features and Translation TechniqueBy Li Dong LeiSupervisor: Prof. Cai su luNOV 04, 2010School of Foreign Languages, SCUTAbstractBusiness English Contracts Literary Style features and Translation TechniqueWith the rapid development of international economy and trade,business English contracts have been widely used in international business activities. However, many business economic disputes are caused by the failure in translation of them, so how to translate the business English contract appears more and more significant now Up to now, lots of translators have been dedicated to studying the translation skills ofbusiness English contract, but most of them only place emphasis on the literary level of the contract, but ignore its specialty that business English contract, as a legal document, has strict rules and conventional usages of its own, which is different from the average applied texts. So this paper, based on both the linguistic and legal characteristics of business English contract, analyzes its own language features and translation strategies Firstly, the paper analyzes its style characteristics on words, sentence and text levels. Then, the paper summarizes the translation strategies of business English contract and gives advice on its translation methods. Through the above research, the paper hopes to improve translators’ capability of comprehension and translation of business English contract.Key Words: business English contract; style feature; translation technique摘要英语商务合同的文体特征和翻译技巧随着中国对外经济贸易的飞速发展,商务英语合同在国际商务活动中使用得越来越广泛。
其中不少商务经济纠纷在很大程度上是由于合同翻译失误所引起的,因此,商务英语合同的翻译问题也显得越来越重要。
到目前为止,已有许多翻译工作者致力于商务英语合同的翻译技巧研究。
然而大部分的研究都强调从文本的文学方面对商务英语合同的翻译进行研究,而忽略了商务英语合同本身作为一种法律文本,有其严格的规则和惯例,有其独特的特点,因而不同于一般的应用文文体翻译。
因此,本文从商务英语合同的文体和法律特征两个方面来分析其自身的特点以及其翻译技巧。
本文首先从商务英语合同的词汇、句子和语篇三个方面分析其用语特征。
在此基础之上,第三部分总结归纳出合同翻译的策略,并提出商务英语合同的翻译建议。
希望通过本文的分析能够提高翻译工作者对商务英语合同的认知理解和翻译能力。
关键词:商务英语合同,文体特征,翻译技巧ContentsAbstract EnglishAbstract Chinese1Introduction2 Literary Style features of Business English Contracts2.1 Lexical Features2.1.1 Formal Words2.1.2 Terminologies2.1.3 Archaic Words2.1.4 Borrowed Words2.2 Syntactic Features2.2.1 Statement Sentence2.2.2 Passive Voice and Active Voice Sentences2.2.3 Long and Complex Sentence2.3 Textual Features2.3.1 Application of the Legal Format2.3.2 Parallel Construction3 Translation theory of business contract English3.1 Translation principles3.2 Requirements of translators4 Translation Strategies of Business English Contracts4.1 Word and its Translation4.2 Sentence and its Translation 4.3 Text and its Translation5.ConclusionReferences1 IntroductionWith China’s entry into WTO and the further deepening and widening of its opening up to the outside world, business cooperation between China and other countries has become more frequently and more contracts are signed in business circles. Most of these contracts are written in English, which has been accepted as an international business language. All this means that the translation of business English contracts is now playing a more important role in the business community both in China and abroad Business English contracts are legal documents which define the obligations and rights of both parties and bind on their economic activities. A good English business contract can improve the quality of business contacts and it is crucial to the success of international business activities. To produce effective business contracts, a deep understanding of the style features of English business contracts, such as the characteristics of English business wording, the phraseology of business contracts and the pragmatics and so on, is needed. The significance of the paper is to promoting the development of international business activity.There are a lot of researchers both at home and abroad study on this field. Business contracts on the foreign field: 《International Contracts》by Shippey. K; 《English for Contract and Company Law》byChartrand and Marc ella, etc. Among the domestic scholars, “the Lexical Features and Translation of Business English Contract” by Chen Jianping, it discusses and summarizes some basic principles and techniques of business contract English translation. Chen Xinsheng from the point of stylistic of the business contracts analyzes the stylistic features and its translation. Lan Tian’s 《International Business Contracts Course》, summarizes the techniques of the writing of business contract, the technical terms of the business contract, the lexical features, the unique structure, and so on This paper mainly talks about the literary style features of business English contract and its translation. The research method of this thesis has adopted mainly includes: concept analysis method, evidence analysis method, comparison analysis method, and so on.2Literary Style features of Business English ContractsThe style features of business English contracts on lexical, syntactic and textual regulation will be specified in this part 2.1 Lexical FeaturesWord is the basis of any kind of texts. Therefore, lexical features of business English contracts specialize in the usage of words. It is known to us that business contract is categorized as both legal documents and business writing and business English contracts share the diction with the language of law and business. Lexical features mainly encompass the following points: formal words, terminologies, archaic words, as well as borrowed words.2.1.1 Formal WordsDifferent trade parties are from different countries and regions; therefore, owing to the discrepancy of their languages and cultures, it is very easy to have misunderstanding between them. So, business English contract adopts a set of formal expressions to do its utmost to avoid misunderstanding. It can be clearly proved by comparing Column A with Column B in the following table.Part A Part Bgrant givelevy chargetariff taxeffect makeinitiate begininform tellacquaint be familiar withpurchase buyconstitute includeterminate endwithin the first ten days of June in early Junein lieu of in place ofObviously, the words listed in Column A which are often employed in business English contracts are more formal than those in Column B. Thus the usage of formal words further enhances the rigorous of contracts andminimizes the possibility of misinterpretation.2.1.2 TerminologiesThe vocabulary used in business English contracts consists of common words, semi-terminology, and terminology. The common words are used in a general way. The semi-terminologies derive from common words, and they have special meanings in the contracts, and they accounts for the most part in business English contracts. The range of terminology involved in the business English contracts mainly include: commerce, trade, finance, law, consignment, processing and assembling, joint venture, technology development, cooperation and transfer, construction, and so on. Take the legal terms for example. Terminology always consists of the unique legal terms to express the concept of common core in law, such as tort 侵权 and subrogation(代位权). However, the main problem in translation of foreign trade contracts is caused by failure to indentify the semi-terminology. It may result in false or distorted translation. For example:We consider it difficult to file a claim against the manufacturers.我们认为厂家提出索赔有些困难。