商务合同常用词的翻译
1. Choice of Synonyms同义词的选择
同义词在英语中为数不少,在合同英语中也时常出现,翻译时必须作出正确选择。否则,如果同义词选用不当,轻者会影响双方的权利义务;重者可能造成履约争议。同义词的选择,通常从以下几方面着手:
1) Considering the Connotation根据单词的内进行选择
合同中出现的同义词,从字面理解仿佛没有很大区别,但仔细研究其内涵就会发现,它们在表现出共性的同时,也体现着它们的个性。这就要求译者必须深人细致地精研其本质的区别,选出最恰当的单词。
例如,合同中经常出现的to perform a contract, to fulfill a contract, to e_ecute a contract, to implement a contract,这些短语都可以表示履行合同,从字面上看都对。然而在具体的合同条款中,表示履行不同的合同义务时,其用法是有区别的。
「例1」
关于79HP一106号合同项下尚未执行的180公吨NY2一11
低密度聚乙烯,我们仍然认为贵方应尽快开证以保证履行合同。我们提请贵方注意,the Adviser Inc.和贵方同时向我方购买
NY211低密度聚乙烯,他们已经在我方主动调价后不久履行了原合同,而且又和我们签订了较大数量的新合同。
With respect to the outstanding 180 M/r of low-
density polyethylene NY211 under Contract No.79HP一106,we insist that you must open the covering letter of
credit the soonest possible to secure the performance of the contract. We hereby would like to call your attention to the fact that the Adviser Inc. , Who purchased LDPE NY211 from us at the same time as you did have fulfilled their mitment under the previous Contract not long after we offered our regulated price and signed a new contract covering substantial quantity.
该句子出现的履行分别使用了perform和fulfill.我们首先研究一下这对同义词的内涵:perform的法律含义是:to do what one party is obliged to do by a contract; fulfill的法律含义是:t0 do everything which is promised in a contract.其次,再研究一下合同各方应履行的合同义务:涉外合同一经生
效,双方当事人必须全面地、适当地履行合同中的义务,但是具
体对某一方合同当事人来讲,就是履行合同中最属于他应该履行
的那部分责任和义务。比如,在国际货物销售合同中,对买方来说,履行合同的概念就是payment,当然与payment有关的义务还有采用何种方式和支付工具付款等。如果该合同的价格条件是FOB
的话,买方还要负责租船订舱,支付运费,并将船期、船号及时
通知卖方等。因此,如果强调合同的一方履行合同与所规定的该
方的那部分具体义务相同,应该是fulfill a contract.如果是泛指双方在合同中的各项责任和义务都应得到履行,则选用perform a contract较合适。又如:The Contractor shall fulfill all of its duties and obligations in carrying out its work and services hereunder(承租人必须忠实信守和履行下列各项规则)。
「例2」合同在有效期内,双方对合同产品涉及的技术如有改进和发展,应相互免费将改进和发展的技术资料提供给对方使
用。
Within the validity term of the Contract, both parties shall supply each other with the improvement and development of the technology related to the Contract Products free of charge.
该句的谓语动词提供一词用了supply,就不如provide确切。尽管这两个词都表示供给,但在牵涉到金钱时,provide则表示to give sb sth free of charge, supply则不太明确,一般来说需要给钱。因此,该条款虽然明确了free of charge,但用provide更恰当。
「例3」改进和开发的技术,其所有权属于改进和开发一方。
这一条的重点主要规定改进后的技术专有权归属问题,所以该句中正确地选择属于一词是很关键的。有人选择belong to,也有人选择possess,还有人用own,这三个词均可以表示属于。我们分析一下这三个词的内涵,belong t0的含义是指属于财
产;possess和own虽然都着重于所属关系,但possess只指目前属于某人,并没有讲是如何得到的;而own含有对合法占有,与原文意思一致,故把这一条款译成:
The improved and developed technology shall be owned by the party who has improved and developed the technology.
如果将属于改用belong to,其主语就应该是ownership,表示所有权属于,因为the improved and developed technology
属于知识产权,而这种权利与物质财产有直接联系。这样,该句还可以调整如下:
The ownership of any improved and developed technology shall belong to the party who has improved and developed the technology.
「例4」本细则的解释权,属于中华人民共和国财政部。
句中的属于是指power 0r right will be present or vested in sb or a body,故应选用reside in.全句译成: