法律资料合同翻译用词特点
法律资料合同翻译用词特点
一.正确运用法律术语
不论是汉语合同还是英语合同都有自己的法律术语。合同法律文件的汉译英就是要在充分理解原语(汉语)的法律术语的基础上,正确选择、使用译入语的法律术语。为保证译入语能精确地表达原语的含意,研究英语的法律术语、法律英语的用词特点就显得十分重要。
一部分法律英语的的专门术语常常以here-, there-, where-作前缀与另一个词构成一个正式法律词汇,如:hereafter, hereby, herein, hereinafter, hereinbefore, hereof, hereto, hereunder, hereupon, herewith, thereafter, thereby, therefrom, therein, thereafter, thereinbefore, thereon, thereof, thereupon, therewith; whereas, whereby, wherein, whereon, etc. 下面列举几个实例来解释汉译英时使用这些词的意义及用法:
例1:“合同生效后,当事人就质量、价款或者报酬、
履行地点等内容没有约定或者约定不明确的,可以协议补充;
……”(《中华人民共和国合同法》第61
条)。
翻译此条款时,应从语内译入手,因该条款暗含一个条件句:“如果合同生效后,当事人就……约定不明确的,”其主句是“可以协议补充;……”因此可以译为:
If, after the contract made by and between the parties becomes effective, there is no agreement therein on the terms and provisions regarding quality, price or remuneration and place of performance, etc. or such agreement is unclear, the parties may, through consultation, agree upon supplementary terms and provisions;
译文there is no agreement后面用了therein,为agreement下了明确的界说,指agreement in the contract,因therein表示 in that; in that particular context; in that respect之意,在此它指上文所指的范
围。其它场合亦如此,比如“合同(中)的
…….,工程(中)的……”时,就可以用此词,如“修补工程中的缺陷”可以译为the remedying of any defects therein, (therein指“in
the Works”),“用于工程中的材料或机械设备”可译为materials or plant for incorporation therein (therein 指“in the Works”)。
例2:“……. 对方有异议的,可以请求
人民法院或者仲裁机构确认解除合同的效力。
法律、行政法规规定解除合同应当办理批准、登记等手续的,依照其规定。”(《中华人民共和国合同法》第96条)英译文:……If the other party disagrees therewith, the party in question may request the people’s court or an arbitration institution to confirm rescission of the effectiveness of the contract.
Where the laws or administrative regulations specify that the rescission of a contract shall go through the formalities of approval and registration, the provisions thereof shall be complied with.
译文在the other party disagrees之后用了
therewith,表示“与此”、“与之”之意,即disagrees with the fact that the contract shall be rescinded.
译文还用了thereof ,指上文的provisions of the laws or administrative regulations;因它省略了7个英文
字,故译文简洁、明了,所指准确无误。据此“合同条件、条款”可译为the terms, conditions and provisions thereof,其中thereof表示of the Contract,即上文提及的“合同的….”。又如下面这一条款:“(合同)条件中的标题及旁注不应视为条件的一部分,对合同条件或合同本身的解释或理解也不应加以考虑。”可译为:The headings and marginal notes in these conditions shall not be deemed part thereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation or construction thereof or of the Contract.文中两个thereof均表示of these conditions。
例3:保管期间届满或者寄存人提前领取保管物的,保管人应当将原物及其孳息归还寄存人。(《中华人民共和国合同法》第377条)
英译为:If the safekeeping duration expires or the depositor claims and retrieves the article before the expiry date, the safekeeping party shall return to the depositor the original article and the interest generated therefrom.
译文中的therefrom表示from the original article,准确指出interest的来源。