英语商务合同的语言特征

摘要:英语商务合同作为一种庄重的法律文体,其语言有其独特的特征.本文从语法,句法,等方面探索和总结了英语商务合同的基本语言特征.

关键词: 英语商务合同语言特征

随着经济全球化与一体化进程的加快,我国与世界各国的联系日益密切,尤其是加入世界WTO后,我国与世界各国的贸易快速发展.同时我们看到在对外贸易中也出现了不少涉外经济纠纷,其中不少贸易纠纷在很大程度是因为合同语言表达欠缺原因所引起的,目前我国涉外合同多为英文版本,而英文商务合同其语言有严格的要求,本文重点从英语语法,词法,等方面探索和归纳了英语商务合同的语言特征.

1.语法特征

1.1 大量使用专业和法律词汇

英语商务合同涉及工业生产,国际贸易,国际结算,法律等方面,合同涉及的内容不同使用的专业术语也不同,一份完整的对外贸易商务合同,经常会涉及到技术,金融,经济,国际贸易,国际结算等方面的专业术语.

例如: 1. 50% of the total contract value as deposit shall be remitted by the Buyer to the Seller through telegraphic transfer within seven days after signing this contract.

此句为买卖合同中的付款条款,涉及的专业词语有:deposit (定金);telegraphic transfer (电汇)

2.Shipment on or before May 31 from Shenzhen to Willington, allowing partial shipments and transshipment .此句为合同中装运条款,涉及到的运输方面专业术语有:

shipment (装运) ;partial shipment (分批装运); transshipment (转船).

合同是具有法律效力的经济文书,为了维护法律文件的权威性,在商务英语合同中常使用我们平时不常使用的法律词汇.

例:N either Party may assign this Agreement ,in whole or part ,without the other Party’s Prior written consent, except to any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or other reorganization involving the assigning Party, and any entity to which the assigning Party may transfer all or substantially all of its asset, provided that the assigning agrees in writing to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and provides documentation as evidence that the assignee has the ability and capability of meeting all of the obligations under this Agreement .

此句中涉及到的法律方面的专业术语有: assign consolidation entity merger reorganization the assigning party assignee be bound by

1.2 缩略词的使用

缩略词在英语商务合同中出现的频率很高,而且主要为首字母缩略词和截短词.其中价格,付款方式,保险多为首字母缩略词形式出现,如:

FOB free on board

CIF cost insurance freight

DDU delivered duty unpaid

D/P document against payment

T/T telegraphic transfer

L/C letter of credit

W.A. with particular

F.R.A. free from particular average

此外,一些计量单位及相关词语则通常以截短词形式出现,如:

CTN carton or container

PC piece

NO. number

V vessel

m meter

cm centimeter

MIN minimum

kg kilogram

t ton

1.3 多个同义词或近义词连用

多个同义词和近义词在英语商务合同中并列使用,体现了合同作为法律文书的严肃性和合同用词的严谨性,确保了原文意思高度完整,准确,避免合

同意思的曲解.

例一:The Bidder shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of its bid (hereafter referred to as the Buyer),will in no case be responsible or liable for these costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.此句中出现两对同义词连用，第一对responsible or liable，这一对词都是表示法律上有责任的。responsible一词除“应负责任的”外，还有认真的，可靠的，可信赖的等义，liable 除“有(法律)责任的，有义务的”外，还有“应受罚的，”“应付税的”，“应服从的”“易于…的”等等意思。很显然，如不采取两词连用，就有可能产生不必要的误解，而这两个词连用时，就只能取两词共有的意义，即“应负有责任。”就不会产生别解，误解。同样，第二对连用Conduct or outcome都含有“result“的意思，"the conduct or outcome of the bidding process"意为“投标的结果，’，这是一对名词同义词的连用。

例二:This contract shall at all times be subject to and governed by the General Terms and Conditions on the back hereof which are an integral part hereof.此句中涉及近义词"be subject to" and "governed "取其应服从于和受支配于,同义词"Terms and Conditions"两者都有条款的意思.

例三:If the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms provisions conditions and stipulations of the said contract the Contractor's part to be performed and observed according to the true purport intent and meaning thereof.这句话中所提到的同义词连用如:terms, provisions, conditions and stipulations都是指合同条款,近义词"perform and observe"取其遵守和履行的意思.

1.4 重点内容用大写突出强调效果