商務(wù)英語寫作:合同應(yīng)注意六方面
學(xué)習商務(wù)英語或者要參加商務(wù)英語考試的人們,大家可能會遇到合同的問題,畢竟這是商務(wù)環(huán)境下常常發(fā)生的情況。那么大家知道商務(wù)英語的合同該怎么表達嗎?學(xué)習了下面的知識你將會對這個問題有初步的了解,一起往下看看吧。
涉外商務(wù)英語合同的語言特色體現(xiàn)在以下幾個方面:
第一部分、用詞方面
多用正式或法律上的用詞,與口頭表述不同,合同是法律性的正式書面文件,使用正式的、法律的用詞是必要的。合同起草者應(yīng)多加強這方面的學(xué)習。比如:
1、At the request of Party B, Party A agrees to send technicians to assist Party B to install the equipment.
應(yīng)乙方要求,甲方同意派遣技術(shù)人員幫助乙方安裝設(shè)備。assist 較 help 正式;
2、The personnel shall not to partake in any political activities in Iraq.
所有人員不得參加伊拉克國內(nèi)的任何政治活動。partake in 較 take part in 正式;
3、The Employer shall render correct technical guidance to the personnel.
雇主應(yīng)該對有關(guān)人員給予正確技術(shù)指導(dǎo)。render 較 give 正式;
4、Party A shall repatriate the patient to China and bear the cost of his passage to Guangzhou.
甲方應(yīng)將病人遣返中國并負責其返回廣州的旅費。repatriate 較 send back 正式;
5、This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China.
本合同受中國法律管轄,并按中國法律解釋。construe 較 explain,interpret 正式;
6、The Employer may object to and require the Contractor to replace forthwith any of its authorized representatives who is incompetent.
雇主認為承包人委派的授權(quán)代表不合格時,可以反對并要求立即撤換。require較ask正式;公文體forthwith 較 at once 正式;
7、The Chairperson may convene an interim meeting based on a proposal made by one-third of the total number of directors.
董事長可以根據(jù)董事會過1/3董事的提議而召集臨時董事會議。convene,interim 都是正式用詞。
8、In case one party desires to sell or assign all or part of its investment subscribed, the other party shall have the preemptive right.
如一方想出售或轉(zhuǎn)讓其投資之全部或部分,另一方有優(yōu)先購買權(quán)。法律用詞assign 較 transfer 正式。
9、In processing transactions, the manufacturers shall never have title either to the materials or the finished products.
加工貿(mào)易中,廠方無論是對原料還是成品都無所有權(quán)。 法律用詞title 較 ownership 正式。
10、The term "Effective date" means the date on which this Agreement is duly executed by the parties hereto.
“生效期”指雙方合同簽字的日子。 法律用詞execute 較 sign 正式。
第二部分、用詞方面
多使用"here","there","where"等前綴,下面這么多是不是有點頭昏眼花?初學(xué)時確實容易搞混,告訴你個小竅門,here 代表 this,there 代表 that,where 代表 what/which,就容易記多了。
hereafter = after this time; 今后
hereby = by means/reason of this; 特此
herein = in this; 此中,于此
hereinafter = later in this contract; 在下文
thereafter = afterwards; 此后,后來
thereby = by that means; 因此;由此;在那方面
therein = from that; 在那里;在那點上
thereinafter = later in the same contract; 以下;在下文
whereby = by what; by which; 由是;憑那個
wherein = in what; in which; 在哪里;在哪點上
……
第三部分、用詞方面
多用"shall"代替"will"或"should"加強語氣和強制力。合同中,shall并非單純表示將來時,而常用來表示法律上可強制執(zhí)行的義務(wù),具有約束力,宜譯為“應(yīng)”、“應(yīng)該”、“必須”; will無論語氣還是強制力要比shall弱,宜譯為“將”、“原”、“要”;should通常只用來表示語氣較強的假設(shè)、比如“萬一”。
1、This Contract shall become effective upon and from the date on which it is signed.
本合同簽字生效。
2、This Contract shall be written in English in four copies. Each party shall keep two copies.
本合同應(yīng)以英文寫成,一式四份,雙方各持兩份。
第四部分、用語方面
一、力求嚴謹,明白無誤:
1、The following documents shall be deemed to form and be read and construed as an integral part of this Contract.
下列文件應(yīng)被認為、讀作、解釋為本合同的組成部分;
2、This Contract can only be altered, amended or supplemented in accordance with documents signed and sealed by authorized representatives of both parties.
本合同只能按照雙方授權(quán)代表簽名蓋章的文件進行修改或增補;
3、All activities of ABC Co. shall be governed by the laws, decrees and pertinent rules and regulations of China.
ABC公司的一切活動必須受中國的法律、法令和有關(guān)規(guī)章條例的管轄。
二、多用主動語態(tài),少用被動語態(tài):
1、Party B is hereby appointed by Party A as its exclusive sales agent in Singapore. (不宜)
乙方被甲方委托為在新加坡的獨家銷售代理商;
2、Party A hereby appoints Party B as its exclusive sales agent in Singapore. (適宜)
甲方委托乙方為在新加坡的獨家銷售代理商;
三、多用現(xiàn)在時,少用將來時,盡管很多條款規(guī)定的是合同簽訂以后的事項:
1、Licensee may terminate this Contract 90 days after a written notice thereof is sent to Licensor upon the happening of one of the following events:
當有下列事件之一發(fā)生,被許可人提前90天向許可人發(fā)送書面通知后,可以終止合同:
2、Licensor becomes insolvent or a liquidator of Licensor is appointed;
許可人無力償付債務(wù)或其破產(chǎn)清算人以被指定;
3、The patent described in Article 2 is not issued within 30 days from signing this Contract; and
第二條規(guī)定的專利未在簽約后30天之內(nèi)發(fā)布;
4、Licensor fails to perform its obligations under this Contract.
許可人未能履行其合同義務(wù)。
四、直接表達方式用得多,間接表達方式用的較少:
1、This Article does not apply to bondholders who have not been paid in full. (用得少)
本條款不適用于尚未全部償付的債券持有者。
2、This Article applies only to bondholders who have been paid in full. (用得多)
本條款只適用于已全部償付的債券持有者。
五、盡量使用一個動詞,避免使用“動詞+名詞+介詞”的同意短語:
1、Party A shall make an appointment of its representative within 30 days after signing the Contract.
甲方應(yīng)于簽約后30天內(nèi)指派其授權(quán)代表。宜用appoint代替 make an appointment of.
2、Party A will give consideration to Party B’s proposal of exclusive agency.
甲方愿意考慮乙方獨家代理的建議。宜用consider代替give consideration to.
第五部分、下列特殊用語使用頻繁
一、WHEREAS 鑒于
正式而重要的合同,尤其是英美法系的合同,多用它在前文中引出簽約背景和目的,起連詞作用:
WHEREAS the Employer is desirous that manpower can be rendered available for the construction of High-Rise Residential Complex in Baghdad, Iraq;
鑒于雇主欲請勞動力建造伊拉克巴格達的高層住宅綜合大樓;
WHEREAS the Contractor is desirous to provide the manpower for the Works;
鑒于承包人想為此工程提供勞動力;
二、WITNESS 證明
在合同前文中常用作首句的謂語動詞:
This Agreement, made by ……
WITNESSES
WHEREAS……, it is agreed as follows:
本協(xié)議由……簽訂證明:鑒于……特此達成協(xié)議如下:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF 作為所協(xié)議事項的證據(jù),該短語常用于合同的結(jié)尾條款:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Contract in duplicate by their duly authorized representatives on the date first above written.
作為所協(xié)議事項的證據(jù),雙方授權(quán)代表于上面首次寫明的日期正式簽訂本協(xié)議一式兩份。
三、IN CONSIDERATION OF 以……為約因/報酬
約因是英美法系的合同有效成立要件之一,沒有則合同不能依法強制履行。但是,大陸法系的合同則無此規(guī)定。
Now Therefore, in consideration of the premises and the covenants herein, contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
茲以上述各點和契約所載條款為約因,訂約雙方協(xié)議如下:
In consideration of the payment to be made by Party A to Party B, Party B hereby covenants with Party A to complete the building in conformity with the provisions of the Contract.
乙方特此立約向甲方保證按合同規(guī)定完成工程建設(shè),以取得甲方所付的報酬。
四、NOW,THEREFORE 茲特
此短語用于WHEREAS條款之后引出具體協(xié)議事項的常用開頭語,并與其后hereby的結(jié)合。如果無HEREAS條款,則本短語可省略:
NOW, THEREFORE, it’s hereby agreed and understood as follows;
茲特協(xié)議和諒解如下:
NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS 茲特立約為據(jù),本句話也是用于WHEREAS條款之后引出具體協(xié)議事項。
五、PRESENTS = the present writings 是主語,WITNESS是謂語:
NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS that it is hereby agreed between the parties hereto as follows:茲特立約為據(jù),并由訂約雙方協(xié)議如下:
六、IN THE PRESENCE OF 見證人
本短語只在有見證人時使用—在訂約雙方當事人簽名的下方由見證人簽名作證,一般是相關(guān)的律師(Attorney)或公證處(Notary Public):
IN THE PRESENCE OF the parties hereto have hereunder set their respective hands and seals:
作為協(xié)議事項的證據(jù),訂約雙方各自簽名蓋章如下:
第六部分、其他短語
For and on behalf the first Party(甲方代表):
The EMPLOYER (雇主)…
Capacity (職位) …
In the Presence of (見證人) …
Capacity (職位)…
Address (地址)…
For and on behalf of the Second party(乙方代表):
The CONTRACTOR (承包人) …
Capacity (職位)…
In the Presence of (見證人) …
Capacity (職位)…
Address (地址)…
總之,商務(wù)英語是比較專業(yè)性的英語方向,與我們平時學(xué)的日常用語還是有區(qū)別的。如果你需要考證、工作的需要,就要認真的復(fù)習。時間也許不夠,但是我們要做到最好,沒有什么事情會等著你準備好了再發(fā)生,滬江小編希望大家能夠隨時準備好接受檢驗。