知道這些詞,你就能看懂英文合同了
對(duì)于已經(jīng)工作了滬友來(lái)說(shuō),工作中多多少少會(huì)接觸到一些英文法律文本,這其中最多的就是合同。就像英音和美音的最大區(qū)別就在于那個(gè)"r"音,英文合同文本和日常的書面表達(dá)最明顯的區(qū)別也許就是那個(gè)頻繁出現(xiàn)的"shall"吧。
除此之外,herein, therein, wherein……這些你最"熟悉的陌生人"一定也讓你看到合同就煩躁。為此,本期將和大家分享這些英文合同里出現(xiàn)頻率極高的"古體詞"。希望能幫助各位滬友在之后能更順利閱讀英文法律文本。
一個(gè)問(wèn)題:為何在法律文本中要用這些日常生活中幾乎不用的"古體詞"?原因其實(shí)也很簡(jiǎn)單:更正式!想想中文里"茲證明","特此"之類的字眼就能想體會(huì)了。
先看看幾個(gè)例句:
This contract is made this 19th of February,2014 by WFX Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Sellers")who agree to sell and HK Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Buyers"), who agree to buy the following goods on the terms and conditions as below.
本合同由WFX公司(以下簡(jiǎn)稱"賣方")與HJ公司(以下簡(jiǎn)稱"買方")于2014年2月19日訂立,雙方同意按下述條件買賣下列貨物。
The deposit paid by the Buyers shall not be refunded if the Buyers fail to make full payment within the time herein specified and the Buyers shall be liable for all losses incurred therefrom to the Sellers.
如果買方在規(guī)定的時(shí)間內(nèi)未付清貨款,買方的保證金將不予退還,而且買方應(yīng)承擔(dān)賣方由此引起的一切損失。
在翻譯古體詞的時(shí)候,應(yīng)根據(jù)本意及上下文靈活掌握釋義。例如在此例中, herein可以不必譯出。或采用漢語(yǔ)的文言詞例如"茲"、"之"、"鑒于"、"特"等進(jìn)行翻譯。
IN WITNESSTH WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Contract by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
茲特由雙方授權(quán)的代表,于上述首開日期和簽署本合同為據(jù)。
此例中的"IN WITNESSTH WHEREOF"意思是"作為協(xié)議事項(xiàng)的證據(jù)",是格式化的合同語(yǔ)言,類似采用大寫形式的還有:IN CONSIDERATION OF(考慮到,以為約因)、WHEREAS (鑒于)、IN THE PRESENCE OF (見證人)、NOWTHEREFORE(特此、茲特)、NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS(茲特立約為據(jù))。
當(dāng)然,類似這樣運(yùn)用大量"古體詞"的句子在任何一本英文合同里都可以找出上百句來(lái)。于是我們整理了這么一張表格,如果全都能理解透,相信各位滬友一定能在之后對(duì)法律英語(yǔ)有進(jìn)一步的了解,至少能更順利閱讀法律文本。
hereafter | after this in sequence or in time, in some future time or state(此后,以后) |
hereby | by this means(以此方式,以此,特此) |
herefrom | from this fact or statement(由此,從此) |
herein | in this document(此中,于此,在此文件中) |
hereinabove | at a prior point in this writing or document(前文) |
hereinafter | in the following part of this writing or document(在下文) |
hereinbefore | in the preceding part of this writing or document(在上文) |
hereof | of this(就此,關(guān)于此) |
hereto | to this writing or document(對(duì)此,至此) |
hereunder | under or in accordance with this writing or document(在下面,在下文) |
herewith | with this communication;enclosed in this(同此,以此) |
thereafter | after that(此后,后來(lái)) |
thereby | by that means(按此) |
therefrom | from that(從此,從那里) |
therein | in or into that place,time,or thing(在那里,在其中) |
thereinafter | in the following part of that matter (as writing, document, or speech)(在下文) |
thereof | of that(在其中) |
thereto | to that(此外,在其上) |
thereunder | under that part of a contract(在其下,按規(guī)定條款) |
therewith | with that(與此) |
whereby | by which(按,靠那個(gè)) |
wherein | in which(在那方面) |
whereof | of which(關(guān)于那個(gè)) |
whereon | on what(因此,在什么上面) |
whereto | to what place, purpose or end(何以,向何處,為什么) |
whereundcr | under what(在其下,在那下面) |