Abstract: After China’s entry into WTO, the study of translation of legal documents, such as the translation of economic laws, regulations and rules, and contract documents, will surely become a important research topic for translators. This article discusses sufficiently, on the basis of past experience, some language characteristics in the translation of legal documents, which shall be paid attention to. The article also provides detailed comments on the different English versions of translating the Contract Law to show some practical skills of translation of legal documents.
Key words: legal documents; legal terminology; language structure;
1. Hereby: by means of; by reason of this 之意,即特此,因此,兹等意。常用于法律文件、合同协议的正式文件的开头语,在条款中需要强调时也可用。
举原文说明,如:
The Employer hereby covenants to pay the Contractor in consideration of the execution and completion of the Works and the remedying of defects therein the Contract Price or such other sum as may become payable under the provisions of the Contract at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Contract.
文中:
★hereby 意为 by reason of this,特此的意思。
★Covenants 是动词,意为make a formal agreement 立约,签订合同。
★ completion of the Works 是工程的竣工,Works与Work 在工程承包合同文件中常指工程而不是工作之意。
2.Hereto: to this,上文已提及的,比如表示“本合同双方”可以说“the Parties hereto”,这里的hereto表示“to this Contract” “本协议附件4”可以译为“Appendix 4 hereto”,这里的hereto表示“to this Agreement”。
读下面的原文,可以进一步理解hereto 在文中的作用。
All disputes arising from the performance of this Contract shall, through amicable negotiations, be settled by the Parties hereto. Should, through negotiation, no settlement be reached, the case in question shall then be submitted for arbitration to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, Beijing and the arbitration rules of this commission shall be applied. The award of the arbitration shall be final and binding upon the Parties hereto. The Arbitration fee shall be borne by the losing party unless otherwise awarded by the Arbitration Commission.
文中:
★ 两次出现的hereto, 都是限定Parties, 表示the Parties to this Contract 本合同的双方。
★ “the performance of this Contract”履行本合同。
★“through amicable negotiations” 通过友好协商。
★should 表示如果发生什么情况,代替省掉的if。
★“shall then be submitted for arbitration”应提交进行仲裁。
★ “the Chinese International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, Beijing” 中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会(北京)。
★ “the arbitration rules of this Commission” 仲裁规则。
★“the award of the arbitration: 仲裁裁决。
★ “unless otherwise awarded by the Arbitration Commission”仲裁委员会另有裁定的除外。
3.Herein: in this 此中,于此。表示上文已提及的….,如遇到“本合同(中)的….”,“本法(中)的……”等行文时,用该词。比如,“本法(中)所称的不正当竞争,….”可以译为“unfair competition mentioned herein….此中的herein 意为“in this law” 又如“本协议(中)的内容”,可译为“the contents herein”,此中的herein 意为“ in this Agreement”.
看下面两段文字,可以加深领会herein及其它几个专门用语。
Unfair competition mentioned in this law refers to such acts of business operators as contravene the provisions hereof, with a result of damaging the lawful rights and interests of other business operators, and disturbing the socio-economic order.
Business operators mentioned herein refer to such legal persons, other economic organizations and individuals as engage in the trading of goods or profit-making services (hereinafter called Goods including services).
注:上文中出现了3个法律文件中的专门用语:hereof: of this 关于此点。在本文件中之意,表示在上文已提及的。出现本合同的…..,“本文件的……”时,使用该词。如“本合同条件,条款……”可译为 “the terms, conditions and provisions hereof…..”此中的hereof表示“of this Contract”;又如“本工程的任何部分”可译为“any parts hereof”, 此中的hereof 意为“of this Works”.
文中:
★ “hereof 意为the provisions of this law。
★ herein, 在文中的意思是(Business operators mentioned)in this law。
★ hereinafter:later in the same Contract,以下;在下文,一般与to be referred to as; referred to as; called 等词或词组连用,以避免重复。
★ unfair competition 不正当竞争。
★ mentioned in this law: 本法所称。
★ contravene the provisions hereof: 违反本法规定。
★ damage the lawful rights and interests of other business operators: 损害其他经营者的合法权益。
★ disturb the socio-economic order:拢乱社会经济秩序。
原文可译为:
本法所称的不正当竞争,是指经营者违反本法规定,损害其他经营者的合法权益,扰乱社会经济秩序的行为。
本法所称的经营者,是指从事商品经营或营利性服务(以下所称商品包括服务)的法人、其他经济组织和个人。
4.Therein: in that; in that particular context; in that respect. 在那里;在那点上,在那方面等之意,表示上文已提及的,“合同中的……..”“工程中的…….”等可用此词。如“修补工程中的缺陷”,可以译为“the remedying of any defects therein”, 此中的therein 表示“ in the Works”; 又如“用于工程中的材料或机械设备”可译为“materials or plant for incorporation therein”, 此中的therein 也表示“ in the Works”。
现用一小段原文来加强therein这个字的印象:
“Temporary Works” means all temporary works of every kind (other than the Contractor’s Equipment) required in or about the execution and completion of the Works and the remedying of any defects therein.
★ The execution and completion of the Works and the remedying of any defects therein: 工程施工、竣工和修补工程中任何缺陷。请注意原文中的两个and的译法。一般一项工程分为两个阶段:第一阶段包括工程设计、施工、竣工;第二阶段是修补工程缺陷。由此可见,第一个and是指第一阶段的两个工程程序,第二and是为了区分工程的两个阶段,用词、结构无误,表达意思明确。
Whereas Party B has the right and agrees to grant Party A the right to use, manufacture and sell the Contract Products of Patented Technology;
Whereas Party A desires to use the Patented Technology of Party B to manufacture and sell the Contract Products;
The Representatives authorized by the Parties to this Contract have, through friendly negotiation, agreed to enter into this Contract under the terms, conditions and provisions specified as follows:
文中:
★两个whereas都作“鉴于”解。
★ to grant Party A the rights to use, manufacture and sell the Contract Products of patented Technology: 将专利技术的合同产品的使用权、制造权和销售权授予甲方。
★ The Representatives authorized by the Parties to this Contract: 双方授权代表
★ Under the terms, conditions and provisions specified as follows: 就以下条款。
The board meeting shall be called and presided over by the Chairman. Should the chairman be absent, the vice-Chairman shall, in principle, call and preside over the board meeting.
文中:
★ 两个shall,都表示有责任做,应该做之意。
★ Should: If 表示如果。
★ board meeting:董事会会议。
★ preside over:主持。
原文可译为:
董事会会议应由董事长召集、主持;如董事长缺席,原则上应由副董事长召集、主持。
2. Unless otherwise
Unless otherwise: 除外。比 “if not”和 “otherwise”表达正式。 该词由两个同义词“ unless” 和“otherwise”组成,otherwise有代词作用,后面一般跟动词的过去分词限定,意为:除非另…….:如“除非合同另有规定”可译为“unless otherwise specified in the Contract”, 又如“除非信用证另有规定”可译为“ unless otherwise specified in the Letter of Credit.”
如:
These articles shall apply to documentary credits, including stand by letters of credit, to the extent to which the credits in question shall be applicable, and shall be binding on the Parties to the Contract, unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Parties thereto.
文中:
★ unless otherwise,表示除非合同双方另有约定。
★ these articles 指本条文
★ apply to 适用,适用于,
★ in question: under consideration; being discussed about 即“在考虑中的或议论中的”某事、某问题,可译成“这”或“该”, 比如“该事项”, 可译为“the matter in question”,这是合同中长用的专业词组。
比如:
Party A agrees to acquire from Party B and Party B agrees to transfer to Party A the Patented Technology for contract Products. The Patented Technology in question shall be the same technology as the technology of Party B’s latest products.
这三个词组都作“根据”,“按照”解,是法律文件中常用的词组,比according to 正式。试看例文:
例1:
On the FOB basis, the Buyer shall book shipping space in accordance with the date of shipment specified in the contract.
文中:
★ in accordance with the date of shipment:根据装运日期
★ FOB= Free on board: 船上交货。按照1999年9月国际商会公布的《2000年国际贸易术语解释通则》的规定,采用此术语,卖方将货物在合同指定的装运港装到买方的船上,即完成交货。卖方承担货物越过船舷以前的风险和费用;买方承担其后的风险和费用。采用此术语时,在FOB 后面常要注明装运港名称,如FOB Shanghai.
★ book shipping space: 洽定舱位。
原文可译为:
按照FOB条件,由买方负责根据合同规定的装运日期洽定舱位。
注意:文中的买方或卖方,为合同的专门词汇,都要大写。中译英时需注意这一点。
例2:
When, under the laws and approval from the relevant authorities, a limited liability company is converted into a company limited by shares, the total amount which shares are converted into shall be equivalent to the amount of the company’s net assets.
An irrevocable credit shall be deemed to constitute a definite under taking of the issuing bank. Provided that if the stipulated documents are presented and are complied with the terms, conditions and provisions of the credit, and if the credit provides for sight payment, the payment shall be made or shall be guaranteed to be made.
文中:
★provided that对信用证的承诺性作了进一步规定。
★be deemed 被认为,被称为,视为等,是法律文件中的正式用语,比“ be believed; be considered”正式。
如: In the absence of such indication, the credit shall be deemed to be revocable.可译为:如无该项表示,信用证应视作是可撤销的。
★shall be deemed to constitute a definite undertaking of the issuing bank: 应被子认为构成开证行的确定承诺。
除上述法律文件中常用词组外,还有若干,如in respect of; in respect thereof (关于关于上文已提及的事项);in the event of , in the event that ( 如果;如果……..发生,比when正式);in case, the (the ) case of (如果;万一,一旦,);be liable for; be liable to ( 应付有责任);in Testimony whereof: in Witness whereof (以此为证,特立此证); know all Men by these presents (根据本文件;特此宣布);undersigned: (法律文件末尾的签名者,若前有定冠词the,是指文件签署者的自称;now therefore, (特此;因此,一般与whereas 连用,其后边常跟hereby. 译成“兹”,“特此”)。由于篇幅之限,就不一一细述了。
The securities regulatory authorities under the State Council shall, in accordance with law, implement centralized and unified regulation and supervision of the securities market nationwide. The securities regulatory authorities under the State Council may, where necessary, establish agencies that shall perform the regulatory functions as authorized.
法律文件,合同文件中常常用复合句,从句中的状语与主句中的状语应各有其位,不能互相混淆,分辨不清、产生歧义,造成合同双方争议,因此从句中的状语通常都锁定在从句之内,状语一般开门见山,放在从句连接词(when, if 等)之后,从句主体句之前,常用逗号分隔,以示其是插入的状语。如:
Where, through securities trading at a stock exchange, an investor comes to hold 5 percent of shares issued by a listed company, the investor shall, within three days from the date on which such share holding becomes a fact, submit a written report to the Securities Regulatory Authorities under the State Council and the Stock Exchange, notify the listed company and make the fact known to the public.
这个句子较长,主要是由于插入的状语、定语及状语从句造成的,where引导的状语从句中又插入了一个状语短语,其位置就在连接词where之后,从句主体句之前,即an investor 之前:这个词组是修饰investor comes to hold 的方式状语,若把这个词组放到从句之后,或主句之后都是产生歧义误解的因素。
此句的主句中在shall之后也插入一个状语短语within three days from the date, 后又接一个定语从句修饰date 直到a fact, submit是主句谓语动词与shall 相配,另外还有两个与之并列的两个谓语动词及其宾语。
The Borrower shall, if required, reimburse the Agent or the Bank in question the same amount of such taxes, duties, levies, penalties or interests as are paid by the Agent or the Bank.