商務英語合同翻譯

才智咖 人氣:1.65W

篇一:合同保證、不可抗力、其他條款等英文翻譯,僅供參考

商務英語合同翻譯

Article 13 Warranties

The Seller hereby guarantee that unless the contract stipulates otherwise, the product shall fully conform to product specifications within the 12-month quality assurance date from the installation debugging acceptance of the machines (hereafter referred to as ‘quality guarantee period’),but the premise is that the Buyer uses the machines under normal operations in accordance with guidance of the Seller or instructions provided for the Buyer by the Seller and maintains the machines well.

Article 14 The Seller’s liabilities

In allusion to claims incurred by the contract, tort, intellectual property rights or other torts of related goods in this contract or otherwise of the contract, the Seller and any affiliated companies or officers, principals, employees, agents, sub-contractors, successors or assignees thereof shall be fully liable for damages or claimed damages borne by agents, officers, principals, representatives or employers of the Buyer. If administration authorities or judicial authorities identify the equipment as infringing goods, the Seller shall be liable for corresponding torts. Besides, the Seller shall pay back the contract price of the infringing goods, and afford the direct and indirect losses which caused by the delay of production and sales due to the stopping of contract machines and by liabilities of breaching the Buyer’s contract with its buyers on this kind of goods.

Article 15 Force Majeure

The party affected by incidents shall telex the other party as soon as possible after force majeure incidents and airmail certificate documents issued by related departments within 15 workdays after the incidents to the other party. If force majeure incidents last for more than 30 workdays, both parties shall reach an agreement for further performance of the contract in reasonable time or terminate the performance of the contract through friendly negotiation, and all money or goods already paid or delivered shall be returned. Force majeure only includes earthquakes of higher than magnitude 6, wind of higher than magnitude 9, tsunami and the failure to delivery on schedule caused by specific administrative acts performed by the government according to administrative laws and regulations and other normative documents.

Article 16 Arbitration

All disputes in connection with this Contract or the execution thereof shall be settled through friendly negotiations. If no settlement can be reached, the case shall then be submitted to the arbitrary institution in the place where the party proposing arbitration resides in accordance with China laws and legal procedures. The award rendered by arbitrary institution shall be final and binding on both parties. Arbitration expenses comprise expenses paid to arbitrators shall be assumed by the unsuccessful party. The arbitration expenses shall be borne by the losing party, including arbitrators fee.

Article 17 Transfer

Without prior written approval and permission, neither Party under this Contract shall not transfer the contract or any relevant interests.

Article 18 Termination

Any Party shall have the right to terminate the contract unconditionally by issuing written notices

to the other Party in case of following conditions:

a. The other party of the contract is insolvent or bankrupt, compulsive or voluntary;

b. The other party of the contract transfers all or most part of his assets or stops businesses;

c. The other party of the contract is subjected to bankruptcy liquidation, organizational structure change or mergers and acquisitions by other companies (except mergers and acquisitions or integration by parent companies, subsidiary companies or affiliated companies).

Article 19 Notice

Referred to any notice of this Contract from either Party, the notifier shall send it in written form, while the recipient shall conform the notice in written form and send it to the specific address. Article 20 Non-disclosure Agreement

The Recipient shall treat all information provided from the Discloser as Confidential Information to keep secret. For the purpose, the Recipient shall execute the confidentiality contract through any forms or contents accepted by the Discloser.

Article 21 Validity

21.1 The contract shall come into force upon the signature and stamp by the authorized representatives of both parties. The effective date mentions the final signature date of delivery refers to the date when the advance payment is delivered to the seller account.

21.2 During the execution of the contract, all documents (including bidding documents, minutes of meetings, supplemental agreements, correspondences, E-mails and faxes) confirmed through signatures of the Buyer and the Seller become effective components of the contract and have the same legal force with the contract.

篇二:英文合同中不可抗力條款的約定

英文合同中不可抗力條款的約定

一、什麼是不可抗力條款(Force Majeure Clause)

合同一經制定,合約雙方都希望能夠按照合同規定順利履行合同。但是有時因情勢變更,往往會出現一些出乎當事人意料的事情發生,而導致當事人無法履行合同。這種由於當事人所不能控制的事故而導致合同不能履行的,即是不可抗力(Force Majeure),合同中關於這一事項的約定的條款就是不可抗力條款(Force Majeure Clause)[①]。該條款實際上也是一項免責條款。在合同簽訂後,不是由於當事人的過失或疏忽,而是由於發生了當事人所不能預見的、無法避免和無法預防的意外事故,以致不能履行或不能如期履行合同,遭受意外事故的一方可以免除履行合同的責任或可以延期履行合同,另一方無權要求損害賠償。 “Force Majeure”一詞來自於《法國民法典》第1148條,英文譯為:“There is no occasion for damages where, in consequence of force majure or accident the debtor has been prevented from conveying or doing that to which he has obliged or has done what he was debarred from doing.”[②]《牛津法律詞典》是這樣解釋的:“Irresistible

compulsion or coercion. The phrase is used particularly in commercial contracts to describe events possibly affecting the contract and that are completely outside the parties’ control. Such events are normally listed in full to ensure their

enforceability; their may be include *acts of God, fires, failure of suppliers or subcontractors to supply the suppliers under the agreement, and strikes and other labour disputes that interfere with the suppliers’ performance of an agreement. An express clause would normally excuse both delay and a total failure to perform the agreement.”[③]

二、不可抗力條款的基本內容

一般來說,不可抗力條款中應當包括以下幾個方面的內容:

1. 不可抗力發生的原因(種類);

2. 不可抗力發生後通知對方的期限、通知的方法以及應當提交的證明檔案;

3. 不可抗力發生的免責事項及善後處理事項。

(一)不可抗力發生的原因(種類)

對於不可抗力條款,約定的越詳細越好,有些合同,為了省事,往往只是籠統地規定“This contract is subject to force majeure clause”(合同根據不可抗力條款訂定),這是相當粗糙的。因為對於什麼是“不可抗力”,哪些情況屬於不可抗力,不同的人理解是不一樣的,有些情況對於處於不同法律地位的當事人來說,並不認為是不可抗力,所以不可抗力發生後,一旦有糾紛就會無所適從。

並非所有的意外事故都可以視為不可抗力而免除當事人的履行合同的義務,所以對於哪些事故足以構成不可抗力,從而免除當事人履行合同的義務,自然而然地就有必要加以明確的約

定,以免發生紛歧爭執;那麼在不可抗力條款中,應當不厭其煩地一項一項的羅列出來。一般而言,下列事項可以構成不可抗力:

⑴ strikes(罷工);

⑵ lockouts(停工);

⑶ Acts of God, such as floods, lightning, cyclone, hurricane, and other storms(天災如水災、閃電、颶風及風暴);

⑷ threat or existence of war, blockade, embargoes or regulations of any governmental authority(戰爭或者戰爭的威脅、封港、禁運、政府管制);

⑸ other events beyond the control of the parties(其他非人力所能控制的事件); ⑹ plague, pestilence, disease, epidemics(疫情、瘟疫、傳染病);

⑺ civil commotions, governmental interference(騷亂、政府幹涉);

⑻ shortage of raw materials or other supplies(原料短缺);

⑼ fires, explosions, destruction or damage to seller’s plant or machinery(賣方工廠或生產裝置遭受火災、爆炸、破壞或者損壞);

⑽ shortage of transportation or inability to obtain freight space(無運輸工具或者艙位);

⑾ other labor troubles or disturbances(其他工人騷擾);

其中有些事項是要有約定,才可以做為不可抗力,比如⑻--⑾,還有機器停頓故障、財政來源不足、成本上高漲、第三者的不履行導致的;另外如果是國有企業做為合同的一方,還應當注意一些事項,比如政府幹預、無法獲得出口證、進口證書或者其他涉及到政府的事項,因為中國是公有制國家,外方一般不將國有企業無法獲得相當政府檔案作為不可抗力。

(二)不可抗力的通知

“Force Majeure”條文要規定由於發生不可抗力而無法履行合同義務的一方在特定的期限內向對方通知。因為不可抗力事件一旦發生,導致一方當事人無法履行合同時,應當儘快通知對方當事人,如果不及時通知對方,置之不理,導致對方遭受更大損失時,仍然不能完全免除其責任。如這樣約定:

In the event of any such causes arising, the party affected shall give prompt notice to the other party of the cause

因為不可抗力事件的發生,而導致合同不能按約履行時,當事人應當迅速通知對方當事人外,必要時還得向對方提供證明檔案。這些證明檔案通常有以下幾種:

(1)當地商會或者工會出具的證明;

(2)對方國家駐當事人所在地領事館出具的證明;

(3)關於該不可抗力事件新聞報道;

(4)其他有證明力的證明。

如這樣約定:

In the event of any such cause arising, documents proving their occurrence or existence shall be submitted by the party to the other party without delay.

(三)不可抗力發生後的處理

因為不可抗力發生後,導致合同不能順利履行時,是否就即免除當事人的違約責任呢?或者是推遲合同的履行期限呢?能否替代履行呢?這些都與當事人雙方的利益密切相關,所以在簽訂合同時,應當充分考慮,比如在國際貨物買賣中可以做如下的約定:

The contract is automatically cancelled as to any unshipped portion in the event that force majeure clause becomes operative.

這樣規定,如果發生了不可抗力事件,對於未裝船的貨賣方不能也沒有責任再去裝船,同時買方也無權要求賣方承擔損害賠償。在這種條款下,如果賣方還沒有生產、備貨,解除合同,對他就不會有什麼影響,但是如果貨物已經準備好了,只是因一時的不可抗力,就解除合同,就難免要遭受損失。所以有些買賣合同中的不可抗力條款進一步規定:“如果因為意外事件影響,不能按期裝運時,買方同意將裝運期限順延一百天;期滿後,如還是不能裝運時,買方有權解除合同。”當然順延的期限不能漫無限制,否則買方將會處於被動之情境。

一般情況下,為了顧及公平合理,一方面賦予一方當事人合理的延長期限,以便其有履行合同的機會,延長期滿後,另外一方當事人可以解除合同,以免處於久懸未決的狀態。對此,《華沙—牛津規則》有這樣的規定:

The seller shall not be responsible for delay or failure to ship the goods contracted to be sold or any part thereof or to deliver such goods, or any part thereof into the custody of the carrier, as the case may be, arising from force majeure, or from any extraordinary causes, accidents or hindrances of what kind soever or wheresoever or the consequences thereof which it was impossible in the circumstances for the seller to have foreseen or averted. In the event of any of the said causes, accidents or hindrances preventing, hindering or impeding the production, the manufacture, the delivery to the seller, or the shipment of the goods contracted to be sold or any part thereof or the chartering of any vessel or part of vessel, notice thereof shall be given to the buyer by the seller, and on such notice being given the time

for shipment or delivery into the custody of the carrier, as the case may be, shall be extended until the operation of the cause, accident or hindrance preventing, hindering or impeding the production, the manufacture, the delivery to the seller or the shipment of the said goods or any part thereof or the chartering of any vessel or part of vessel has ceased. But if any of these causes, accidents or hindrances continues for more than fourteen days from the time or from the expiration of the period if any, specified in the contract of sale for the shipment of the goods or their delivery into the custody of the carrier, as the case may be, or if no such time or period has been specified in the contract then from the expiration of the reasonable time contemplated in Rule 3, the whole contract of sale or such part thereof as shall remain to be fulfilled by the seller may, at the option of either party, be determined, such option shall be exercised and notice to that effect shall be given by either party to the other party at any time during the seven days next succeeding the period of fourteen days hereinbefore mentioned but not thereafter. And on such notice being given neither party shall have any claim against the other party in respect of such determination.

(由於不可抗力、任何特殊原因、事故,或者由於不論何種或何處發生的阻礙,或由此而產生的結果,為當時賣方所不能預見或避免,以致賣方延遲或未能裝運全部或部分訂售貨物或者延遲或未能將全部或部分訂售貨物,交給承運人保管,賣方對此將不負責任。

如果上述原因、事故或障礙,阻止、妨礙或耽誤了全部或部分訂售貨物的生產、製造、交給賣方或裝船,或者全部或部分船隻的租賃,賣方應將有關情況通知買方,此項通知一經發出,裝船時間或交給承運人保管的時間應展延到上述原因、事故或障礙解除時為止。但是上述那些原因、事故或障礙,如延續超過買賣合同規定的裝船或交給承運人保管的日期或截止期限十四天(如果合同沒有規定此項裝船或交給承運人保管的日期或截止期限,則按第三條規定預計合理的期限截止時計算),全部或部分合同是否仍由賣方履行,可由買賣當事人的任何一方選擇決定,對此,任何一方都可在上述十四天後的七天內進行抉擇並通知對方。此項通知發出後,任何一方將無權由於此項抉擇而對另一方提出索賠要求。)

三、不可抗力條款的例項

1. THE ICC MODEL INTERNATIONAL SALE CONTRACT (Manufactured Goods Intended for Resale)(國際商會《國際貨物銷售合同範本》(僅用於旨在轉售的製成品)) 第13款:

Art.13 Force majeure

13.1 A party is not liable for a failure to perform any of his obligations in SO far as he proves.

(a)that the failure was due to an impediment beyond his control.and

(b)that he could not reasonable be expected to have taken the impediment and its effects upon his ability to perform into account at the time of the conclusion of the contract,and

(c) that he could not reasonably have avoided or overcome it or its effects.13.2 A party seeking relief shall.as soon as practicable after the impediment and its effects upon his ability to perform become known to him,give notice to the other party of such impediment and its effects on his ability to perform.Notice shall also be given when the ground of relief ceases.

Failure to give either notice makes the party thus fmling liable in damages for loss which otherwise could have been avoided.

13.3 Without prejudice to article 10.2.a ground of relief under this clause relieves the party failing to perform from liability in damages,from penalties and other contractual sanctions,form the duty to pay interest on money owing as long aS and to the extent that the ground subsists.

13.4 If the grounds of relief subsist for more than six months.either party shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice.

(第13條 不可抗力

13.1一方當事人對其未履行義務可不負責任,如果他能證明:

(a)不能履行義務是由非他所能控制的障礙所致,及

(b)在訂立合同時,不能合理預見到他已把這一障礙及其對他履約的能力產生影響考慮在內,以及

(C)他不能合理地避免或克服該障礙或其影響。

13.2請求免責的一方當事人,在他知道了此項障礙及其對他履約能力的影響之後,應以實際可能的速度儘快通知另一方當事人此項障礙及其對他履約能力的影響。當免責的原因消除時也應發出通知。

如果未能發出任一通知,則該當事人應承擔其原可避免的損失賠償責任。

13.3在不影響第10.2條效力的前提下,本款下的免責理由,只要且僅在此限度內該免責事由繼續存在,可使未履約方得以免除損害賠償之責任,免除處罰及其他約定的罰金,免除所欠款項利息支付之責任。

13.4若免責的`原因持續存在6個月以上,任何一方均有權不經過通知對方即可終止合同。)

篇三:中英商務合同翻譯中的障礙分析及策略,作者:施僑

中英商務合同翻譯中的障礙分析及應對策

【摘要】隨著中外經貿合作關係日益加強,商務活動也趨於白熱化,而商務合同作為開展商務活動的依據與準則,其文字扮演著尤為重要的角色,這就對商務合同翻譯提出了極高的要求。本文從中英文商務合同的基本特徵出發,從語言、文化、商務背景等三個方面分析了中英商務合同翻譯中可能存在的障礙,並探討了相應的處理方法。

【關鍵詞】商務合同,基本特徵, 翻譯障礙,應對策略

0 引言

商務合同的根本目的在於從法律意義上建立合同語言的權威,從而保障合同參與方的權利與利益,商務合同翻譯因而具有非同尋常的意義,其質量評價標準也是極其嚴格,要求……(補充商務合同翻譯的質量標準)。本文從英漢商務合同基本特徵的異同出發,嘗試分析英漢商務合同翻譯中可能存在的障礙,並提出相應的對策。

1 中英商務合同基本特徵比較

1.1 中英商務合同的共同特徵

(補充一兩句話過渡。)

1.1.1 法律效力

合同是平等主題自然人、法人和其他組織所實施的一種民事法律行為,以設立、變更或終止民事權利義務關係為目的和宗旨。因而,無論語言背景如何不同,合同均具有法律效力,中英文商務合同亦不例外。

1.1.2 文體風格

從文體風格來看,中英商務合同的語言均具有正式、嚴密、規範等特徵,體現在措詞上,兩者均選用最經濟、最有效的文字。此外,兩類合同均傾向於選用“大詞”,即不帶有個人感情色彩的正式詞語。如“乙方因施工質量的原因導致業主退房、補償等全部責任、費用及甲方的損失均由乙方承擔。”這裡表示原因的詞用“因”而不用“因為”,則是因為“因為”一詞稍顯口語化;又如:The sellers shall not be held responsible for the delay in shipment or non-delivery of the goods due to Force Majeure, which might occur during the process of manufacturing or in the course of adding or transit.這裡“因為”一詞用due to,而不用owing to或because of,是因為because of口語化較重,而owing to則含感情色彩。

1.1.3 術語運用

(補充一兩句話簡要介紹為何使用術語)中英文商務合同均常使用專業術語。如不可抗力(force majeure)、裝箱單(packing list)、保險範圍(insurance coverage)、保單(insurance policy)、通貨膨脹(inflation)、偷稅人(tax dodger)、複利(compound interest)等。合同還常使用法律術語,如違約(breach)、重大過失(gross negligence)、故意行為(willful conduct)等。

1.1.4 情態動詞運用

為彰顯商務合同的效力,合同文字中常出現情態動詞。如應當(shall),可(could)等。(補充說明為何使用情態動詞。)

1.1.5模糊詞運用

(補充說明什麼是模糊詞以及合同中為何使用模糊詞)中英商務合同中都使用模糊詞從側面體現了商務合同的適應性,如漢語裡的“材料優質”、“環境惡劣”等英語裡的within reasonable a time(在合理的時間內),serious dereliction(嚴重失職)等詞。

1.2 中英商務合同的不同特徵

(補充一兩句話過渡。)

1.2.1 同義詞連用

英語商務合同裡常用同義詞連用,而漢語商務合同則是同詞性詞的並列使

用。(補充原因)如英語中的by and between、null and void、made and enter into等,漢語中的“乙方因施工質量的原因導致業主退房、補償等全部責任,費用及甲方的損失均由乙方承擔”,“ 甲方歇業、停業、瀕臨破產處於法定整頓期間或者生產經營狀況發生嚴重困難的”。(補充簡要分析。)

1.2.2 古文風格

英語商務合同中運用古文如force majeure(不可抗力)、insurance premium per capita(人均保險費)、ad valorem duty(從價關稅)等,而漢語合同中則沒有。(補充原因,簡要分析。)

1.2.3縮略語運用

英語合同裡使用縮略語如CIF(cost, insurance &freight), FOB(free on board),M/T(metric ton),L/C(letter of credit),B/L(bill of lading)等,漢語合同裡則不常見。(補充原因,簡要分析。)

1.2.4複雜句型

在英語合同裡,常使用複雜的長句,如Distributor shall exert his best efforts with diligence in advertising and promoting throughout Territory in an effective manner on his own account and Supplier shall provide Distributor free of charge with a reasonable quantity of advertising or sales promotion material such as advertising literature, catalogues, leaflets and other material, which Supplier deems useful to Distributor in his activities under this Agreement.長句裡一般都含有各種語法成分,限定成分、分詞、分句、名詞化等語法現象較多,邏輯嚴密。而漢語合同語言則短句使用較多,清晰明瞭,比如“雙方在簽訂本合同前,應認真閱讀本合同書。本合同一經簽訂,即具有法律效力,雙方必須嚴格履行”。(補充原因,簡要分析。)

1.2.5被動語態運用

英語商務合同語言常使用被動語態,而漢語合同則常使用主動語態,如The L/C has been opened in your favor. 信用證已開到你放名下。(補充原因,簡要分析。)

2 中英商務合同翻譯中的障礙分析

2.1 商務背景下的障礙分析

商務合同規定屬於法律行為,合同屬於法律文字,法律語言並不具有獨立的語法體系,而是採用程式化的語篇結構,即有一套特定的法律語言體系。商務合同涉及的內容並不僅僅是英漢文字翻譯,還涉及到金融、國貿、會計、保險、稅收、運輸、包裝等等專業知識,以及相關的專業術語與固定搭配。缺乏對專業術語的理解會造成辭不達意,因而是合同翻譯的障礙之一。

就法律術語而言,方流芳的“飲水思源”的觀點認為(標註引用),外來語是中國法學的主要常用術語,他從法律語言的發展歷史及演變規律論證了這一觀點。在商務合同涉及的其他領域的專業術語,或多或少也有外來語的因素,外來語對語言的影響也直接增加了翻譯的困難度。

除了已有的外來語,隨著社會的發展和新新事物的不斷湧現,合同中也出現了一些原本沒有的新詞,也會增加翻譯的負擔。比如網購裡常用的詞語“秒殺”翻譯成英語是“seckill”,是“second”和“kill”的組合;“刷信譽”譯為“refresh credit”;“包郵”譯為“free delivery”或者“post for free”,等等。

2.2 文化背景下的障礙分析

文化差異在商務合同翻譯中的影響主要表現在商品名的翻譯。一個好的商品再加上好的品牌名,那麼它的銷售前景無疑一片光明。歷史上品牌名翻譯經典之一coca cola(可口可樂),其直接影響是商品存活了一百多年延續至今,盛行全世界。再比如汽車品牌“東風”翻譯成“zephyr”,東風在我國火燒赤壁典故中是成功的關鍵,而zephyr在希臘神話裡則是春天喚醒大自然的西風,帶有希望之意。這就使其能夠被廣為接受,東風汽車也成功地在國際市場立足。相反,如果商品名的翻譯讓外國人感覺不到其內涵所在,那麼即便商品質量再好,在國際市場上也不會有所發展。像中國的運動品牌李寧,翻譯成英文是NINING,在國外無法發展,原因就在於它與lying(撒謊)音似。一個品牌名如果沒有威信,就沒有消費者願意購買。在翻譯商品名時,我們的一大障礙就在於是否考慮到譯文在目的語所具有的文化內涵。

另外,在商務合同翻譯過程中,文化差異也對翻譯目的語的語言表達有影響。在漢語裡,合同語言通常是簡練的,以短句為主,如“乙方解除本合同,應當提前三十日以書面形式通知甲方。但屬下列情形之一的,乙方可以隨時解除本合同”。如果直譯為英文,就會造成短句偏多或者重複囉嗦,表達出來的英語就不夠地道,因為英文合同語言表達習慣是使用長句以避免重複。同理,英譯漢的時候也要考慮將英語長句譯為有效的中式短句。

2.3 語言背景下的障礙分析

語言方面的障礙主要從三個方面來分析:語言習得、語言表達能力和雙語水平。

我們已經有了語言學習天賦,也學習了英語的基本語法,在學習商務合同翻譯的時候相比較母語習得,第二語言受社會交往因素的影響就不是很深刻了。如果社交因素匱乏,得不到強有力的補充,而母語的語言習慣和思維方式又強於第二語言,那麼在商務合同翻譯的時候母語的思維模式在一定程度上必定製約著二語習得,從而造成商務合同翻譯障礙。

語言表達能力欠佳是合同翻譯的另外一個障礙。胡德良、孫紅豔的研究表明,(插入標註)雖然寫作與翻譯的過程和目的不同,但是兩者均以閱讀為基礎,是語言組織能力、表達能力、行文能力的體現,是人在通過大腦思維加工的產品。寫作與翻譯相輔相成,善於寫作的人表達能力相對嚴密,有利於譯文的流暢性。寫作能力欠佳也是英漢商務合同翻譯中的障礙。

張薇的合作型對話中學習者語言水平與二語學習相關性研究表明,英語水平不同的英語學習者在二語寫作時運用母語思考的程度不同,這是因為它們大腦裡的語言片段的多少不一。如果說英語水平越高,那麼在翻譯的過程中,漢譯英的時候,頭腦裡的語言片段越多,漢語思維對英語行文的束縛就越弱,英譯漢的時候遇到生詞或複雜的句子而無法翻譯的機率就越小,翻譯就越順暢。所以在某種程度上講,雙語水平不高也是翻譯中的障礙。

3 中英商務合同翻譯障礙的應對策略

3.1 小標題