[论文摘要] 古英语词(archaic word)在现代英语中虽已不再广泛运用,且正在逐渐消亡,但在法学英语、合同英语中却仍较常见,如副词here, there, where加上一个或几个介词构成的副词,这类古词语的应用可使合同简练、严密、庄重,且具有很强的文体效果,但同时也为初次接触英语合同者带来了极大困难,本文将对这些词进行说明,以使初学者初步了解对外经贸合同的英语用词特点。
随着我国改革开放的进一步深化,经济领域的国际交往日趋频繁,经济合作更加密切,国际间的经济活动,如贸易、金融、投资、经济合作等都离不开合同。但我们也发现,在经贸活动中出现了不少涉外经济纠纷,这些纠纷发生的频率越来越高,其中不少纠纷在很大程度上是由合同文字引起的,要避免这些纠纷的发生,首先就需要读懂合同原文。合同文件枯燥、乏味,句子长、术语多,另外一个难点是这些英文合同中包含大量的旧体词,这些旧体词在现代英语中已很少使用,但在合同文本中却很常见,主要是为了避免重复、避免误解、避免歧义,使行文准确、简洁,这些词各有各的含义,但由于篇幅所限,笔者只选择其中几个进行详细说明,以使初学者初步了解对外经贸合同的英语用词特点。 一、以here开头的词 1.hereby 该词意为by means of , by reason of this, by this agreement,“特此”,“因此”,“兹”,“在此”。此词常用作法学、经贸文件、合同、协议书等正式文件的开头语,在合同条款中需特别强调时也可用,表示当事人借此合约,要宣示某种具有法学效力的“意思表示”,如保证、同意、放弃权利等,一般放于主语后,紧邻主语。如:The Company hereby covenants and warrants that…… 意为:By this agreement the Company covenants and warrants that……即:企业在此保证……再如:Both parties hereby agree that……意为:By this agreement both parties agree that……即:双方当事人在此同意…… 2.hereof 该词意为:of this agreement,“对于此点”;“在本文件中”,表示上文已提及的“本合同的、本文件的……”,一般置于要修饰的名词的后面,与之紧邻。如:to take effect on the date hereof 意为:to take effect on the date of this agreement 即:于本合约之日期生效。再如:the headings of the sections hereof 意为:the headings of the sections of this agreement 即:本合约各条款之标题。 3.hereto 该词意为:to this agreement,“至此”,“在此”,表示上文已提及的“本合同的……本文件的……”,一般置于要修饰的名词的后面,与之紧邻。如:both parties hereto 意为both parties to this agreement,即本合约之当事人双方;items specified in Attachment I and hereto 意为:items specified in Attachment I to this agreement 即:本合约之附件I所列之各项。 4.herein 该词意为:in this agreement,“此中”,“于此”,表示上文已提及的“本合同(中)的……,本法(中)的……”等,一般置于所修饰词后,紧邻所修饰词。如:to file a suit in the court agreed to herein 意为:to file a suit in the court agreed to in this agreement 即:向当事人于本合约中同意管辖的法院提起诉讼;再如:to follow the terms and conditions herein 意为:to follow the terms and conditions in this agreement,即:遵守本合约所规定的条件。 5.hereinafter 该词意为:later in the same Contract,“以下”,“在下文”,一般与to be referred to as, referred to as, called 等词组连用,以避免重复。 6.hereunder 该词意为:under this agreement,“在本合约内”、“依据本合约”。如:obligations hereunder,意为obligations under this agreement,即“本合约内的义务”。再如:rights granted hereunder,意为rights granted under this agreement,即“依本合约所赋予的权利”。 二、以there开头的词 1.thereof 以”there”为前缀加上介词构成的词,如thereafter, thereby, therein, thereinafter, thereinbefore, thereon, thereof, thereunder, thereupon, therewith等,在文中具体指什么,需要读者依照合同的上下文来判断,英语毕业论文,因而理解起来比较复杂,请看下例: This Agreement is written in the English language. In case of any discrepancy between the English version and any translation thereof, the English text shall govern. 句中”the English version and any translation thereof”从上下文判断意为 “the English version and any translation of the English version”,即thereof一词代替of the English version。与以here开头的词如hereof的理解措施类似。 2.therein 该词意为in that, in that particular context, in that respect,“在那里”,“在那点上”,“在那方面”,表示上文已提及的“合同中的”“工程中的”。如:the contract or any part thereof意为the contract or any part of the contract,英语论文范文,合同或合同的任何部分。 3.thereto 该词意为:to that,“随附”,“附之”,如:“Contract Products” means the products specified in Appendix 2 to this Contract, together with all improvements and modifications thereof or developments with respect thereto. 句中or developments with respect thereto 意为:or developments with respect to the developments。 4.thereunder 该词意为:under that, “在其下”,“依照”,如:The Borrower fails to pay any amount payable thereunder as and when such amount shall become payable. 句中an |