合同法律文件翻译谈

---谈《中华人民共和国合同法》的部分译文

摘 要：随着我国加入世贸组织，对法律文件翻译的研究，比如经济法规、合同文件的翻译研究，将成为我们翻译工作者的一个重要课题。
本文在总结以往的经验基础上，探讨了翻译法律文件，应注意的语言特点。本文还对合同法中译英的不同译法作了较详细的解评，提出了
法律文件中译英的一些实用的翻译技巧。

关键词：法律文件；专业词汇；句子结构

Talk on Translation of Legal Documents and Contract Documents ----

Commenting on Parts of English Version of the translation of the Contract Law of People’s Republic of China

Fu Weiliang

(English Department, Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute, Beijing 100024)

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;

改革开放的深化，世贸组织的加入，中国在国际经济活动中越来越活跃，生意越做越大，交往愈加频繁，国际间的一切经济活动都离不开互相
依赖、互相制约的合同，都离不开法律条文的监管。因此翻译合同等法律文件已成为当前研究的一门课题，笔者在这方面的研究已逾十多年，
想就法律文件的翻译谈些心得。

一． 翻译合同法的用词特点

合同法的语言，自成体系，具有自己个性与特点，语言要求准确、正规、鲜明，有自身一套用词路数及专业用语，使行文简洁明确。

1．以here, where作前缀与另一个词构成一个正式法律词汇中的专业副词术语如：hereafter, hereby, herein, hereinafter, hereinbefore,
 hereof, hereto, hereunder, hereupon, herewith, thereafter, thereby, therefrom, therein, thereinafter, thereinbefore,
thereon, thereof, thereupon, therewith;

whereas, whereby, wherein, whereon, etc.

在法律文件中用这些词、可以避免重复，使行文准确、简洁、不会产生歧义，从而维护了法律的权威性，因些 在把中文的合同法条款译成英文
时，要学会运用这些词，使译文具有法律文件的水平。下面从《中华人民共和国合同法》，以下简称《合同法》，的译文中举出一些具体的
实例（译文①与译文②进行对照评解）来说明如何在译文中使用这些词（注：译文②为笔者所译）。

第五条 当事人应当遵循公平原则确定各方的权利和义务。

译文①：Parties shall adhere to the principle of fairness in designating each party’s rights and obligations.

评：

★ 法律条文中很少有party’s这种所有格形式来表示。

★ each party所指是谁而且条文一开始的parties 也不明确。

可改为：

译文②：The parties to the contract shall comply with the principle of fairness in defining the rights and obligations of
the parties thereto.

评：

★ 译文中的thereto限制了parties，指的是the parties to the contract, 也就是用一个thereto代替了文中的3个“to the contract,”
使行文简洁、明了、准确。

★ 译文②中的用词defining 比译文①中的designating确切。Define = to determine or identify the essential qualities; to fix or
mark the limits ofsth; to make distinct; clear or detailed 之意，designate:to point out the location, to indicate and set
apart for a specific purpose. 不如define在表达“确定”的内在含义上更贴切。

第六条 当事人行使权利、履行义务应当遵循诚实信用的原则。

译文①: Parties shall adhere to the principle of honesty and trust worthiness in exercising their rights and performing
their obligations.

评：

★译文中两次用their，这种情况在法律语言中是极少的，法律语言中避免用不确定的代词。所以应该删去their, 以thereof来限定为合同规定
的权利和义务。修改见译文②。

译文②：The parties to the contract shall, in accordance with the principle of good faith, execute the rights and perform the
 obligations thereof.

评：

★thereof 代替of the contract，使意思表达明确。又如，要表达前文提及过的合同的“合同条件、条款”时，可以译为“the terms,
conditions and provisions thereof” 。

第61条 合同生效后，当事人就质量、价款或者报酬、履行地点等内容没有约定或者约定不明确的，可以协议补充；…….

译文①：After a contract goes into effect, the parties may reach a supplementary agreement on items that have not been
included or are not explicitly stipulated in the contract, such as quality, price or remuneration, place for performance
and other matters;…….

评：

★ a supplementary agreement：意思不明…….that have not been included虽是限制性定语从句，仍末说明包含在什么之中？

★ Such as 又显得无处着落，句子结构不严密。英文的含义与原文出入很大。

译文②: If, after the contract made by and between the parties becomes effective, there is no agreement therein on the
terms and provisions regarding quality, price or remuneration and place of performance, etc. or such agreement is unclear,
the parties may, through consultation, agree upon supplementary terms and provisions;

评：

★ 译文②把中文条款进行“语内译”， 会发现中文条款暗含个条件句，即，如果…..可以……所以用if条件比用译文①中的that定语从句要