1.The terms and conditions contained herein, including the Appendices hereto, shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto …
“本合同包含的条款和条件,包括合同附件,构成合同双方的完整协议。”这句话里的 herein 和 hereto 都是常用于协议和合同等文书的词语。
contained herein 就是 contained in this contract, 即“本合同所包含的”的意思。
between the parties hereto 就是 between the parties to this contract,即“本合同双方”的意思。在实际翻译时,herein 和 hereto 之类的词不直接照字面译成“于此”和“对于这个”,而是根据它们在句中的使用情况作相应处理。如:
Enclosed herein you will find my resume. 内附本人建立一份。
The terms of the fellowship herein contained shall be faithfully honored by the grantee. 本协议所包含的奖学金条款,奖学金获得者应忠实履行。
2.Amendments to this Contract may be made only by a written instrumtent signed by a duly authorized representative of each of the parties …
“对本合同的修改,只能通过各方正式授权的代表签署协议进行。”英语中,“对……作修正”的意思常用 make an amendment to something 来表示,如:
Some Congressmen are trying to make an dmnendment to the foreign aid bill. 一些国会议员正设法对援外法案制定一项修正条款。
3.The headings to the articles hereof are for ease of reference only, and in no event shall the substance of any paragraph or the intent of the parties be interpreted or controled by such headings.
“本合同条款标题仅为参考方便之用,不得用于解释或控制任何段落的
实质内容或双方的意向。”
hereof与注解1提到的 herein 和 hereto 一样,也是合同协议正式文件中常用的词,意思为 of this contract,即“本合同的”。因此,the headings to the articles hereof 可译成“本合同条款标题”。
in no event 等于 not in any event,但语气上比后者强,而且用in no event 时,大多为倒装句。试比较:
I shall nof in any event tell him the secret. 我无论如何不会把这个秘密告诉他。
In no event shall I tell him the secret. 我决不会把这个秘密告诉他。
4.Either party may terminate this Contract if the other party fails to fulfill or perform any of its obligations hereunder in the event fhat such failure remains unremedied sixty (60) days after the service of a written notice by the party to the defaulting party specifying the failure in question and requiring it to be remedied.
“如果一方未能完成或履行其在本合同项下的任何义务,而且在另一方向该方送达书面通知,指出该方违约行为并要求该方予以改正后六十(60)天该方仍未予以改正,另一方则可以终止本合同。”
这句话的结构比较复杂,有几个关键地方须搞清。首先是 hereunder,意思为 under this contract,可译成“(合同)项下的”。所以,fails to fulfill or perform any ofits obligations hereunder 可译成“未能完成或履行其在本合同项下的任何义务”。
其次,in the event that 为一固定词语,是“假如,倘若”的意思。如:
I shall go there by myself in the event that your parents do not allow you to gowith me.
假如你父母不让你和我一起去的话,我将自己一个人去。
最后,这句话里的 service 是“(传票、命令等的)送达”之意,而 the failure in question 原是“谈论到的那个违约问题”的意思,这里为语言简洁起见,把它译作“违约行为”。
5.This Contract is execued in Chinese in two (2) counterparts …
“本合同用中文签署,一式两(2)份。”
这里的 execute 是法律文件的专门术语,指履行必要手续,如签名、盖章等使契约、合同或协议生效。executed in Chinese 是“用中文签署”的意思。
counterpart 这里不是“对应物”、“对手方”的意思,而是指契约、合同等文
释或控制任何
本的副本、复本。in two counterparts 是“一式两份”的意思。
6.…failure or delay on the part of any party to exercise any right, power or privilege under this Contract shall not operate as a waiver thereof …
“……任何一方未能或延迟行使合同规定的任何权利、权力或特权,不得视作该方放弃该权利、权力或特权……”
英语中on the part of somebody(或 on somebody's part)是“就某人而言”、“在某人一方”或“某人所做的”、“某人有责任的”的意思。所以,on the part of any party 在这里译作“任何一方”。这一短语的类似用法如:
There are still some doubts on the part of the management. 资方仍心存怀疑。
I consider this a gross oversight on your part. 我认为这是你的严重疏忽。
… shall not operate as a waiver thereof中的 operate 是“起作用”和“产生效果”的意思。(thereof与 here + prep.相似,there 也可以和某些介词一起构成复合词,如thereto,therefrom 和 therewith 等。)
7.Notices required or permitted under this Contract shall be effective if in writing, written in English, sent by registered airmail, or by telex or facsimile confirmed by a registered airmail letter, return receipt requested, addressed as follows …
“本合同所要求或允许的通知,应是用英文写就的书面通知,用航空挂号信寄出,或用电传或传真发出,随之以航空挂号信确认,并随附回执,寄至下列地址方能生效。”
这句话较长,也比较复杂。
notices required or permitted under this Contract 等于 notices that are required or permitted under this contract。
if in writing 中的 in writing 是“以书面形式”的意思, if 后面省略了主语和谓语, 即
they ( notices) are。
confirmed by a registered airmail letter 这一过去分词短语修饰 telex 和facsimile。
return receipt requested 是带主语的-ed 分词分,相当于 return receipt is requested。