簡(jiǎn)單長(zhǎng)句及其翻譯
在翻譯英文商務(wù)合同中的簡(jiǎn)單長(zhǎng)句時(shí),首先要正確理解各種相關(guān)成分的邏輯關(guān)系;然后再適當(dāng)切分,理出句子的主干成分,翻譯時(shí)以句子的主干為主導(dǎo);最后再按漢語表達(dá)習(xí)慣,變動(dòng)語序,重新組合。這樣才能連貫、準(zhǔn)確、清晰地予以表達(dá)。下面舉三個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單長(zhǎng)句翻譯的例子來說明:
1.The Buyers may,within 15 days after arrival of the goods at the destination,lodge a claim against the sellers for short-weight being supported by Inspection Certificate issued by a reputable public surveyor.
這是一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單長(zhǎng)句,其主干為The Buyers may…lodge a claim…。
修飾謂語動(dòng)詞的狀語有三個(gè),
a. 分別表示時(shí)間within 15 days after arrival of the goods at the destination
b. 方式being supported by Inspection Certificate issued by a reputable public surveyor和
c. 目的for short-weight
而且狀語中還有狀語,作定語的分詞issued還有自己的狀語by a reputable public surveyor。
眾多狀語,盡管在英語中的位置十分靈活,然而按照漢語的行文規(guī)范,方式狀語一般應(yīng)位于動(dòng)詞之前;而有些狀語在譯文中可以靈活處理,例如本句中的時(shí)間狀語,可以提前至句首。因此,上句可譯成:貨物抵達(dá)目的港15天內(nèi),買方可以憑有信譽(yù)的公共檢驗(yàn)員出示的檢驗(yàn)證明向賣方提出短重索賠。
2. Within 30 days after the signing and coming into effect of this contract,the Buyer shall proceed to pay the price for the goods to the Seller by opening an irrevocable L/C for the full amount of USD30,000 in favor of the Seller through a bank at export port.
此句的主干為…the Buyer shall proceed to pay the price…to the Seller,其中含有一個(gè)時(shí)間狀語within 30 days after the signing and coming into effect of this contract。
從語用的角度來看,商務(wù)合同中許多時(shí)間狀語表示的是某一締約方必須在何時(shí)何地承擔(dān)某一義務(wù)和享有某一種權(quán)利,即時(shí)效性。因此整個(gè)句子的重心不是句子的動(dòng)詞,而是發(fā)生動(dòng)作的時(shí)間。
在譯成中文時(shí),為了突出行為的時(shí)效性,時(shí)間狀語應(yīng)盡量靠近表示義務(wù)責(zé)任的關(guān)鍵詞“須”。此句中還含有一個(gè)較為復(fù)雜的方式狀語by opening an irrevocable L/C…,其中含有三個(gè)介詞短語作定語修飾an irrevocable L/C。按照漢語的行文規(guī)范,方式狀語一般應(yīng)位于動(dòng)詞之前。
此外,若動(dòng)詞同時(shí)帶有時(shí)間狀語和方式狀語時(shí),英文的通常順序是方式在前,時(shí)間在后,而漢語卻正好與之相反,為方式在后,時(shí)間在前。因此本句可譯成:
買方須于本合同簽字并生效后30天內(nèi)通過出口地銀行開立以賣方為收益人的不可撤銷信用證支付全部貨款計(jì)30 000美元。
3. The Equipment and Material shall be carefully and properly packed in the best and stable condition according to the figures and characteristics of the Equipment and Material so as to withstand long-distance sea and inland transportation and numerous handlings.
此句的句子結(jié)構(gòu)并不復(fù)雜但包含一個(gè)較為復(fù)雜的方式狀語。從語用特征的角度來看,方式狀語通常都是規(guī)定性的,其作用是規(guī)定合約方履行某項(xiàng)義務(wù)必須采取的方式或手段,在合同的語言環(huán)境下,即使有關(guān)締約方履行了合同規(guī)定的義務(wù),但若其履行義務(wù)的方式與合同規(guī)定的方式不符,乃構(gòu)成違約。因此,方式狀語的作用通常都是比較重要的。本句可譯成:
設(shè)備和原料須根據(jù)其形狀和特點(diǎn)以完善而牢固的方式精心妥當(dāng)?shù)匕b,包裝須適合于長(zhǎng)途海、陸運(yùn)輸,能經(jīng)受多次裝卸。
并列長(zhǎng)句及其翻譯
由于撰寫合同時(shí)不能遺漏任何可能情況,所以英文商務(wù)合同中往往有大量并列成分。這些并列成分包括并列的詞、短語以及從句。從語用角度看,并列的平行結(jié)構(gòu)使合同的句式平衡,表意完整。在翻譯由兩個(gè)或兩個(gè)以上的并列單句構(gòu)成的復(fù)雜長(zhǎng)句時(shí)可以采用分句譯法。并列長(zhǎng)句的分句之間的語義關(guān)系比較松散,因此翻譯時(shí)可以斷開,分解成單句獨(dú)立存在。例如:
The Buyer shall have the right to claim against the Seller for compensation of losses within 60 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination,should the quality of the goods be found not in conformity with the specifications stipulated in the Contract after re-inspection by the China Commodity Inspection Bureau and the Buyer shall have the right to claim against the Sellers for compensation of short-weight within 60 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination,should the weight be found not in conformity with that stipulated in the Bill of Lading after re-inspection by the CCIB.
此句由兩個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)相同的并列分句組成,均為主句在前,條件狀語在后,在兩個(gè)條件狀語中均含有時(shí)間狀語,此外,兩個(gè)并列分句中也都含有時(shí)間狀語,均為within 60 days after arrival of the goods at the port of destination,譯成中文時(shí),條件狀語應(yīng)分別置于主句之前,而所有的時(shí)間狀語均放在各自修飾的動(dòng)詞的前面。同時(shí),為了符合漢語句式較短的特點(diǎn),可以將兩個(gè)并列分句斷開,分解成兩個(gè)單句,即譯成:
若貨物經(jīng)中國(guó)商品檢驗(yàn)局復(fù)檢后發(fā)現(xiàn)質(zhì)量與本合同之規(guī)定不符,買方有權(quán)于貨物抵達(dá)目的港后的60天內(nèi)向賣方提出索賠。若經(jīng)中國(guó)商品檢驗(yàn)局復(fù)檢發(fā)現(xiàn)貨物質(zhì)量與提單所示重量不符,買方有權(quán)于貨物抵達(dá)目的港后的60天內(nèi)向賣方提出短重索賠。