对于已经工作了沪友来说,工作中多多少少会接触到一些英文法律文本,这其中最多的就是合同。就像英音和美音的最大区别就在于那个"r"音,英文合同文本和日常的书面表达最明显的区别也许就是那个频繁出现的"shall"吧。

除此之外,herein, therein, wherein……这些你最"熟悉的陌生人"一定也让你看到合同就烦躁。为此,本期将和大家分享这些英文合同里出现频率极高的"古体词"。希望能帮助各位沪友在之后能更顺利阅读英文法律文本。

一个问题:为何在法律文本中要用这些日常生活中几乎不用的"古体词"?原因其实也很简单:更正式!想想中文里"兹证明","特此"之类的字眼就能想体会了。

先看看几个例句:

This contract is made this 19th of February,2014 by WFX Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Sellers")who agree to sell and HK Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Buyers"), who agree to buy the following goods on the terms and conditions as below.

本合同由WFX公司(以下简称"卖方")与HJ公司(以下简称"买方")于2014年2月19日订立,双方同意按下述条件买卖下列货物。

The deposit paid by the Buyers shall not be refunded if the Buyers fail to make full payment within the time herein specified and the Buyers shall be liable for all losses incurred therefrom to the Sellers.

如果买方在规定的时间内未付清货款,买方的保证金将不予退还,而且买方应承担卖方由此引起的一切损失。

在翻译古体词的时候,应根据本意及上下文灵活掌握释义。例如在此例中, herein可以不必译出。或采用汉语的文言词例如"兹"、"之"、"鉴于"、"特"等进行翻译。

IN WITNESSTH WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Contract by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

兹特由双方授权的代表,于上述首开日期和签署本合同为据。

此例中的"IN WITNESSTH WHEREOF"意思是"作为协议事项的证据",是格式化的合同语言,类似采用大写形式的还有:IN CONSIDERATION OF(考虑到,以为约因)、WHEREAS (鉴于)、IN THE PRESENCE OF (见证人)、NOWTHEREFORE(特此、兹特)、NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS(兹特立约为据)。

当然,类似这样运用大量"古体词"的句子在任何一本英文合同里都可以找出上百句来。于是我们整理了这么一张表格,如果全都能理解透,相信各位沪友一定能在之后对法律英语有进一步的了解,至少能更顺利阅读法律文本。

hereafter after this in sequence or in time, in some future time or state(此后,以后)
hereby by this means(以此方式,以此,特此)
herefrom from this fact or statement(由此,从此)
herein in this document(此中,于此,在此文件中)
hereinabove at a prior point in this writing or document(前文)
hereinafter in the following part of this writing or document(在下文)
hereinbefore in the preceding part of this writing or document(在上文)
hereof of this(就此,关于此)
hereto to this writing or document(对此,至此)
hereunder under or in accordance with this writing or document(在下面,在下文)
herewith with this communication;enclosed in this(同此,以此)
thereafter after that(此后,后来)
thereby by that means(按此)
therefrom from that(从此,从那里)
therein in or into that place,time,or thing(在那里,在其中)
thereinafter in the following part of that matter (as writing, document, or speech)(在下文)
thereof of that(在其中)
thereto to that(此外,在其上)
thereunder under that part of a contract(在其下,按规定条款)
therewith with that(与此)
whereby by which(按,靠那个)
wherein in which(在那方面)
whereof of which(关于那个)
whereon on what(因此,在什么上面)
whereto to what place, purpose or end(何以,向何处,为什么)
whereundcr under what(在其下,在那下面)