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1、精选优质文档-倾情为你奉上商务英语合同的文体特征摘要-商务合同英语是法律英语的一个分支。本文意在讨论商务合同英语的文体特征。首先，介绍合同文体和合同的文体特征。然后从词法和句法的角度分析商务合同英语的特有的文体特征。当今对于各种题材的英文研究层出不穷，商务英语合同作为法律英语的分支，有独特的语言特征。这篇文章将详细分析商务合同英语的语言特征。I文体特征和合同文体特征介绍为了研究商务合同英语的文体特征，我们很有必要知道什么是文体及文体特征。作为应用文，合同属于法律文件范畴。除合同以外，法律文件还包括章程，法令，法律规定，保险单等等。然而，所有法律文件都有同一作用：赋予义务，授予权利。法律英语强调
2、权利的保障和义务的履行。为了保证法律文件内容表达明确，不会产生误解，法律文件起草者必须对用词的准确性，避免歧义和内容模糊特别重视。因此，法律英语都非常保守，在用词和形式上让人觉得有些怪异，商务英语合同也是如此。商务英语合同作为法律文件的一种，拥有法律文件的大部分特点，且大多以书面形式呈现。为了非常准确的说明事实，表达合同双方共同意见，合同起草者会采用惯用模式，倾向于使用经过验证的表达方式。II商务英语合同的文体特征在下面的部分，我将从两方面讨论商务英语合同的文体特征：词汇特征和句法特征。A商务英语合同的词汇特征1. 正式语正式语用在特殊场合，不同于普通语言。正式语的使用是合同词语的特点之一。与
3、普通语言相比，商务合同英语非常正式。很多合同用语在普通英语中很少使用。以下列举一些：正式用语 普通用语approximately aroundcommence/initiate begin/startconstrue explainconvene callemploy usenotify tellpresent giveexecute signterminate end 商务英语合同经常使用正是语言。总的来讲，这些词语大多来自拉丁文，法语或其他语言。这些词语的使用是为了增强语言的准确性，避免模糊不清，增强合同内容的严肃性。商务英语合同必须直接并且清楚地表达确切意思，词语的使用必须正式，不得带个
4、人色彩。2古体词商务英语合同的典型特征之一就是古体词的使用，古体词常出现在法律中。古体词经常以合成副词的形式出现，由副词here, there, where与after, at ,by, from, in, of, to, under, upon, with, as等词合成，例如hereto. herein, hereby, hereof, whereby, thereafter等。Here, there, where 分别意味着this, that, what or which,例如: Heretoto thisTherebyby thatWhereofof which这些古体词的使用有助于
5、保持商务合同英语的正式性以及合同内容的准确性，避免误解和词义模糊。由于古体词在日常用语中很少出现，古体词的使用使增加了理解合同的难度。古体词的使用使内容更加正式，构成了商务英语合同的一大特征。3外来语商务英语合同经常使用外来语，尤其是词源是拉丁语或法语的词语。拉丁语随着基督教的传入广泛在英语中使用。1066年的诺曼征服导致英语从法语中借词。外来词由于表达词义严谨且单一，常出现在法律用语中。因此经常在商务合同中出现。不可抗力条款是商务英语合同中的常见条款，在商务英语合同中广泛使用。请看下面的句子：如果发生战争，严重火灾，洪水，台风，地震或者其他不可抗力，卖方具有对合同货物延迟交货或者无法交货的免
6、责权。在这句话中，不可抗力是来自法语的法律术语，意思是无法合理预测或者控制的无法克服的力量或影响。在商务英语合同中使用的大量法律术语来自法语。4专业术语合同时买卖双方签署并遵守的法律文件，因此，合同用语应该具有确定性和准确性。商务合同英语的特点之一是专术语的使用。例如：Within the validity period of contract, license shall not disclose or divulge know-how to any third party without prior written consent of licensor.上述句子中的know-how含义明
7、确，意思是技术信息，设计，生产程序和其他商品信息。为了在商业买卖中准确地描述合同双方的权利和义务，合同使用大量的法律用语，例如：In processing transactions, the manufacturers never have title either to the materials or to the finished products.根据美国学生词典，title在上述句子中意为合法占有权，这一词语被认为是法律用语，而不是普通用语。5同义词连用在法律英语中，两个同义词可以同时使用，这一用法也经常出现在合同英语中。这是商务英语合同的特点之一，通过这些词语的使用，可以避免或者减
8、少词义的不确定性。请看下面的句子：他们宣布合同无效，包装费用应由买方承担。这一用法不仅是为了尊重惯例，也是为了词义的完整表达。很多语言学家认为法律英语坚持惯例。有很多成对出现的同义词: terms and conditions, settle claims and debts, import duty and tax, customs and usages, missing and disappeared person, willful and malicious injury, elderly and aged等等。这些同义词和意思相近的词经常一起使用，第二个词的使用是为了强调或补充说明第一
9、个词。有时候，合同起草者使用一些同义词使合同严肃，准确，完整，例如: alteration, modification or substitution; defaced or altered; loss, injury, or damage; use, misuse, or abuse; in contract or in tort; expressed or implied; altered or amended; repair or replacement. Among them, loss, injury, or damage; in contract or in tort; expre
10、ssed or implied经常同时出现。有时候，为了合同的准确性，有些词语虽然不是近义词或者意思相近的词仍同时出现，例如: breaking and entering, shall be or remain liable等等。遵循法律英语的特点在合同英语中重复使用同义词或近义词无可争议，但应避免使用多余的词语。B商务英语合同的句法特征商务英语合同内容应该具有客观性，不带有个人感情色彩，因此，商务英语合同具有一些句法特征。1长句子与普通英语相比，商务英语合同的句子结构更加复杂，在一份合同中，经常“由于句子长度和语法的复杂性，很多信息压缩为一个单句。”商务英语合同中经常使用长句子，在有限的条款
11、内全面地表达合同双发的权利和义务。非正式会话喜欢用一系列的短语或者断开的句子表达信息，与非正式会话不同，合同英语倾向于将表达独立意思的句子放在一起，使用带有从句的复杂句子。在一份合同中，有些条款用一个长句表达。即使是由几个句子来表达的条款，句子也都很长。合同中长句的使用是不可避免的，很有必要的，它们使句子结构严谨，意思表达准确且完整。但长句和修饰词的使用并不会使外行人难以理解合同条款。例如：The undersigned representative hereby declares and agrees that, if and when the tender is awarded and a
12、fter the formal contract is signed and, therefore, the performance bond is established, the buyer is kindly requested to advance five percent (5%) of the contract value as commencement support for the supply of water and electricity and erection of temporary facilities, and the advance thereof shall
13、 be deducted from the subsequent monthly progress payments. 句子的平均长度为17个单词，但上述句子有71个词，动词declares and agrees后接由三个状语从句组成的宾语从句，包括时间，条款和付款方式。另外一个例子：In case that one or both parties are impossible to perform the duties provided herein on account of force majeure, the party (or parties) in contingency shal
14、l inform the other party (or each other) of the case immediately and may, provided the case is duly verified by the competent authorities, delay in performance of or not perform the relevant duties hereunder and may be partially or entirely exempted from the liability for breach of this agreement.这一
15、句子有76个词，主要条款由一个状语从句，一个完整的谓语和表达原因状语的介词短语组成，主要条款的第二个谓语由一个条件状语从句充当。总的来说，长句子的频繁出现是商务英语合同的特点之一。2正确使用被动语态合同中被动语态的使用主要是为了强调行为而非行为发出者，强调事实而非个人感情和意志。考虑到文体因素和作用，与其他英语题材相比，被动语态在商务合同英语中更常出现，使合同内容更加正式和客观。被动语态经常出现在包装，装运，保险，争议解决，付款和仲裁等条款中。例如：The contract is written in Chinese and English, with both versions having
16、 the same legal force.When amendment is made to this contract and its appendixes, it shall not be valid unless a written agreement is signed by both parties and submitted to and approved by the original inspection authorities. After the contract expires and the lessee returns the leased premises, th
17、e deposit (without interest) shall be refunded only when it has been determined that the lessee has complied with all of the articles and obligations stipulated in this contract.在这些句子中，被动语态的使用构成了一个冗长的句子，打破了阅读者头脑中的事件顺序。这一举例说明合同强调行为而非行为者。正如Garner提到的，一个英语思维的阅读者所期望的句子是这样的：主语，动词和宾语，这正和倒装顺序相反，除非倒装结构能够增强内容
18、的表达。总的来说，由于需要强调客观性和准确性，商务英语合同中经常出现被动语态。III结论商务英语合同在商务活动中占有主要地位。最为法律英语的分支形式，商务合同英语在商务合同中占有很大比重。很多商务英语合同是增进合同双方发展，抵预付款风险的法律文件和武器。因此，商务合同英语的特有特征是值得我们分析的研究的。A Brief Analysis on the Stylistic Features of English for Business ContractsAbstractEnglish for business contract is a sub-variety of legal English
19、. This paper aims to investigate the stylistic features of English for business contracts. First, it introduces basic contents of style, stylistics and contracts style. Then it analyzes the specific stylistic features of English for business contracts from perspectives of lexicon. The paper also ana
20、lyzes the stylistic features in terms of syntax.Nowadays the research on the styles of the varieties of English becomes very popular. English for business contract, a sub-variety of legal English, has its distinctive stylistic features. This paper will analyze the features in detail.I. THE INTRODUCT
21、ION OF STYLE, STYLISTICS AND CONTRACTS STYLE To carry out a stylistic analysis of English for business contracts, it is necessary to know what style and stylistics are.The contract, being an applied style, falls within the ambit of legal documents. Apart from the contract, legal documents usually in
22、clude statutes, decrees, legal provisions, insurance policies, etc. Yet, all the legal documents have the same function: imposing obligations and conferring of rights. Legal English, in this way, concerns with the guarantee of peoples rights, and the enforcement of their obligations. To ensure that
23、a legal document says exactly what it is meant to say, and leaves no chance for misinterpretation, the draftsman of the legal document has to pay special attention to the precision of wording, and avoidance of misunderstanding and ambiguity. Accordingly, legal English appears extremely conservative
24、and presents some striking oddities in form and wording, and so does English for business contracts. English for business contracts, as a variety of legal English, just bears the general traits of legal English, and is most often presented in the written form. To tell the fact and express the meetin
25、g of minds of the parties in an extremely precise way, the draftsman of the contract is reliant on established forms and tends to employ tested modes of expressions II. STYLISTIC FEATURES OF ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS CONTRACTSIn the following part, I will analyze the stylistic features of English for bus
26、iness contracts in two aspects: lexical features and syntactic features. A. The Lexical Features of English for Business Contracts 1. Formal words Formal language indicates that it is a special occasion, quite different from ordinary discourse. Formal language is one of the traits of the contract le
27、xicon. Compared with general English, English for business contracts is very formal. A lot of formal words, which are rarely used in general English, are used in English for business contracts. Here we list just a small sampling:Formal Words Common Words approximately around commence/initiate begin/
28、start construe explain convene call employ use notify tell present give execute sign terminate end Formal words are also frequently employed in English for business contracts. Generally speaking, most of them originate from Latin, French or other languages. The function of these words is to increase
29、 precision and avoid ambiguity in business contracts and increase the seriousness of the content. English for business contract makes direct and clear specifications for exact meaning and the wording must be formal and does not bring individual emotional hint. 2. Archaic words A distinctive feature
30、of English for business contracts is the use of archaic words, which are employed frequently in legal documents but not commonly used in other varieties. These words often appear in the form of compound adverbs. They are formed by adverbs here, there, where combining with some particles as after, at
31、, by, from, in, of, to, under, upon, with, as, etc. e.g., hereto, herein, hereby, hereof, whereby, thereafter, etc. Here, there and where in these compounds mean this, that and what or which respectively. For example,Hereto. to this. Thereby.by that. Whereof.of which. The use of archaic words helps
32、maintain the formality of English for business contracts as well as the exactness of the content and avoid misinterpretation or ambiguity. Archaic words make the texts rather concise and accurate. At the same time, they make the contracts difficult to comprehend because they are rarely used in our d
33、aily life. The frequent use of archaic words renders the texts rather formal and forms a distinctive feature of English for business contracts. 3. Loan words In English for business contracts, loanwords, especially those that are of Latin or French origin are frequently employed. Latin words were gr
34、adually pervaded into English along with the introduction of Christian; while French was borrowed to enrich English for the historical reason of the Norman Conquest in the year of 1066. Those loanwords are conserved in legal English for their preciseness and mono-meaning. Hence they are also readily
35、 found in English for business contracts. The force majeure clause belongs to general provision that is widely used in business. Lets have a look of the following sentence: In case of force majeure, such as war, serious fire, flood, typhoon and earthquake or other events of force majeure, the seller
36、 shall not be held responsible for delay in delivery or non-delivery of the contracted goods. In this sentence, the term force majeure is a legalese from French which means insuperable force or an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled. In English for business contracts,
37、 a large number of legal terms are preserved which are of Latin or French origin. 4. Technical Terms A contract is a legal document which is signed and obeyed by both parties. Therefore the language of contracts should embody definitiveness and exactness. One characteristic of English for business c
38、ontracts is shown by using technical terms. For example: Within the validity period of contract, license shall not disclose or divulge know-how to any third party without prior written consent of licensor. In the above sentence, know-how has such an exact meaning as to demonstrate the technical info
39、rmation, design, production procedures and other information of product with license. In order to describe exactly both parties rights and obligations in business exchange, many legal terms are used in business contracts. For example: In processing transactions, the manufacturers never have title ei
40、ther to the materials or to the finished products. According to American Students Dictionary (2000), title in the above sentence means the legal right or claim to ownership or possession. So title shall be regarded as a legal terms rather than an ordinary word. 5. Coordination of Synonyms In legal E
41、nglish, two synonyms can be used together. this usage occurs frequently. It is especially an outstanding characteristic of contracts, for by using it, ambiguity can be avoided or reduced. Look at the following sentences: They declared the contract null and void. The packing and wrapping expenses sha
42、ll be borne by the buyer. The purpose of this usage is not only to respect the tradition, but also to seek accuracy and completeness of meaning. Legal English adheres much to tradition, which is mentioned by many linguists. There are many such synonymous pairs: terms and conditions, settle claims an
43、d debts, import duty and tax, customs and usages, missing and disappeared person, willful and malicious injury, elderly and aged, etc. The synonyms and near-synonyms in each phrase are usually connected and the second part is often used to reaffirm and complement the first part. Sometimes, draftsmen
44、 may use some combinations of synonyms to make the meaning more rigorous, accurate and complete. For example, alteration, modification or substitution; defaced or altered; loss, injury, or damage; use, misuse, or abuse; in contract or in tort; expressed or implied; altered or amended; repair or repl
45、acement. Among them, loss, injury, or damage; in contract or in tort; expressed or implied are frequently used formulas. Some words, which are not synonyms or near-synonyms, are also used together for accuracy, for instance: breaking and entering, shall be or remain liable, etc. It is blameless to u
46、se commonly used reduplications of synonyms or near-synonyms to obey the habit of legal English, while it is necessary to avoid using superfluous words.B. Syntactic Features of English for Business Contracts English business contracts should be objective and show no personal emotions. Thus it has so
47、me distinctive syntactic features. 1. Long sentences Compared with general English, the sentence structure of English for business contracts is more complicated and perplex. In a contract, usually a huge amount of information has been compressed into a single sentence, which accounts for its length
48、and grammatical complexity. Long sentences are frequently utilized in business contracts to include the rights and obligations of the contracting parties in a limited space of the clauses comprehensively and sufficiently. Unlike other style of language, especially informal conversation, which prefers to convey connected information in a series of short or broken sentences, contract English tends to put all such sequences into the form of very complex sentences capable of standing alone, by means of an array of subordinating devices. S