在翻译合同文件时,会涉及到经济、法律、贸易、金融、技术等领域的专业词汇,这些词汇在不同的合同条款和上下文中的表达和词义有很大区别。即使在同一专业中的词义都有很大区别,因此我们必须仔细推敲,选择最确切的词义。例如:cover一词,作为动词讲一般都理解为“包括”,例如:the prices quoted in the brochure cover packing and are subject to 35%trade discount,可译为:“小册子所报的价格包括包装费在内,可有35%的商业折扣。”但以下的含有cover的句子,就不能将cover译成“包括”:
(1) no doubt there must have been some reason for the delay in shipment. to cover this contingency we cabled you on mar.29 that we were extending the letter of credit for two weeks.
例如,合同中经常出现的to perform a contract, to fulfill a contract, to execute a contract, to implement a contract,这些短语都可以表示“履行合同”,从字面上看都对。然而在具体的合同条款中,表示履行不同的合同义务时,其用法是有区别的。
with respect to the outstanding 180 m/r of low-density polyethylene ny2—11 under contract no.79hp一106,we insist that you must open the covering letter of credit the soonest possible to secure the performance of the contract. we hereby would like to call your attention to the fact that the adviser inc. , who purchased ldpe ny2—11 from us at the same time as you did have fulfilled their commitment under the previous contract not long after we offered our regulated price and signed a new contract covering substantial quantity.
该句子出现的“履行”分别使用了perform和fulfill.我们首先研究一下这对同义词的:perform的法律含义是:to do what one party is obliged to do by a contract; fulfill的法律含义是:t0 do everything which is promised in a contract.其次,再研究一下合同各方应履行的合同义务:涉外合同一经生效,双方当事人必须全面地、适当地履行合同中的义务,但是具体对某一方合同当事人来讲,就是履行合同中最属于他应该履行的那部分责任和义务。比如,在国际货物销售合同中,对买方来说,“履行合同”的概念就是payment,当然与payment有关的义务还有采用何种方式和支付工具付款等。如果该合同的价格条件是fob的话,买方还要负责租船订舱,支付运费,并将船期、船号及时通知卖方等。因此,如果强调合同的一方履行合同与所规定的该方的那部分具体义务相同,应该是fulfill a contract.如果是泛指双方在合同中的各项责任和义务都应得到履行,则选用perform a contract较合适。又如:the contractor shall fulfill all of its duties and obligations in carrying out its work and services hereunder(承租人必须忠实信守和履行下列各项规则)。