MT S VN TRONG DCH HP

NG THNG MI TING ANH SOME

PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSLATION OF
COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS IN ENGLISH
by NGUYENPHUOCVINHCO THNG SU 4, 2013
MT S VN TRONG DCH HP NG THNG MI TING ANH
SOME PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSLATION OF COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS IN
ENGLISH

Nguyn Phc Vnh C

i hc Ngoi Ng, i hc Nng
Email: nguyenphuocvinhco@yahoo.com.vn

Tm tt

Ngn ng ting Anh php l c nhng c im ring bit vn khng ph bin trong
ting Anh giao tip thng thng. Mt s c trng ny c th l nguyn nhn gy ra cc
kh khn cho vic hiu v dch cc vn bn php l. L mt trong nhng bin th ca vn
bn php l, hp ng thng mi khng nhng ch chia s nhiu c trng nu trn m
cn c mt s c trng khc ch c th c trong th loi ca chng. Bi bo nghin cu
nhng vn thng gy ra bi mt s c trng ni trn khi dch mt hp ng thng
mi t Anh sang Vit.

T kha: dch thut; chuyn ngnh; hp ng thng mi; ting Anh php l;chuyn i
t loi; bin thi.

Abstract

Legal English language is characterized by distinctive features not commonly found in

everyday English. Some of them may be the cause of problems to the comprehension and
translation of legal texts. As one of the varieties of legal texts, commercial contracts not
only share many of those characteristics, but also contain certain others that may be
unique to their genre. The paper studies the problems caused by some of such
characteristics to the translation of a commercial contract from English to Vietnamese.
Key words: translation; ESP; commercial contracts; legal English; transposition;
modulation.

1. Li ni u

Dch cc vn kin php l ni chung v hp ng thng mi (HTM) ni ring l hai

trong nhng lnh vc dch thut l th nhng cng y nhng thch thc. Tuy nhin,
Vit nam, dch thut cc chuyn ngnh ni trn vn cha nhn c s quan tm c bit
cc trng i hc ngoi ng. V vy, bi bo gii thiu cc vn v thch thc m
ngi dch gp phi khi dch mt HTM bng ting Anh, c bit cc vn lin quan
thut ng php l. Tc gi hy vng rng bi bo s ng gp mt phn nh cho vic dch
thut chuyn ngnh.

2. Khi nim hp ng

Hp ng theo ngha chung nht l s tha thun gia cc bn v vic xc lp, thay i
hoc chm dt cc quyn v ngha v trong nhng quan h c th.

3. Khi nim th loi/loi vn bn

Theo quan im ca Swales (1990), th loi (genre) hay th loi vn bn (text type) l
mi loi vn bn c th c c trng ca mt cng ng khoa hc nht nh hoc mt
nhm chuyn mn v phn bit vi nhau qua mt s c trng nh t vng, hnh thc v
phong cch, m iu ny hon ton c tnh c trng chc nng v quy c v bn cht.

4. Cc c trng ngn ng php l trong HTM

Cc c trng ring bit ca ting Anh php l l mt trong nhng nhn t chnh gy ra
kh khn cho ngi dch php l. Ting Anh php l c nhiu c trng ring bit. Sau
y l cc c trng ngn ng php l ph bin trong HTM.

4.1 Cc trng ng c v cm gii t (archaic adverbs and prepositional phrases)

Cc trng ng c v cm gii t c s dng kh thng xuyn trong ting Anh

php l nhng trong HTM thng thy cc trng ng c nh hereinafter, forthwith,
hereby v cc cm gii t nh subject to, pursuant to, IN WITNESS
WHEREOF/THEREOF Sau y l mt s v d:
The Richman Air Travel Company, hereinafter The Company.
In this event, the contract shall be terminated forthwith.
 Translator hereby declares and warrants the Translation is an original work translated
by Translator.

4. 2 Cc t ng ngha v gn ng ngha (binomials and trinomials)

T ng ngha, lc l hai t (binominals) nh true and correct, null and void v ba t

(trinomials) nh give, devise and bequeath cng l mt c trng t vng trong ting
Anh php l v HTM. Cc t ng ngha ny thng l thch thc cho ngi dch l do
bi chng rt ph bin trong ting Anh php l nhng li kh tm thy trong t in ting
Anh. Xin xem th d sau:
This agreement was declared as null and void.

4. 3 S dng ng t ngn hnh (use of performative verbs)

Theo l thuyt hnh ng li ni, cc pht ngn ngn hnh (performative utterances) l
cc pht ngn cam kt ngi ni thc hin nhng hnh vi ngn ng (Austin 1962). Cc
ng t ngn hnh thng gp trong HTM l: agree, declare, promise,
undertake, warrant, v,v. Mt s cu ngn hnh php l thng gp trong HTM:
Both parties to the contract hereby agree to the following conditions
The Seller hereby warrants that the goods meet the quality and are free from all
defects.

4. 4 Cc danh t tn cng bng hu t -er (-or) v ee

Cc danh t tn cng bng hu t -er/-or thng ch ngi cho/gi ci g cho ai cn cc

danh t tn cng bng hu t -ee li ch ngi nhn.V d, bn cp php l licensor th
bn c cp php l licencee. Sau y l cc cp danh t ch cc bn (ch ng v th
ng) trong mi quan h php l trong HTM: lessor (ngi ch cho thu nh)/
lessee (ngi thu nh), consignor (bn gi hng)/ consignee (bn nhn hng)

4.5 T ph thng mang ngha chuyn ngnh (use of common words with uncommon
meanings)

Cc t tiu biu v ph bin nht trong HTM l consideration (s xuy xt) v ng t

tnh thi shall. T consideration c dng trong HTM c ngha l tin/iu
khon bi hon cn shall th c dng nh mt t chuyn ngnh. Ngoi ngha thng
thng ch tng lai nh I shall be in touch with you again shortly (Ti s sm lin h
li vi anh), nhng trong HTM shall c ngha: c ngha v, c bn phn (to have
the obligation).
4.6 Tnh kt hp (collocations)

Cc ng t trong ting Anh kt hp vi danh t contract:

make/sign/enter into a contract: k kt hp ng
draw up a contract: tho hp ng
breach/break a contract: vi phm hp ng
honor a contract: tn trng hp ng
negotiate a contract: thng lng hp ng
perform a contract: thc hin hp ng
renew a contract : gia hn hp ng

Cc tnh t v danh t trong ting Anh kt hp vi danh t contract

void contract: hp ng v gi tr
voidable contract: hp ng c th hy
binding contract: hp ng rng buc
exclusive contract: hp ng c quyn
breach of contract: vi phm hp ng
terms of a contract: iu khon hp ng
the law of contract: lut hp ng
rules of contract: quy tc hp ng

4.7 Cu trc nu-th

C th thy mt trong nhng cu trc c tn s xut hin cao trong HTM l cu

trc NU X TH Y. Xin xem v d sau:
If the Force Majeure even lasts over sixty (60) days, the Buyer shall have the right to
cancel the Contract or the undelivered part of the Contract.
Nu trng hp bt kh khng ko di trn su mi (60) ngy, (th) Bn mua s c
quyn hy hp ng hoc phn hng ha cha c giao theo hp ng.
mt s trng hp, if c thay bng in case hoc in case of hoc in the event
of hoc in the event that. Xin xem cc v d sau:
In case the Buyer fails to carry out any of the terms and conditions to this Contract with
the Seller, the Seller shall have the right to terminate all or any part of this Contract with
the Buyer.
Nu Bn mua khng thc hin bt c iu khon no trong hp ng ny vi Bn bn,
Bn bn c quyn chm dt ton b hoc bt c phn no ca hp ng ny vi Bn
mua.
 In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Vietnamses text shall prevail.
Nu c bt c s khc nhau trong cch gii thch th s ly bn ting Vit lm chun.
mt s trng hp khc, cu tnh lc bt u bng if nh if required (nu c
yu cu), if possible (nu c th), if any (nu c), if necessary (nu cn) cng
kh ph bin.
Claims, if any, shall be submitted by telex within fourteen (14) days after the arrival of
the goods at destination.
Yu cu bi thng, nu c, phi c a ra bng telex trong vng mi bn (14)
ngy sau khi hng n cng n.
To make every effort, if possible, to complete any portions of this Service in less time
estimated.
Huy ng mi n lc, nu c th, hon thnh bt k no phn no ca Dch v trc
thi hn d nh.

5. Cc c trng ngn ng gy kh khn cho ngi dch

5. 1 Cc t c v cm gii t

C kh nhiu t c nh herein ( y), hereof (v iu ny), hereto (theo iu

ny), herewith (km theo y), thereafter (sau ), thereby (bng cch ),v,v.
Nhng t ny phn ln l gm mt trng t here, there, i khi cng dng where
cng vi mt gii t to thnh, thng lm trng ng trong cu. Vrt t c dng trong
ting Anh hin i nhng li rt ph bin trong ting Anh php l v HTM nn cng
gy kh khn cho ngi dch. Cc v d mc 4.1. cc t gy kh khn cho ngi dch
l hereinafter, cch vit gn ca cm t hereinafter referred to as tng ng vi
ting Vit l gi tt l/sau y gi l. T fortnight, d l v hnh thc, nhng trong
HTM li ch c ngha at once/ immediately.

5.2 Cc t ng ngha v gn ng ngha

Cc loi t ny d c dng ph bin trong ting Anh php l v HTM nhng trong
ting Vit n khng mang nt c trng lm trong lnh vc php l. V vy, the
terms and conditions c dch l iu kin, null and void l v gi tr/ khng
hiu lc hoc cm t c 3 t nh give, devise and bequeath cng ch dch l li.
Tuy nhin, trong cu sau y, ngi dch dch rt t cm t ng ngha make, sign
and deliver.
The attorney is authorized to make, sign and deliver any other instrument, whether
sealed or unsealed (Ngi y quyn c quyn tho lp, k v giao cc chng t d c
nim phong hay khng).
5.3 Trng ng hereby v ng t ngn hnh

Nh cp trn, cc ng t ngn hnh thng gp HTM l agree, declare,

promise, undertake,v,v. Cc ng t ngn hnh thng c xen trng ng hereby
trc chng nhng li khng th lm nh th vi ng t thng. Khi dch sang ting
Vit, trng ng hereby khng dch. Tuy nhin, nu cu c ng t ngn hnh ting
Vit nh ng , ha, cng b,v,v nh trong cu Hai bn ca hp ng ng
cc iu khon sau y th cu ting Anh nn dch l Both Parties to the
Contract hereby agree to the conditions and terms as follows.

5.4 Cc danh t tn cng bng hu t -er (or) v ee

Nu gp mt vn bn trong HTM sau y, phn trng l cc cp t ch mi quan h

tng h trong HTM nh The assignor and the assignee, The obligor and
the oblignee th cc cp t ni trn t hn l kh khn cho ngi dch.
.. agree to enter into this Contract under the terms and
conditions set forth as follows: ( ng k Hp ng ny theo
iu kin nh sau: ). Tuy nhin, d c trng ca cch thnh lp cc cp t ni trn
cp 4.4 (cc danh t tn cng bng er/or: ch ngi cho cn cc danh t tn cng
bng ee: ch ngi nhn) nhng ta cng phi ch ng ngha ca cc ngha ch ng
v th ng. V d, i vi ng t mortgage c ngha giao ti sn nh vt bo m
cho vic tr tin vay (to offer property as security for the repayment of a loan) th
mortgagor/mortgager l ngi phi th chp, cn mortgagee li l ngi/hng
cho vay th chp. Hn na, c cc trng hp nh cp t debtor (ngi mc
n)/creditor (ngi ch n) ch khng phi debtor/debtee.

5.5 T ph thng mang ngha chuyn ngnh

Trong HTM, ng t tnh thi shall c xem l mt t chuyn ngnh (technical

term), l t ra lnh c ngha c ngha v/phi. V d, the Buyer shall (Bn mua
phi). ngoi ra shall cn c ngha l nn (should), s (ch tng lai). Xin xem
vn bn sau:
The Seller shall not be (khng phi chu) held liable for the delay in shipment or non-
delivery of the goods under the Contract in consequence of Force Mejeure, which might
occur during the process of manufacturing or in the course of loading or transit. The
Seller shall (nn) inform the Buyer promptly of the occurrence mentioned above and
within fourteen (14) days thereafter, the Seller shall (phi)send by airmail to the Buyer
for their acceptance a certificate of the accident issued by the Competent Government
Authorities where the accident occurs as evidence thereof. In such circumstances, the
Seller, however, is still under the obligation to take all necessary measures to hasten the
delivery of the goods. In case the accident lasts for more than ten weeks, the Buyer shall
(s) have the right to cancel the Contract.

6. Cc k thut/phng thc dch ting Anh php l trong HTM

6.1 Chuyn i t loi (transposition)

Chuyn i t loi c hiu y l vic thay th mt phm tr ng php bng mt

phm tr ng php khc trn c s c hai c xem l c cng ngha. Trong HTM, nu
cm t after the arrival of the goods at destination c dch thnh sau khi hng ha
n n cng n (after the goods arrived at destination), th ta p dng k
thut/phng thc chuyn i t loi.

6.1.1 Chuyn i tn ng thnh ch ng

This Contract is made by and between the Buyer and the Seller) (tn ng), whereby the
Buyer agrees to buy and the Seller agrees to sell the under-mentioned commodity
according to the terms and conditions stipulated below.
Bn mua v Bn bn (ch ng) lp ra hp ng ny, theo Bn mua ng mua v
Bn bn ng bn mt hng c cp sau y theo cc iu khon c quy nh
di y.

6.1.2 Chuyn i trng ng thnh ch ng

The production design, technology of manufacturing, means of testing, materials

prescription, standard of quality and training of personnel shall be stipulated in Chapter 4
in this contract(trng ng).
Chng 4 ca hp ng ny (ch ng) quy nh v kiu dng sn phm, cng ngh ch
to, cc phng php kim tra, phng php phi ch nguyn vt liu, tiu chun cht
lng v vic o to nhn vin.
6.2 Bin thi (modulation)
Nu chuyn i t loi nh hng n chc nng ng php th bin thi lin quan n
vic thay i phm tr ng ngha, thm ch thay i cc tin trnh qua cc tng
c biu t. Trong HTM, nu cm t an act of God (hnh ng ca Cha) c
dch thnh thin tai th ta p dng k thut/phng thc bin thi.

6.2.1 Th ng sang ch ng
 Now it is hereby agreed (th ng) by and between the Parties as follows
Nay hai bn ng (ch ng) cc iu khon sau
It is mutually agreed that (th ng) the certificate of quality and quantity or weight
issued by the manufacturer shall be part of the document for payment with the adopted
Letter of Credit.
Hai bn cng ng rng (ch ng) giy chng nhn cht lng v s lng hoc
trng lng do nh sn xut cp s l mt phn ca chng t thanh ton cng vi th tn
dng c chp nhn.

7. Kt lun

Hp ng thng mi l mt vn kin php l cn thit cho mi ngi v trong tin trnh

hi nhp, vic hiu bit v cc thnh phn trong hp ng l c s cho chng ta (Xin xem
Ngn ng hp ng thng mi ting Anh trong mc php l) khi son tho mt hp
ng thng mi bng ting Anh. Tuy nhin, khi son tho v dch mt hp ng thng
mi, chc chn ngi dch s gp phi mt s kh khn. V vy, tc gi hy vng bi bo
s hu ch cho nhng ai quan tm v dch thut php l cng nh HTM ting Anh.

Ti liu tham kho

[1] Alcaraz, E & Huges, B, (2002), Legal Translation Explained. Manchester: St. Jerome.
Publishing.
[2] Brown, G. D & Rice, S, (2007), Professional English in Use Law, CUP.
[3] Carvalho, L (2013), Translating Contracts and Agreements: a Corpus Linguistics
Perspective. Truy cp t www.cultrasjuridicas.com.br/en/pdf ngy 15/4/2013
[4] Hoa Tn Quang, (2011), T v Cm T Thng Gp Trong Hp ng Ting Anh.
Truy cp t dichthuatvietnam.info>> Php l (Legal terms) ngy 9/11/2011.
[5] H Canh Thn & cng s (2007), Son Tho v Dch Hp ng Thng Mi Quc
T (Nguyn Thnh Yn dch), NXB Tng Hp TPHCM.
[6] Maltzev, V. A, (1984), Essays on English Stylistics, Vysheishaya Shkola Publishers.
[7] Mckay, W R. & Charlton, H E, (2005), Legal English: How to Understand and Master
the Language of Law, Longman.
[8] Ngn Ng Hp ng Thng Mi Ting Anh. Truy cp ngy 1 thng 6, 2013 t
https://nguyenphuocvinhco.wordpress.com/