The Parties， adhering to the principle of e-quality and mutual benefit and through friendly consultation， desire to exert all their efforts in co-operating with each other and agree to jointly in-vest to set up a joint venture enterprise in Changsha， the P. R. China for the purpose of expanding international economic cooperation and technological exchange on a mutually beneficial and profitable basis.
(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)簡單長句，其主干為The Buyers may...lodge a claim...。修飾謂語動(dòng)詞的狀語有三個(gè)，分別表示時(shí)間within 15 days after arrival of the goods at the destination，方式being supported by Inspection Certificate issued by a reputable public surveyor和目的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：
(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. (來源：英語麥當(dāng)勞 http://www.EnglishCN.com)
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：
(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.
(1) This Agreement made this twentieth day of December 2000 between The International Transportation Co. Ltd. of 98 Wuyi Road，the City of Changsha，Party A，and The Far East Trading Co. Ltd.of 29 Piccadilly， the City of London，UK Party B.
Witnesses：
That Party A，in consideration of the agreement hereinafter contained of Party B，contracts and agrees with Party B，that he will deliver，in good and marketable condition，to Party B，during the month of March of next year，five thousand cases of sea，in the following lots，and on the following specified terms，vs：one thousand cases by the eighth of March，one thousand cases additional by the fifteenth of the month，one thousand cases more by the twenty second，and the entire five thousand cases to be all delivered by the thirtieth of March. (來源：專業(yè)英語學(xué)習(xí)網(wǎng)站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)
在上述長句中，主語是This Agreement，后接過去分詞短語made...作后置定語。Witnesses用作主句的謂語，后接that引導(dǎo)的賓語從句。在這個(gè)冗長的賓語從句中，句子的主干是Party A...contracts and agrees with Party B...其后又有一個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的冗長的賓語從句。理順了句子結(jié)構(gòu)之后，我們發(fā)現(xiàn)修飾主語的定語過長，翻譯時(shí)必須對(duì)其進(jìn)行適當(dāng)?shù)那蟹?。Witnesses在法律語言中常譯為“茲約定”“茲證明”，因此我們不難將該句譯為：
(2) The Buyer shall pay the Seller US 350，000 within 20 days after the Bank of China has received the following documents from the Seller and found them in order，but not earlier than 12(twelve) months after the date the Contract Plant for the first time reached 95% of guaranteed capacity of the whole Contract Plant according to the guaranteed quality indices as per Annex VI to the Contract or 65 months after the date of signing the contract，whichever is earlier. (來源：最老牌的英語學(xué)習(xí)網(wǎng)站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)
此句中含有一個(gè)非常復(fù)雜的時(shí)間狀語，界定了買方承擔(dān)付款義務(wù)的時(shí)間，從語用的角度來看，but后面的部分實(shí)際上是對(duì)前一部分，即within 20 days after the Bank of China has received the following documents from the Sellerand found them in order的補(bǔ)充，同時(shí)語義上有轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系；從英語的結(jié)構(gòu)及表述方式上看，英語的狀語放在句末，如此冗長的狀語對(duì)行文規(guī)范及讀者的理解都不構(gòu)成任何問題，但如果機(jī)械地將如此冗長的狀語原封不動(dòng)地譯成漢語并按照漢語行文習(xí)慣置于謂語的動(dòng)詞之前，就會(huì)使譯文顯得拖泥帶水，難以達(dá)意。因此，翻譯此句時(shí)可以采用化整為零的手法，將表示補(bǔ)充內(nèi)容的較長部分轉(zhuǎn)換成漢語的并列句，并將原文中時(shí)間狀語所修飾的謂語部分的核心，即“支付款項(xiàng)”移植為并列句的主語。全句可譯成：
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： (來源：英語博客 http://space.)
