劉宓慶曾說過：語際的意義轉(zhuǎn)換不能是隨意的，它必須遵循一定的規(guī)范，才能使翻譯成為有意義的社會行為。尤其是合同翻譯，它并不是一種隨心所欲的再創(chuàng)作，必須有一定的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)作為指導(dǎo)。翻譯的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)不可能像物理、化學(xué)或數(shù)學(xué)那樣，有固定的公式。關(guān)于翻譯的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，不同的學(xué)者在不同時期有不同的理解和闡述。   

    在中國，談到翻譯的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，人們首先會想到嚴(yán)復(fù)提出的“信”（faithfulness）、“達”（expressiveness）、“雅”（elegance）。這是嚴(yán)復(fù)在《天演論》序言中提出的：“譯事三難：信、達、雅。求其信，已大難矣。顧信矣不達，雖譯猶不譯也，則達尚焉。┅┅易曰修辭立誠。子曰辭達而已。又曰言之無文，行之不遠。三者乃文章正軌，亦即為譯事楷模。故信達而外，求其爾雅。

    在英國，早在18世紀(jì)，著名的翻譯家泰特勒（Alexander F. Tytler）也提出了一個翻譯的三原則：A translation should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original work. （譯文應(yīng)完整地復(fù)述出原作的思想）；The style and manner of writing should be of the same character as that of the original. （譯文的風(fēng)格和手法應(yīng)與原作的性質(zhì)一致）；A translation should have all the ease of the original composition. （譯文應(yīng)和原作一樣流暢）。

    除了嚴(yán)復(fù)，魯迅提出了“信”與“順”，指出凡是翻譯必須兼顧兩面，“一當(dāng)然力求其易解，  二則保存著原作的豐姿?！倍谡撌龆咧g的關(guān)系時，魯迅提倡“寧信而不順”。林語堂在1933年的《論翻譯》一文中提出了三條標(biāo)準(zhǔn)：忠實標(biāo)準(zhǔn)、通順標(biāo)準(zhǔn)、美的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。這三條標(biāo)準(zhǔn)分別體現(xiàn)了譯者對原著者的責(zé)任、譯者對中國讀者的責(zé)任以及譯者對藝術(shù)的責(zé)任。傅雷提出了“傳神說”，他在1951年《高老頭——重譯本序》中提到：“以效果而論，翻譯應(yīng)當(dāng)像臨畫一樣，所求的不在形似而在神似?！卞X鐘書則強調(diào)“化境”，認為文學(xué)翻譯的最高理想是“化”。把作品從一國文字轉(zhuǎn)變成另一國文字，既能不因語文習(xí)慣的差異而露出生硬牽強的痕跡，又能完全保存原作的風(fēng)味，即入于“化境”。

關(guān)于合同翻譯的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)不可能在任何情況下都保持一致，到底采用何種標(biāo)準(zhǔn)受很多因素的影響，如文體、譯者的翻譯意圖、目標(biāo)讀者群等等。但翻譯的根本標(biāo)準(zhǔn)應(yīng)以“忠實”為核心，既忠實于原作的思想內(nèi)容，又保持原作的風(fēng)格。

我們來看看合同翻譯的一些典型句型，可以從中管窺出一些合同翻譯的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和何時應(yīng)該靈活處理。

Upon first presentation the buyer shall pay against documentary draft drawn by the seller at sight. The shipping documents are to be delivered against payment only.

買方憑賣方開具的跟單匯票，于第一次見票時立即付款，付款后交單。

In the event the Buyer does not furnish the seller with shipping instructions on or before August 17, 2007, the Seller may at his option cancel this contract and demand the Buyer to pay any damages he has sustained on account of such failure of the Buyer to give such instructions.

如果買方?jīng)]有在2007年8月17日之前發(fā)給賣方裝運通知，賣方可以自行取消取消合同，由于買方?jīng)]有提供給賣方裝運說明所引起的賣方已經(jīng)承擔(dān)的一切損失，將要求買方全部承擔(dān)。

If any change is required regarding the terms and conditions of this Agreement, then both parties shall negotiate in order to find a suitable solution, change of this Agreement shall be subject to the approval by the Canadian Government.

如果此項協(xié)議的有關(guān)條款或者條件需要變更，雙方應(yīng)進行協(xié)議解決。此協(xié)議的任何變動必須通過加拿大政府的批準(zhǔn)方可生效。

“Provisional Sum” means a sum included in the Contract and so designated in the Bill of Qualities for the execution of work or the supply of goods, materials, or services, or for contingencies, which sum may be used, in whole or in part, or not at all, at the direction and discretion of the Engineer.

備用款是指在合同所含的，用于工程清單的專用款項。該用于施工，供貨，供料，服務(wù)或者意外事故。它可能被全部使用，也可能被部分使用，或者根本不被使用，其使用情況都由工程師全權(quán)決定。

The Contractor shall, subject to the provisions of the Contract, and with due care and diligence, execute and maintain the Works and provide all labor, including the supervision thereof, materials, constructional plant and all other things, whether of a temporary or permanent nature, required in and for such execution and maintenance.

承包人應(yīng)當(dāng)根據(jù)合同的各項規(guī)定，認真負責(zé)任，小心謹(jǐn)慎地進行施工和維修，并提供所有勞務(wù)，包括監(jiān)工，材料，施工設(shè)施備以及施工或維修，短期或長期的其他所有事項。

No salary shall be paid and charged against the operating expenses, provided that the commission or brokerage of the Second Party shall be paid and charged as a part of operating expenses.

如果第二方的傭金或回扣作為營業(yè)費用的一部分，營業(yè)費用中將不含工資。

If the technical documentation supplied by party B is not in conformity with Clause 9.1 of the contract, Party B shall be paid and charged as a part of the operating expenses.

如果乙方提供的技術(shù)資料與合同中的條款9.1項不一致，乙方應(yīng)該支付給甲方一部分的營業(yè)費用。

The Seller, provide that Buyer so agrees, may retain the whole or part of the said incomplete equipment, fabricated or unfabricated parts, work-in-process, and other material referred to in paragraph (D) of this Article in which the amount to be paid by the Buyer shall be reduced by a sum equal to the value of the property so retained.

如果買方同意，賣方可以完全或部分保留上述提未完成的設(shè)備，已加工和未加工的零件，正在加工的產(chǎn)品，以及條款D中所提到的任何材料。在這個條款中，買方需支付的費用應(yīng)該減去賣方保留的物品的價格。

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 point so that the seller may draw the sum in due time.

買方應(yīng)在合同簽字生效30天內(nèi)，通過外匯銀行向賣方開具不可撤銷信用證，全額3萬美元，向賣方支付貨物價錢，以便賣方能夠如期收款。

Should the Seller fail to make delivery on time as stipulated in the Contract with the exception of force majeure specified in Clause 18 of this Contract, the Buyer shall agree to postpone the delivery On condition that the Seller should agree to pay a penalty which shall be deducted by the paying bank from the payment under negotiation.

如果賣方不是由于合同中第18條細化的不可抗力未按照合同規(guī)定的期限按時交貨，則只要賣方同意承擔(dān)違約金，買方應(yīng)該同意延期交貨。違約金應(yīng)在匯入行中從協(xié)議款項中扣除。

Seller shall have the option of delivering 5% more or less on the Contract quantity. Such surplus or deficiency shall be settled at the market price on the day of the vessel’s arrival, the value shall be fixed by arbitration unless mutually agreed.

賣方有權(quán)按合同規(guī)定數(shù)量的5%溢短交貨。溢短部分應(yīng)以船抵之日的市場價計算。如果雙方有異議，其價格將由仲裁判定為準(zhǔn)。

In case the Contract is concluded on CIF basis, the insurance shall be effected by the Seller for 110% of invoice value covering all risks, war risks, S.R.C.C risks (i.e. Strike, Riot, and Civil Commotions).

在到岸價基礎(chǔ)上訂立的合同，將由賣方以發(fā)票110%的金額投保綜合險，戰(zhàn)爭險，罷工險，暴亂險，民變險。