“一方,另一方”在法律、合同文件经常出现的用语,其中“一方”是指“当事人一方”、“当事人中的任何一方”之意。在中译英时,不能按字面翻译,译成one party或one of the Parties, 从英文字的含义来说one party是指a particular party之意,是确指,而either,按牛津高级词典解释,是指两者之一。在法律条文中的“一方”往往是指“当事人中的任何一方”,应当译成either party或either of the parties。下例各句中“一方”都是“当事人中的任何一方”之意。
例1原文:
当事人达成仲裁协议,一方向人民法院起诉的,人民法院不予受理,但仲裁协议无效的除外。
Notes:
原文中的“一方”,根据本条文含义,“一方向人民法院起诉的,”是指“达成仲裁协议当事人中的任何一方”,而决不是指“向人民法院起诉的一方”是确定的。因此这里的“一方”不译成one party或one of the Parties,应当译成either party或either of the parties。
参考译文:
A people’ s court shall not accept an action initiated by either of the parties if the Parties have concluded and entered into an arbitration agreement, unless the arbitration agreement is invalid.
例2原文:
当事人一方违约后,对方应当采取适当措施防止损失的扩大;没有采取适当措施致使损失扩大的,不得就扩大的损失要求赔偿。
参考译文:
After either party violates a contract, the other party shall take proper measures to prevent the increase of the losses. Provided that where the other party fails to take proper measures so that the losses are increased, the party in question shall not claim any compensation in relation to the increased losses.
例3原文:
当事人一方不履行合同义务或者履行合同义务不符合约定,给对方造成损失的,损失赔偿额应当相当于因违约所造成的损失,包括合同履行后可以获得的利益,但不得超过违反合同一方订立合同时预见到或者应当预见到的因违反合同可能造成的损失。
参考译文:
Where either party to a contract fails to perform the contract obligations or its performance fails to satisfy the requirements and provisions of the contract and causes loss to the other party, the amount of compensation for losses shall be equal to the losses caused by the breach of contract, including the obtainable gains after the performance of the contract, provided that the amount of compensation shall not exceed such probable foreseen losses caused by the breach of contract as has been foreseen or as shall be foreseen when the breaching party concludes the contract.