英文合同系列丨通用条款之一：定义与解释条款

 

摘要 ：从今天开始陆续给各位读者系统介绍英文合同。笔者一直以为全面系统的了解一个英文合同是法律英语快速入门的捷径。通过研究英文合同既可以掌握不少法律英语词汇，也可以系统的了解英文合同的格式和条款，达到法律英语入门的效果。

今天给大家介绍一下英文合同通用条款之定义与解释条款。

 定义条款的定义和功能

（一）何为定义条款

Definitions条款目的是统一签约方对合同中特定名次术语的理解，对术语内涵和外延的统一化限定。定义条款可以在合同的任何一个部分，但通常习惯性的会作为一个单独的条款章节写在序言部分之后，内容太多也会以附件形式放在合同文本最后的。

（二）定义条款的功能

1、统一术语

限制对同一词语做出不同解释的可能性，将合同中语言有限的精确性提到最高，避免法律关系的模糊不清引发争议

2、提供标准

为解决当事人的争议提供判断标准，同时也是法官裁判的首要依据。

3、限制文字游戏

限制别有用心的当事人利用法律或合同的空档的情况玩文字游戏。

 定义条款的构成要素

一）引导语的几种表述

a. For the purpose of this Agreement, each of the following terms shall have the following meaning respectively:

就本协议的目的而言，下列各用语，分别具有下述意义：

b. In this Agreement, the following words or expressions shall have the meanings given to them respectively below:

本协议内所用词句的意义，明确阐述如下：

c. In this agreement unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meaning assigned to them hereunder:

除非本协议有明确规定，下列词语应当具有如下规定之意义：

d. The following are the definitions of various terms used in this Agreement：

本协议使用之术语定义如下：

二）定义条款的方式

1. 分散式：

适用于篇幅较短的合同需要重复使用的术语或概念很少-括号定义法：通常见于定义合约的双方当事人主体。

2. 集中式：

（1）词汇罗列法：通常出现在合同第一条，讲需要定义的词汇罗列定义

（2）附件法: 在大型合同中，往往需要定义很多概念。所以，合同起草者更倾向于将定义条款全部放在某个附件中，只是为了说明方便起见会在合同的开始部分指出这种将定义放到附件中的做法。

三）定义条款的示例与核心词汇

1.分散式示例

例：This Contract is made and entered into this first day of March, 2007 by and between X Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of (place) with its principle office at (address) (hereinafter referred to as the “Owner”), and Y Company Ltd, a company organized and existing under the laws of the Peoples Republic of China with its principle office at (address) (hereinafter refer to as the “Contractor”)

2. 附件法示例

在大型合同中，往往需要定义很多概念。所以，合同起草者更倾向于将定义条款全部放在某个附件中，只是为了说明方便起见会在合同的开始部分指出这种将定义放到附件中的做法。

例：DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

Unless the terms or context of this Contract otherwise provide, this Contract shall be interpreted in accordance with, and each of the terms used herein shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Schedule A.

 解释条款的构成要素

1. 单复数及阴阳性互相包含

2. 对法源，合同，当事人，标题，章节的引用之解释规则

3. 日期、时间、期间的计算标准及度量衡标准

4. 当事人的履行合同的方式

5. 未界定术语的解释原则

6. 合同各部分发生冲突时解释程序的优先顺序等等

7. 依据法律

8. 谁Draft是否有影响

9. 标题不影响解释

示例1：单复数及阴阳性互相包含

Unless the context otherwise requires words importing one gender include all other genders， Words singular and plural in number shall be deemed to include the other and vice versa.

示例2：标题，章节的引用之解释规则

Headings; Section References. Section headings are for convenience of reference only, do not form part of this Agreement, and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. References to Articles, Sections, Subsections, Paragraphs, the preamble, the Recitals, Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices, unless otherwise indicated, are references.

示例3：当事人履行合同的方式

whenever a Person is required to form an opinion, make a determination or designation, give a notice of approval or consent, incur costs or expenses, request any item or action, exercise a discretion or perform an act under this Agreement, it must be done reasonably under the circumstances in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or their reasonably inferred context and based upon reasonable grounds, and must not be done or refused capriciously or arbitrarily or unduly delayed.