Abstract:With the rapid development of economic globalization, trade cooperation between China and other countries in the world becomes more frequent. Every commercial activity is inseparable from the business contract, therefore, business contracts are playing an important role in the economic activities and business transactions, so does their translation. 

The paper first introduces the study background, the significance lying in business contracts, and puts forward the author’s aim of writing this paper. The second chapter introduces the current study achievements and their deficiencies. The third chapter analyzes Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory and the guidance of employing the theory in business contracts translation. In chapter four the author illustrates several lexical features of business contracts and proposes five skills of lexical translation. The last chapter gives a brief summary of the paper and restates the author’s viewpoints. Hopefully, this paper may contribute a little to the translation of English business contracts.

Key words: business contracts   lexical translation  Functional Equivalence

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background and Significance of the Study-1

1.2 Motivations and Objectives-1

Chapter Two Literature Review-2

2.1 Introduction to Contracts and Business Contracts-2

2.2 Current Study Achievements and the Deficiencies-3

Chapter Three Functional Equivalence Theory-5

3.1 Nida’s Theory of Functional Equivalence-5

3.2 Comparison with“Formal Equivalence”-5

3.2.1 Formal Equivalence-5

3.2.2 Comparison-6

Chapter Four Lexical Features and Translation Skills of Business Contracts-7

4.1 Lexical Features of Business Contracts-7

4.1.1 Employment of Formal Words-7

4.1.2 Common Words with Special Legal Meanings-7

4.1.3 Employment of Archaic Words-8

4.1.4 Employment of Loan Words-8

4.1.5 Use of “May, Shall, Must, May not”-9

4.2 Translation Skills of Words in Business Contracts-9

4.2.1 Literal Translation-9

4.2.2 Transference plus Contract Convention-10

4.2.3 Attention to Different Parts of Speech-11

4.2.4 Explanatory Translation-12

4.2.5 Direct Employment of English Abbreviations-12

Chapter Five Conclusion-14

References-15