contract (n.) 合约
contract 为名词,泛指「合约,契约」,如过是要说「与……签合约」,则可以用 sign a contract with…。
The employee signed a one-year contract with his employer.
雇员与他的雇主签订了一年的合约。
non-disclosure agreement (n.) 保密协定
disclosure 意指「揭露,揭发」,non-disclosure agreement 照字面上来看是「不可揭露的协议」,也就是所谓的「保密协定」,签署人同意不可将其中涉及的特定资讯透漏给非签约人知晓。
A non-disclosure agreement prohibits the signing parties from sharing confidential information.
保密协定禁止签署方公开分享保密资讯。
party (n.) 当事人
这里的 party 可不是「派对」的意思,而是指合约上的「立约人」,而接下来文中出现的 both parties 就是在说「双方当事人」。
Both parties agreed to the terms and signed the contract.
双方当事人同意条款并签署合约。
来到出版社签约现场……
Editor: Audrey, congratulations!
编辑:Audrey,恭喜你!
Audrey: Thank you so much! I can’t believe I found someone to publish my debut novel. I’m so excited!
Audrey:感激不尽!真不敢相信我找到人出版我的小说处女作,我真是太兴奋了!
Editor: I’m glad to hear that. Now, the purpose of this meeting today is to sign a contract.
编辑:很高兴听你这么说。我们今天见面的目的是为了签合约。
Audrey: I understand.
Audrey:了解。
Editor: It’s the We Goody Publishing House policy to have all of our authors sign a non-disclosure agreement. Is that alright? Its nothing personal.
编辑:我们古迪出版社的政策是要所有作者签订保密协议,请问是否可以呢?这与你个人无关。
Audrey: No, not at all. I mean, it protects both parties.
Audrey:不,完全不会。我的意思是,它能保护双方。
Editor: Lovely. Okay, so here’s the contract. Let me just go over it quickly with you …
编辑:太好了。好,合约在这里,让我来快速地替你说明……
终于开始签合约了!先记住以下三组词汇,再继续看下去吧!
interest (n.) 利益
合约中若看到 interest,指的并不是大家熟悉的「兴趣」,而是指双方的「利益」,等同于 benefit。
You should consult a lawyer to make sure the contract has your best interests at heart.
你应该要咨询律师,确保合约保障到你所有的利益。
additional term (n.) 附加条件
additional 为形容词「额外的,附加的」,term 的意思则是「条款;条件」,additional term 指的即是「附加条件;附加条款」,一般为复数形。与之相对的是 original term(原条款)。
I only noticed the additional terms after I signed the contract.
我合约签了之后才发现附加条款。
legally binding (adj.) 具有法律效力的
legally 为副词,表示「法律上地」,binding 则是形容词「有约束力的」,legally binding 即是「在法律上有约束力的」,也就是「具有法律效力」。
The terms won’t be legally binding unless you sign the contract.
在你签名前,这些条款不具法律效力。
签约前,Audrey 也想到了一些想问编辑的问题。
Audrey: I see that you’ve written down all the details concerning copyright.
Audrey:我看你已经写下所有关于版权的细节了。
Editor: That’s right; we will look after both parties’ interests.
编辑:没错,我们会照顾到双方的利益。
Audrey: Are there any additional terms? such as the copyright of sequels.
Audrey:有任何附加条件吗?例如任何续集的版权。
Editor: No. A sequel, if any, will be covered by an individual contract.
编辑:没有,若有任何续集,都会由独立合约约束。
Audrey: Great. In that case, I don’t have any further concerns.
Audrey:好极了。这样的话,我没有其它疑虑了。
Editor: I’m pleased to hear that. Please sign here, and the contract will become legally binding.
编辑:听你这么说太好了!请在这里签名,然后合约就会具法律效力。