A Trial Stylistic Analysis on Contractual Lexis

●中外教育研究.2009年1月第1期A(yíng) Trial Stylistic Analysis on Contractual Lexis袁振上海對外貿易學(xué)院，劉俊霞曲阜師范大學(xué) 杏壇學(xué)院[ Abstract ] It is of great importance in such commercialized society to translate business English, especially contractual language. Thearticle atempts to analyze the contractual words- -bereby group and binomials, through the stylistics theories of prototype and feature matrix insemantic triangle. Consequently, we find some sylistic explanation in contractual language's formality and solemnity.[ Key words ] Translation of contracts Prototype Feature matrix Semantic triangle Reference1. Introduction(2) BinomialsAs is known to all, the philosopby basis for westem world lies inNow we can move forward to the binomial (or trinomial)its“contract spirit", which may originate from Socrates times. It is ofexpression, which is also a prototype ofcontractual lexis.utmost importance to learm and t0 study the contractual English in aMost of binomials are made up of combinations dictated byall around way in consideration of the enhancement of globalizationword fields, repetition of meaning. Such use of synonymous words isand economy development, commercial contracts. In view of this, themeant to cover the implied content more comprebensively andauthor atempts to carry out stylistic analysis on contractual lexis.flexibly and to rely on inclusiveness as compensation for lack of2. Stylistic analysisprecision.Concept dictates that the meaning of a word lies in the mentalThe feature matrix sbould be:concept associated with it which itself may be defined by semantic[ +two or three lexical items with the same word class ]features ( prototype theory is a psychological approach to conceptual[+ cojunction or or and ]meaning which implicity involves semantic features ) . Prototypes[ +ully found in law English especially contract ]are images we store in our minds as examples of concepts.Those that can be most frequently seen include:When we encounter a word, it is the concept that first emerges1) Noun binomials: terms and conditions; provisions andin the mind. Such a concept takes the form of a prototype to helpstipulations; loss, injury or damage; fraud and deceit; final andpeople understand the word's denotational meaning. By the image ofbinding.prototypes, we can then get the connotational meaning ( referent)2) Verb binomials: alter and change; fulfll or perform.of the word.3) Adj binomials: null and void; sole and exclusive; final and(1) Feature matix and hereby wordsconclusive; free and clear; able and willing.Let's take the word“bread" for example, trying to analyze it4) Prep binomials: in contract or in tort; from and above; underwith feature matrix.and by; by and between.[ + baked]In order to achieve the formal and solemn style of contractual[ +flour/meal ]language, the translator is obligated to adopting those protoypes as[ +milk/water ]much as possibl, which can represent both parties' wills and assure[ +leavening ]the third party ( Arbitrator or Judge ) the connotational meaning ofThe matrix means, the moment people talk about bread, thethe contract, thus avoiding unncessary misinterpretation andimage of a baked food consisting flour/mcal, and milk/water, anddisputes.sually something causes it to rise will appear in our minds. That's3. Conclusionbread's prototype. So we can say that the concept of"bread" relies onaIn conclusion, this article atempts to find the sylisticminimal necessary set of semantic features or meaning componeats.explanation of formality and solemnity in contractual language,Accordingly, we can apply such method to contractual vocabulary.especially in the field of lexical items, including hereby group andThe most representative one can be the family of hereby, berein, etc,binomials. Consequently, these stylistic words belp raise translators'wbose feature matrix may be presented as fllows:consciousness in deliberate use and translation of formal expressions,[ + here/there/wheret preposition ]including but not limited to, hereby group or binomials, in order to[ +usually found in law English especially contract ]perform as a qualified communication bridge.According to our common knowledge, it can be easily foundReferencethat it is these arcbaic words that nDot only render contracts highly1古國生英文合同的詞匯特征，外語(yǔ)教學(xué)與研究(考試周刊),formal and dignified but also condense the contractual language.2007.24However, from the perspective of stylistic analysis, the reason why2李斯平.涉外經(jīng)濟合同中一些舊體詞的運用與漢譯.中國翻譯,such explanation exists lies in the function of the prototype of hereby1994.words, which means, upon people talking about the words of bereby3徐中國煤化工:河南大學(xué)出版社, 1992family, the concept, which emerges under the bhelp of prototype,4 SbYH吾教育出版社，2000leads us to rflecet on its feature matrix. And people can quickly spot. CNM H CG-Eagish Tnsason。the predominant stylistic features of the text and then identify whatIntemnational Business Contracts. 2004 htp:/2/0/3/5.5.15/tpi/the text is about.sysasp/cnki/mainframe.asp?dbid=45Chinese and Foreign Educational Research青年與杜會(huì )12009.1 下-53-