繪事後素

【例句】

公司章程通常依據公司法擬定，閱讀公司章程有助於熟悉公司法的實際運用。公司章程對公司內部事務規定比較詳細，有比較固定的條款，雖然措辭不同，但大致有章可循。閱讀公司章程，可以舉一反三，提高我們的法律英文能力。

60. PROCEEDINGS OF VOTING DIRECTORS

(1) The Voting Directors may meet together for the dispatch of business and adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit.  

(2) A Voting Director may at any time, and the Secretary shall on the requisition of a Voting Director, convene a meeting of the Voting Directors.

(3) Without limiting the discretion of the Voting Directors to regulate their meetings under paragraph (1) hereof, the Voting Directors may, if they think fit, confer by radio, telephone, closed circuit television or other electronic means of audio or audio-visual communication and a resolution passed by such a conference shall, notwithstanding the Voting Directors are not present together in one place at the time of the conference, be deemed to have been passed at a meeting of the Voting Directors held on the day on which and at the time at which the conference was held. The provisions of this Constitution relating to proceedings of Voting Directors apply so far as they are capable of application and mutatis mutandis to such conferences.

【要點解析】

（一）proceedings會議程序

proceedings通常譯作“法律程式”，但不一定是訴訟程式，訴訟程式只是法律程式的一部分。proceedings也可能是紀律處分程式、引渡程式、破產法律程式等。要根據語境確定具體含義。在這裡proceedings是指會議程式。

參見：

《元照英美法詞典》proceeding

(1)程序；訴訟程序

可指完整的正規的訴訟程序，包括從訴訟開始到作出判決其間所進行的全部行為和步驟；也可指在一個大的訴訟過程中的某一程序階段或步驟，或指向法庭或其他機構尋求救濟的程序手段。

(2)聽審；聽證

指法院或其他官方機構所處理的事務。

(3)在訴訟進行期間產生的特定爭議或事項

(破產法)區別於作為整體的案件本身。

Black’s Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition):

① The regular and orderly progression of a lawsuit, including all acts and events between the time of commencement and the entry of judgment.

② Any procedural means for seeking redress from a tribunal or agency.

③ An act or step that is part of a larger action.

④ The business conducted by a court or other official body; hearing.

⑤ Bankruptcy. A particular dispute or matter arising within a pending case --- as opposed to the case as a whole.

（二）dispatch of business 從速處理業務

參見：Black’s Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition):dispatch. A prompt completion of something <dispatch of a business transaction>  

《元照英美法詞典》：dispatch

(1)迅速處理；迅速完成

(2)急件；快信

(3)(迅速)派遣；調遣；發送

(4) (海商法)(卸貨時所要求的)速遣

dispatch在这里是名词，它也可以作为动词。参见《元照英美法詞典》：dispatch

(1)派遣；調遣；發送

(2)(利索地)殺死；謀殺

(3)迅速辦妥；迅速處理；迅速行事

（三）adjourn將會議延期

阅读公司章程、司法裁决，经常遇到动词adjourn。在这里它的意思是“將會議延期”。此外，adjourn还有“法庭休庭，將司法程序延期”的意思。

參見《元照英美法詞典》：adjourn

(1)延期；推遲

將法院或立法機關的活動推遲到另一確定時間，或無限期推遲〔adjourn sine die〕。

(2)休會；休庭

（四）regulate調整

动词regulate有两个义项：①to control an activity or process, especially by rules. ②to make a machine or your body work at a particular speed, temperature etc.

參見：https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/regulate

我們看到regulate，通常會想到它的第一個義項，即“規管、管制、監管、管理”。 上面的例句用到它的第二個義項，即“調整、控制、調節、管理”。

同樣的詞彙“管理”卻有不同的含義。無論學習國文還是學習外語，我們都要留意語言的微妙。

（五）as they think fit

as they think fit是连词as引导的条件状语从句，大意是在他们認為合適的情况下，按他们認為適合的条件。

（六）第二款是並列句，有兩個主謂結構。情態動詞may和狀語at any time，情態動詞shall和狀語on the requisition of a Voting Director表明不同的條件。

（七）on the requisition of  在……的要求下

requisition既可以作為名詞也可以作為及物動詞。在這裡它的意思是“正式請求”，語氣比request強烈。requisition還有“徵用”的意思。

參見Black’s Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition)：requisition[ˌrekwəˈzɪʃən] n[C, U]

1. An authoritative, formal demand <a state governor’s requisition for another state’s surrender of a fugitive>.

2. A governmental seizure of property <the state’s requisition of the shopping center during the weather emergency>.

（八）第三款文法結構分析

第三款可以分成三個複合句。

第一個複合句是Without limiting the discretion of the Voting Directors to regulate their meetings under paragraph (1) hereof, the Voting Directors may, if they think fit, confer by radio, telephone, closed circuit television or other electronic means of audio or audio-visual communication

Without limiting the discretion of the Voting Directors to regulate their meetings under paragraph (1) hereof是條件狀語，譯文可作靈活處理，不一定將它放在句首。

if they think fit是條件狀語從句。

the Voting Directors是主句的主語。

情態動詞may和不及物動詞confer構成複合謂語。

by radio, telephone, closed circuit television or other electronic means of audio or audio-visual communication是方式狀語。

第二個複合句是a resolution passed by such a conference shall, notwithstanding the Voting Directors are not present together in one place at the time of the conference, be deemed to have been passed at a meeting of the Voting Directors held on the day on which and at the time at which the conference was held

a resolution passed by such a conference是主語

notwithstanding the Voting Directors are not present together in one place at the time of the conference是讓步狀語從句

shall be deemed to have been passed是複合謂語

at a meeting of the Voting Directors held on the day on which and at the time at which the conference was held是定語。meeting和conference一般都可以譯成“會議”，在這裡conference是指有表決權董事通過各種方式舉行的已經制度化的活動。meeting是conference持續期間進行的某一次聚會，也就是說conference可以包括若干次meeting。為區別起見，可將conference譯成“會議”，將meeting譯成“聚會”。

第三個複合句是The provisions of this Constitution relating to proceedings of Voting Directors apply so far as they are capable of application and mutatis mutandis to such conferences.

so far as引導目的狀語從句they are capable of application and mutatis mutandis to such conferences。

so far as的意思是to the extent or point that。

参见：https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/so-far-as

（九）confer舉行會議

動詞confer有兩個義項。一是to discuss something with other people, so that everyone can express their opinions and decide on something。意思是“會商”。這時confer是不及物動詞。例句使用了這個義項。

confer還有一個義項是to officially give someone a title etc, especially as a reward for something they have achieved。意思是“授予某種稱號，賦予某種權利”。這時confer是及物動詞，通常搭配雙賓語confer something on/upon somebody。我們平時多用到這個義項。

參見：https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/confer

（十）mutatis mutandis 在細節上作必要的變更

Black’s Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition):  mutatis mutandis.  [Latin] All necessary changes having been made; with the necessary changes <what was said regarding the first contract applies mutatis mutandisto all later ones.>

《元照英美法詞典》：mutatis mutandis 在細節上作必要的變更

〈拉〉意指總的事實或情況是相同的，但在必要時，可對諸如名稱、職務等細節作相應的變更。

【參考譯文】

60. 有表決權董事的議事流程

(1) 有表決權董事可以為從速處理業務之目的開會，只要他們認為合適，他們可以延期舉行會議或者以其他方式調整會議。

(2) 任何一位有表決權董事可以在任何時間召集有表決權董事會議，應某一有表決權董事的請求，本公司秘書應當召集有表決權董事會議。

(3) 有表決權董事如果認為適當，可以通過無線電、電話、閉路電視或者其他音訊通訊或視聽通訊電子手段舉行會議，但有表決權董事按照本條第(1)款的規定酌情調整其聚會的權利不受限制；即使在會議召開時有表決權董事沒有一同出現在同一地點，聚會所通過的決議仍然應當視為已經在該會議召開的日期和時間舉行的有表決權董事聚會上獲得通過。本章程與有表決權董事議事流程有關的規定在其能夠適用的範圍內適用，在適用於採用上述方式舉行的會議時應當在細節上作必要的調整。