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20:04 Nov 18, 2007
English to English translations [PRO] Insurance / insurance policy
English term or phrase:"shall"
Hola! a todos. Tengo que traducir dos frases en una poliza de seguro en el que se encuentra "shall":
1- This Policy shall be voidable.........
2-The insured shall take all reasonable precautions............
Me piden que compare la difrencia del uso de "shall" en estas dos frases.
Me podeis ayudar.
Gracias Gaty
Explanation: Hello Gaty,
I am sorry I do not speak Spanish...
The use of the word 'shall' in your insurance contract really reflects the formality of that contract and the fact that it is a legal document. Its use is extremely widespread in this context, but its precise meaning is quite hard to pin down. It can be equivalent to (but more formal than) 'will be', i.e. a future tense. That would fit your first example, perhaps: 'the policy will be voidable if you do xxx'. But equally it could be a present tense, 'is': 'this policy is voidable under the following conditions'. Finally, it can also contain the idea of an obligation, 'must' (because of this contract). That would fit your second example, 'the insured must take all reasonable precautions'.
Sorry that that is so complicated! Basically, in English contracts, 'shall' is the term of preference, so it covers a lot of meanings that, in other contexts, would be used by less formal words. I don't know if there is any equivalent term in Spanish!
Best of luck,
Lauren UK
I switched it back to English-English after translating the portions in Spanish into English, since it only has the auxiliary verb "shall" - now English speakers can give their opinion.
Hi Gaty, pls consider changing the langugae pair (English to Spanish). Gracias.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
9 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
1. will = can: can be voided 2. shall take = is obligated to take
Explanation: In the first sentence, "shall" means it is possible to void it. In the second sentence, "shall" means there is an obligation.
Mike :)
Michael Powers (PhD) United States Local time: 21:12 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
13 mins confidence:
will be/is/must
Explanation: Hello Gaty,
I am sorry I do not speak Spanish...
The use of the word 'shall' in your insurance contract really reflects the formality of that contract and the fact that it is a legal document. Its use is extremely widespread in this context, but its precise meaning is quite hard to pin down. It can be equivalent to (but more formal than) 'will be', i.e. a future tense. That would fit your first example, perhaps: 'the policy will be voidable if you do xxx'. But equally it could be a present tense, 'is': 'this policy is voidable under the following conditions'. Finally, it can also contain the idea of an obligation, 'must' (because of this contract). That would fit your second example, 'the insured must take all reasonable precautions'.
Sorry that that is so complicated! Basically, in English contracts, 'shall' is the term of preference, so it covers a lot of meanings that, in other contexts, would be used by less formal words. I don't know if there is any equivalent term in Spanish!
Best of luck,
Lauren UK
Lauren UK Local time: 02:12 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
