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在英美法中物的擔(dān)保通常有四種形式，mortgage，charge，pledge，lien。對于這四種形式，pledge與大陸法系中的質(zhì)押本質(zhì)相同，lien與大陸法系中的留置本質(zhì)相同，但對于mortgage，charge的本質(zhì)和譯法，仍然存在分歧。對于mortgage，我國通常有兩種譯法：一是將其翻譯為抵押，我國大陸學(xué)者及我國臺灣地區(qū)學(xué)者的著述中大多為此翻譯（參見郭明瑞：《擔(dān)保法原理與實(shí)務(wù)》，30～31頁，北京，中國方正出版社，1995）；二是將其譯為按揭，我國香港地區(qū)學(xué)者大多為此翻譯。（參見何美歡：《香港擔(dān)保法》，181頁，北京，北京大學(xué)出版社，1996）在日本，則將其理解為讓與擔(dān)保。對此，有學(xué)者指出，mortgage通常在兩種意義上使用：第一是泛指各種類型的物的擔(dān)保；第二，是作為物的擔(dān)保的一種形式，在此意義上，mortgage是一種通過債務(wù)人將特定財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)利轉(zhuǎn)移給債權(quán)人而擔(dān)保債權(quán)人的債權(quán)在約定的清償期得到清償?shù)膿?dān)保形式。（參見許明月：《英國法中的不動產(chǎn)按揭（Mortgage）》，載梁慧星主編：《迎接WTO——梁慧星先生主編之域外法律制度研究集》，第2輯，189～191頁，北京，國家行政學(xué)院出版社，2000）從其法律構(gòu)成來看，原來意義的mortgage的構(gòu)成應(yīng)同時具備三個要素：一為特定財(cái)產(chǎn)的權(quán)利轉(zhuǎn)移；二為債權(quán)人在債務(wù)人不履行債務(wù)時，可以確定地取得所有權(quán)；三為債務(wù)人享有通過履行債務(wù)而贖回?fù)?dān)保物的權(quán)利，同時債權(quán)人負(fù)有交還財(cái)產(chǎn)的義務(wù)。因此，從現(xiàn)代大陸法的觀念來看，其和讓與擔(dān)保并無二致?？紤]到“按揭”一詞在房地產(chǎn)實(shí)務(wù)中已經(jīng)得到廣泛應(yīng)用，下文通稱為按揭。
對于charge，有學(xué)者指出，在英美法中，charge通常在兩種意義上使用：一為泛指各種形式的物的擔(dān)保。二為物的擔(dān)保的一種類型。其于第一種意義使用時，一般譯為擔(dān)保。而在第二種場合，是指將動產(chǎn)或不動產(chǎn)為解除債務(wù)或其他義務(wù)而劃出，但不給予債權(quán)人存在擔(dān)保物中的一般或特殊的財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)，也不使債權(quán)人對標(biāo)的物進(jìn)行占有。因此，charge實(shí)際上是存在于一定財(cái)產(chǎn)上的負(fù)擔(dān)，在債務(wù)人不履行債務(wù)時，債權(quán)人可以就設(shè)定負(fù)擔(dān)的財(cái)產(chǎn)取得清償。在英美法中，以土地為標(biāo)的物設(shè)定的charge與德國法上的土地債務(wù)土地債務(wù)是指是從土地獲得一定數(shù)額金錢的支付的物權(quán)變價權(quán)。德國民法學(xué)者一般認(rèn)為，土地債務(wù)是一種典型的物權(quán)，是設(shè)立在土地（不動產(chǎn)）上的物的變價權(quán)形式的物權(quán)，因此它可以被當(dāng)做不動產(chǎn)擔(dān)保物權(quán)的一種特別形式。土地債務(wù)在作為擔(dān)保物權(quán)時，大多可以適用抵押權(quán)的有關(guān)規(guī)定。故此，土地債務(wù)與抵押權(quán)具有同樣的本質(zhì)，土地債務(wù)可以轉(zhuǎn)化為抵押權(quán)，抵押權(quán)可以轉(zhuǎn)化為土地債務(wù)。但抵押權(quán)必須要有被擔(dān)保債權(quán)的存在，而土地債務(wù)不具有這種性質(zhì)。（參見孫憲忠：《德國當(dāng)代物權(quán)法》，294～304頁，北京，法律出版社，1997）屬同一概念。當(dāng)以有體財(cái)產(chǎn)設(shè)定這種負(fù)擔(dān)時，便稱為抵押（hypothecation）。應(yīng)當(dāng)注意，charge不限于在土地上設(shè)定，動產(chǎn)上亦可以設(shè)定charge。故此，charge譯為“財(cái)產(chǎn)負(fù)擔(dān)”較為合適。
按揭與財(cái)產(chǎn)負(fù)擔(dān)之間的根本差異在于：財(cái)產(chǎn)負(fù)擔(dān)的設(shè)定并不發(fā)生設(shè)定負(fù)擔(dān)的財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)利的轉(zhuǎn)移，屬于既不轉(zhuǎn)移權(quán)利、也不轉(zhuǎn)移占有的一種物權(quán)；而按揭則發(fā)生擔(dān)保權(quán)設(shè)定人對于擔(dān)保物的財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)利轉(zhuǎn)移于擔(dān)保權(quán)人。當(dāng)債務(wù)人不履行債務(wù)時，按揭權(quán)人可以直接實(shí)現(xiàn)權(quán)利，而負(fù)擔(dān)權(quán)人只能通過法院實(shí)現(xiàn)，但負(fù)擔(dān)設(shè)定人賦權(quán)負(fù)擔(dān)權(quán)人直接處分擔(dān)保財(cái)產(chǎn)時，負(fù)擔(dān)便轉(zhuǎn)化為按揭。
然而，在現(xiàn)代英美擔(dān)保法中，由于按揭權(quán)利轉(zhuǎn)移的觀念已經(jīng)淡化，按揭與財(cái)產(chǎn)負(fù)擔(dān)之間的區(qū)別已經(jīng)非常模糊。一些英美法學(xué)者認(rèn)為，盡管兩者性質(zhì)上的差異仍然存在，但從實(shí)用的角度出發(fā)，對兩者進(jìn)行區(qū)分，已沒有意義。故此，我國學(xué)者將mortgage譯為抵押，并非絕對不可，但仍應(yīng)當(dāng)注意兩者之間的差異。詳細(xì)說明請（參見許明月：《英國法中的不動產(chǎn)按揭（Mortgage）》，載梁慧星主編：《迎接WTO——梁慧星先生主編之域外法律制度研究集》，第2輯，北京，國家行政學(xué)院出版社，2000）在此文中，對按揭制度的歷史、類別、按揭人的權(quán)利以及救濟(jì)都作了十分詳細(xì)的介紹。
另外post一篇英文文章對上述法律用語的辨析
Difference Between Charge, Mortgage andPledge
Charge vs Mortgage vs Pledge
Charges, mortgages, and pledges are quitesimilar to one another in that they are all security interests thatbanks use to provider lender with security over the borrower’sassets. There are, however, a few differences between them in termsof the ownership of the asset when loans are taken out and thevarious properties of the assets that are being offered to securepayment. The article offers a clear explanation on all 3 terms andshows the similarities and differences between the two.
Charge
There are two types of charges; fixed chargesand floating charges. A fixed charge refers to a loan or mortgageof some kind that uses a fixed asset as collateral to secure loanrepayment. Fixed assets that can be used as collateral in a fixedcharge include land, machinery, buildings, shares, and intellectualproperty (patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc.). In the event thatthe borrower defaults on his loan, the bank can sell the fixedasset and recover their losses. The borrower/debtor cannot disposethe asset and the asset must be held by the borrower until thetotal loan repayment is made. A floating charge refers to a loan ormortgage on an asset that has a value that changes periodically tosecure loan repayment. In this case, assets that do not have aconstant value, or are not fixed assets such as stock inventory canbe used.
In a floating charge, the borrower has thefreedom to dispose of the asset (for example, sell stock) in thecourse of normal business activities. In the event that theborrower defaults on their loan, the floating charge freezes andbecomes a fixed charge, and the inventory left over from the timeof default cannot be disposed and will be used as a fixed charge torecover the outstanding debt.
Mortgage
A mortgage is a contract between the lenderand the borrower that allows an individual to borrow money from alender for the purchase of housing. Mortgages apply for propertythat is immovable such as buildings, land, and anything that ispermanently attached to the ground (this means that crops are notincluded in this category). A mortgage is also an assurance to thelender which promises that the lender can recover the loan amounteven if the borrower defaults. The home that is being purchased isoffered as security for the loan; which, in the event of default,will be seized and sold by the lender who will use sales proceedsto recover the loan amount. The possession of the property remainswith the borrowers (as they will usually reside in their home).
Pledge
A pledge is a contract between the borrower(or party/individual that owes funds or services) and lender (partyor entity to which the funds or services are owed) in which theborrower offers an asset (pledges an asset) as a security to thelender. In a pledge, the assets will have to be delivered by thepledger (borrower) to the pledgee (lender). The lender will havelimited interest with regard to the pledged asset. However, thepossession of the pledged asset will give the lender legal title tothe asset and the lender has the right to sell the asset in theevent that the borrower is unable to meet his obligation.
What are the differences between Charge,Mortgage and Pledge?
Charges, mortgages, and pledges are allsecurity interests that banks use to provide a lender with securityover the borrower’s assets. A mortgage is different from a pledgein terms of asset ownership; in a mortgage the assets remain theproperty of the borrower, whereas in a pledge the assets will bedelivered to the lender (lender will have legal title to theassets). Charges and mortgages are quite similar to one another;especially, the fixed charge where fixed assets are offered ascollateral to secure loan repayment. Floating charges, on the otherhand, refers to a loan or mortgage on an asset that has a valuethat changes periodically to secure loan repayment. Anotherdifference is that, in a fixed charge, the assets need to bemaintained until the debt is repaid. In a floating charge, theborrower has the freedom to dispose of the asset (for example, sellstock) in the course of normal business activities; however, if theborrower defaults on the loan, the floating charge will freeze andwill be treated like a fixed charge until debts are recovered.
Summary:
Charge vs Mortgage vs Pledge
• Charges, mortgages, and pledges are quitesimilar to one another in that they are all security interests thatbanks use to provide a lender with security over the borrower’sassets.
• There are two types of charges; fixedcharges and floating charges.
• A fixed charge refers to a loan ormortgage of some kind that uses a fixed asset as collateral tosecure loan repayment and the borrower needs to maintain the assetsuntil the debt is repaid and cannot dispose the asset until thetotal loan repayment is made. In the event that the borrowerdefaults on his loan, the bank can sell the fixed asset and recovertheir losses.
• In a floating charge, the borrower hasthe freedom to dispose of the asset in the course of normalbusiness activities and, in the event that the borrower defaults ontheir loan, the floating charge freezes and becomes a fixedcharge.
• A mortgage is a contract between thelender and the borrower that allows an individual to borrow moneyfrom a lender for the purchase of housing. The mortgages apply forimmovable properties and possession of the property remains withthe borrower. In the event of default, the lender will seize andsell the property and use sales proceeds to recover the loanamount.
• A pledge is a contract between theborrower and lender in which the borrower offers an asset (pledgesan asset) as a security to the lender. The pledger (borrower) willhave to deliver the assets to the pledgee (lender) and the lenderwill have legal title to the assets, and the lender has the rightto sell the asset in the event that the borrower is unable to meethis obligation.
• In a mortgage, the assets remain theproperty of the borrower whereas, in a pledge, the assets will bedelivered to the lender, who will have legal title to theassets.
