(单词翻译:单击)
Mary认为诉诸法律途径,根本无济于事;她坚信扫除仿冒最好的方法就是自己经营当地的市场,加入竞争的行列。但Dave和 Bob则持不同看法。面临意见冲突的场面,免不了要使用表示存疑及回避问题的用语。
英文正文
Mary: We all agree that Wang has been doing a good job for us making our watches, right?
Others: Right.
Mary: What they are doing is selling in a market that we don't. They are selling to people that want the same name, quality and design, but don't want such high prices. So Wang just sells the watches at high enough prices to keep their heads above water.
Bob: That's right. But we already know that, Mary. I'm not sure what you're saying has any relevance here.
Mary: The answer is sitting right under your nose. If we ask Wang to sell cheaper watches for us, they won't really be knockoffs anymore. We can share the profits with them.
Dave: How can we sell our watches with two different prices?
Mary: People who buy the fake watches never buy the expensive ones. People who buy the expensive ones don't buy the fake ones.
Bob: But won't our regular customers be angry if they find we're selling the same watches at much lower prices? Won't they know we're pulling the wool over their eyes?
Mary: We could use a different name that sounds almost the same, and change the designs a little. Umm... nobody would know. Dave, wasn't there a German company that did this, about ten years ago?
Dave: Hm. I can't really recall; I'll have to get back to you on that.
Mary: OK. Would anyone like to add anything to what I've said?
句型总结
● 表达质疑
1. I'm not sure what you're saying has any relevance here.
2. I'm not sure if what you're saying has anything to do with our problem.
3. I'm not sure if what you're saying really matters in this case.
4. I'm not sure if what you're saying is relevant to our problem.
"relevance"是‘关联;适切’,词组用法为"have relevance to..."-‘与…有关’。这句话适用于正式场合,表示对方所言对议题并无意义。开头语由于是"I'm not sure"而不是"I don't think",因此可避免直接对峙的场面。不过这句话易造成不是对就是错的局面,因此若对方辩护有效,自己会有全盘皆输的危险。
● 暂不回答
1. I can't really recall; I'll have to get back to you on that.
2. I can't quite remember; I'll need to do a little checking and get back to you.
3. I can't fully remember; I'll have to check up on it.
4. I can't recall all the facts; I'll have to get back to you.
"recall"是‘想起’;"get back to someone on something"的意思是‘下次再和某人谈某事’。这句型适用于想避而不答,以免不慎的回答落人口实之时。它能让对方不再把矛头指向你,使你有机会脱身,找时间准备数据,延长到下次再为自己答辩。
● 询问意见
1. Would anyone like to add anything to (what I've said)?
2. Would anyone care to comment?
3. Would anyone like to give their ideas on this?
4. Would anyone care to add their thoughts (to the discussion)?
"add"是‘增加;附言’;这句话是请他人发表意见,来补充自己的看法。由于用的是"add"(补充)而非"comment"(批评),暗示请发言者站在自己的角度或看法,再作补充,而非给予大家较大的空间,任由批评。这即是"add"一字所暗藏之玄机。
● More 邀询意见
在会议桌上,身为主持会议者,通常都需要主动且积极地征询各路英雄的想法及提案;在集思广益下决定出最适当的方案。适合对个人的邀询
What are your views on...?
What are your feelings about...?
What are your feelings on this?
What do you think about...?
What's your opinion about that?
适合对全体的邀询
Any reaction to that?
Has anybody any strong feelings about/ views on that?
What's the general view on/ feeling about that?
Has anybody any comments to make?